2 Corinthians 13:7-14 The Last Goodbye
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 23, 2020 2 Corinthians 13:7-14
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.\
But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(Understanding the Text) Paul is saying that he is praying for the Corinthians. He says that his prayer is not that he will not fail the test when they examine themselves but that they will examine themselves and this will cause them to turn from the wrong to the right. Whether they support Paul or not is irrelevant to him. What is important is that they will choose the right for themselves. Paul doesn’t have any worries about the results for himself because he only supports the truth, and the truth will win in the end.
Paul says that he is writing now so that the Corinthians will have a chance to examine themselves and make their choices before he comes. Paul wants the Corinthians to be restored to living in God’s grace. He tells them that if they have not made decisions before he comes, he will have to use the authority that Jesus has given him, but that authority was given to Paul not to tear anyone down, only to build up.
(Revelation of God) Then Paul tells the Corinthians what he wants for them: rejoicing, restoration, comforting of each other, agreement with each other, peaceful living, and that God will be with them. A lot of this is relational, which goes back to the idea that the Corinthians’ problems were in how to deal with each other in healthy ways. Of all the aspects of God’s character, Paul chooses love and peace to emphasize to the Corinthians.
Paul ends with the trinity/godhead: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ–He wants them to receive the unmerited favor of the Savior, the love of God–He wants them to know the fullness and quality of the Father’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit–It is through the Spirit that we as humans can connect to each other and with God. The Spirit is in us communicating God’s love and keeping us from being lonely. It is interesting that Paul picks out these qualities for each of the Godhead.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I want the same outcomes that Paul wishes for the Corinthians. “rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” I want joy. I want to be restored and not broken. I want to be comforted and provide comfort. I don’t want to be arguing and fighting. I want to live in peace, and most of all, I want You to be with me. I want Your love and peace in my life. I want to know You.