Day 203/260: Read 2 Corinthians 11

It is disheartening how much corruption exists among those who claim to be righteous, and how many souls they are leading toward eternal destruction. The corruption of which I write is not immorality, although that certainly exists. Rather, the corruption that I have in mind is that which deals with “the simplicity that is in Christ.”

The most important question anyone could ever ask is this: “What must I do to be saved?” If you were to ask ten ministers that question, how many answers do you think you would get? If those ministers were abiding in the doctrine of Christ, you would only receive one answer and that answer would be based on the Bible.

Sadly, that’s not what happens. Many in the religious world will tell you that you need to say a prayer asking for forgiveness. They will say you need to believe in Jesus, and that’s all that’s really necessary. Friends, those are corruptions of God’s grace. Neither of those answers is in the Bible.

What does the Lord Himself say? Not one word about “praying through” or a “sinner’s prayer.” He does not tell you to rely on “faith alone.” Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Don’t be deceived by those who “transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.” Believe the Word, and submit to God’s commands in faith. That is the only way you can be saved.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

2 Corinthians 13:5. ______________ yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. ______________ yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Pray

Pray for those who have not obeyed the gospel, for those who have been deceived by false denominational doctrines. Pray for opportunities to share with them the truth of the gospel.

Day 202/260: Read 2 Corinthians 10

In medieval times, the Catholic Church waged a war against Muslims in an effort to recover the Holy Lands. Eight major expeditions occurred between 1096 and 1291. Many lost their lives in these savage, bloody wars.

The children of God are at war against the forces of evil, but Paul reminds the brethren in Corinth that “we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

We are to “wage the good warfare” (1 Timothy 1 18); the Christian “must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Yet we do not use the traditional weapons of war such as swords and shields, or in modern-day parlance guns and bullet-proof vests. Rather, our weapons are of a spiritual nature, designed to protect ourselves and make our enemies reconsider their rebellious position against the Lord.

Consider the metaphorical weapons Paul describes in Ephesians 6. Most are defensive, designed to protect ourselves; only one is offensive, and it is the Word of God. When we face our spiritual foes, we must be armed with the Scriptures for God’s Word is the final say and the ultimate authority.

Are you ready to go to war?

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

2 Corinthians 13:5. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Pray

Pray for strength in the spiritual war in which you are engaged.

Day 201/260: Read 2 Corinthians 9

Attitude—how many times will we come back to that idea when we study the New Testament? After spending some time with the concept of a “willing mind” in chapter 8, Paul shifts to the disposition of the one involved in the act of giving in chapter 9.

When you give, don’t do it because it is commanded. Do it, but do it because you want to, and do it because it brings you joy to help another person. Make it purposeful and heartfelt, “not grudgingly or of necessity.”

We read in the book of Proverbs about some of the things that God hates: “A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Paul takes the opposite approach and tells us what the Lord loves: “a cheerful giver.” And when we have the proper attitude in our giving, the apostle says that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

God will bless those who give liberally and cheerfully. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

2 Corinthians 13:5. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Pray

Pray for the proper attitude in obeying God’s commands.

Day 200/260: Read 2 Corinthians 8

How important is your attitude? If you do a favor for someone, but you complain the entire time, how do you think that person feels about your effort? Your attitude can invalidate any good deed you may do.

The Corinthian church told Paul that they wanted an opportunity to help their brothers in need, and the apostle now tells them it is time to “complete the doing of it.” Certainly, they were not expected to give more than they had. Yet, they were encouraged to do all they could in fulfilling their desire.

“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” That “willing mind” is so important when helping someone. Had they begrudgingly fulfilled their promise, would it be as appreciated? If their attitude was such that gave the impression of saying, “I said I would do it, so here you go,” with a huff, what would the recipient think? How would it make them feel?

Friends, we need to be joyful when we help those in need, whether we are giving of our time, money, or talents. Smile and say a kind word, without complaining about any difficulty you may have experienced. It will be remembered more fondly by both the recipient and by you.

