2 Corinthians 12:11-15 A Father and His Children
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: May 20, 2020 2 Corinthians 12:11-15
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.
I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
(Understanding the Text) Paul once again says that all his bragging makes him a fool. He says that he should not have needed to defend himself to the Corinthians because they had plenty of evidence of his apostleship including their own conversions, and they should have been the ones defending Paul to the false apostles. Paul says that the signs of a true apostle were performed while he was in Corinth. What are the signs of a true apostle? Paul says signs, wonders, and mighty works, so I assume demons were cast out and people were healed. This just goes to show that miracles don’t last as a basis for faith and trust. That is because the devil is always there ready to chip away at our belief whether it is by a loss of memory, doubting reality, or just making us feel it is not important. Our faith is something we choose to have.
I think it’s interesting that Paul uses the word “patience” in the context of the signs a true apostle works. I’m not quite sure what this refers to. Is Paul remembering numerous occasions when he had to work with the Corinthians over and over again to free them from their addictions and brokenness? Is he trying to contrast his manner with the impatient false apostles? Is he trying to remind the Corinthians of the kindness with which he dealt with their problems?
Paul again shows that he knows that there is a jealousy component in the Corinthians. He assures them that they were just as favored as all of Paul’s other churches, except that he never asked for them to give him money to support him. He tells them that he is coming to them again, and he will still not ask them to support him. I think he is contrasting himself with the false apostles who are milking the Corinthians of money. He tells the Corinthians that the reason that he does not expect money from them is that he feels that they are his children. Children do not support fathers. Fathers support children. Paul says he is willing to empty himself for the Corinthians because he loves them so much. He asks them to love him in return. I like the way he says “I seek not what is yours, but you.” Paul does not want the Corinthians’ wealth. He wants the Corinthians themselves.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) Here again is evidence that the Corinthians had issues with true love and money. Paul is saying that they cannot buy his love, but that it is a free gift. He is teaching them that the proper response to being loved truly is simply to love the other back. He is trying to show them that their relationship to the false apostles is one of buying a prostitute’s love. The prostitute will use them and treat them as a customer and leave the minute they stop paying. Paul says that his love is family love that stays. He feels like a father and says that their proper attitude towards a father is not cynicism and contempt. It is love. The Corinthians didn’t truly understand the basics of love because of their culture and past experiences. They had to be taught directly what most others knew without thinking. Unfortunately, I think we treat Jesus’ love for us in the same way. We discount His many sacrifices for us and rather than simply loving in return, we look for ulterior motives and doubt His love.
(Application / Prayer) I pray that I will learn the lessons that my broken past and culture make difficult. I pray that you will bring me past the barriers that surround me into Your love. I want to be whole and not broken. Heal me mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Then I pray that I will radiate your love to others so that they are also healed by You.