2 Corinthians 6:6-13 Widen Your Hearts
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 30, 2020 2 Corinthians 6:6-13
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
(Understanding the Text) Paul first gave examples of remaining true to God through afflictions. He spoke of the events that a Christian must endure to the end. Now, Paul speaks of the qualities that a Christian must maintain during this endurance. A Christian must keep purity from being tainted by the world. A Christian must increase knowledge of God. A Christian must be patient with others and with his own circumstances. A Christian must be kind to others and himself. A Christian must listen to the Holy Spirit. A Christian must love God, others, and himself. A Christian must speak truthfully. A Christian must have the power of God.
Now Paul speaks of a more active fight to endure in our relationship with God and each other. He speaks of having the weapons of God in both of our hands, not just one. He speaks of being true in the good times and the bad: honor/dishonor, slander/praise, remaining true when treated as imposters, unknown/famous, dying/living, punished/killed, sorrowful/rejoicing, poor/rich, and nothing/everything. I guess having the weapons of God in both of our hands means that we are prepared for the good and the bad. God is with us and we are not overcome whether it is a time of security or a time of difficulty and fear.
(Revelation of God / Understanding the Text) Paul says that even when we die, we know that we are alive and will be alive. He says even when we are punished, it does not kill us. He says that in the middle of our sorrow, we still rejoice. I would not have understood that before my dad died, but in that experience of mixed grief and joy, I realized that while one event can cause great grief, a life of being surrounded by love creates joy in the middle of it. Paul speaks of the paradox of being poor, yet being able to give riches to others. This reminds me of the paradox in Christ of being humble and lowly, yet being the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is the irony of a relationship with God that even if we have nothing by worldly standards, we have everything that we could possibly want or need through knowing God’s love.
(Understanding the Text / Application) Paul’s life has been this mixture of negative and positive. He says that it is worth it because the positive always overcomes the negative. He wants the same for the Corinthians. He tells them that He has no official power over them to command them, yet he has every power over them to command them because they love him and he loves them. He is not coming to them as a tyrant, but as a loving father/brother who wants the best for them. They are not his subjects but his children/siblings who want the best for him and want to make him happy. This is the relationship we need to have with each other as Christians. It is not a matter of authority based on rules. It is a matter of loving and pleasing each other.
(Prayer) I need to have that experience with You where nothing negative can overcome the love that You have placed inside of me. I need to have the faith/trust in You so that this world’s worst cannot counteract the beauty that You have given me and placed inside of me. Help me to accept Your gifts and overcome the horrors that face me in the world.