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

2 Corinthians 9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Pray

Pray for an occasion to show joy while helping a brother or sister in need.

Day 199/260: Read 2 Corinthians 7

When you get caught doing something wrong, are you sorry you did it, or sorry you got caught? Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about “godly sorrow” that “produces repentance leading to salvation.” The church was confronted with sin, and because of their godly sorrow, they changed their ways.

When one is just sorry he got caught, though, he doesn’t change. He just finds ways to hide his sin. Or his heart hardens so that it doesn’t even bother him to do it in the open.

Yet godly sorrow, the kind that leads to repentance and then to salvation, has an impact on a person that goes far beyond getting caught. Godly sorrow causes one to be more diligent in his faithfulness, examining himself to be sure he is walking according to the will of God. Godly sorrow causes indignation—getting mad at sin in one’s own life and at the encouragement and tolerance of sin in society. Godly sorrow produces fear, knowing that one who remains in sin is separated from God. What a terrifying thought! Godly sorrow produces desire and zeal to vindicate oneself, to get back into right standing with the Almighty.

Confronting sin should never be done in order to embarrass one who has fallen into temptation; the aim should be the restoration of that person’s relationship with God.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

2 Corinthians 9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Pray

Pray for forgiveness for your own shortcomings, and for wisdom in helping others to get on the right track.

Day 198/260: Read 2 Corinthians 6

Eternity is an urgent matter. When the Philippian jailer learned from Paul and Silas what he needed to do in order to be accepted by Jesus, Luke says that “immediately he and all his family were baptized” (Acts 16:33). He did not want to waste a single second outside the body of Christ, once he learned about the body of Christ.

In a passage addressed to the Servant of the Lord, Isaiah prophesied, “In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages” (Isaiah 49:8).

By inspiration, Paul makes application of the passage to the gospel age, writing, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” We do not know if we will have a tomorrow, or a next week, or a next year. There is urgency—once we know the truth, we must accept it and obey it.

One of mankind’s greatest talents is that of procrastination. Finishing work minutes before the deadline, cramming for a final exam the night before, always going up to the very last second to complete a task. Yet, in the case of life, we do not know when that last second will come.

One’s soul is too precious to be subject to procrastination.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

2 Corinthians 9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Pray

Pray for a sense of urgency in obeying and teaching the gospel.

Day 197/260: Read 2 Corinthians 5

Are you nervous about the Judgment Day? Paul expressed his confidence that on the last day, he would be accepted by the Lord. He wrote, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

For some, though, that may not inspire a great deal of confidence. Those who have not been living by the faith of the Word, who have rather put their trust in their own merits or in the faith of others, will not have a leg to stand on when the last day comes.

Will L. Thompson, a member of the church of Christ who lived from 1847 to 1909, wrote a hymn about how that last day will be seen by various people. First, he calls it a “great day,” pointing to the fact that “the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left.” Next, he says it is a “bright day…but its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord.” Finally, it is a “sad day…when the sinner shall hear his doom, ‘Depart, I know ye not.’” Brother Thompson asks repeatedly, “Are you ready for that day to come?”

How do you see that great day that is coming? Will it be a bright day, or a sad day? “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

2 Corinthians 9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Pray

Pray for forgiveness when needed, and for boldness to do the will of the Lord always.

Day 196/260: Read 2 Corinthians 4

Paul suffered many things throughout his ministry. Reading through the book of Acts, one sees persecutions coming from both Jews and Gentiles, stonings, imprisonments, and more. What was Paul’s opinion of these struggles?

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” Whatever he faced, Paul knew there was something better waiting for him beyond this mortal life.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.”

As Christians, we should be able to look past the difficulties of this life and see the glory that awaits us in eternity. Our focus should be on getting there and taking as many people with us as possible. “For the things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

I don’t know who said it originally, but there is truth in this statement: “Being a Christian doesn’t change what you deal with, but it changes how you deal with it.”

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

2 Corinthians 9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Pray

Pray for wisdom and patience in the struggles of this life, and thank the Father for the eternal reward that awaits you.