Author: Ben Bourland

​1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 [ESV]

I was convicted in my reading today as Paul recounts the churches in Macedonia (Thessalonica, Philippi, and probably Beroea) to the Corinthians as churches who were embroiled in persecution (to both the apostolic team and to the new converts). The conviction comes from what Paul says about the Macedonian church’s response out of their extreme poverty. It was out of their joy that their giving overflowed in a wealth of liberality. The Macedonian Christians know the joy of being the recipients of God’s free giving, and that joy, they gave freely.

Because of their situation, what the churches gave was probably quite a small amount, but measured against their extreme poverty it represented a wealth of liberal giving.

Application:

I feel like I have not only been given so much in the Son of God, but God has also given me so much here on earth. Do I give in proportion to what I receive? Not by any stretch of the imagination when compared to the churches of Macedonia. Lord God, please forgive me for not giving more and help me to be open handed out of the joy in of the wealth I have been giving in eternal security.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 [ESV]

During the counseling conference this year, we had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of Dr. Ellen. He taught us the difference between the two types of conscientious sorrow.

• Casualty Sorrow: which is worldly sorrow leading to death (what this verse above is referring to). Casualty sorrow is, I’m sad because I have regrets over what’s happened. I know I’m wrong, but I’m not really focused on how I’ve sinned against God, dishonored him and others, I’m just consumed with what can happen to me. With casualty sorrow, we call it that because the person, if they don’t deal with their sin, sin leads to death. 
• Contrite Sorrow: Which is what 2 Corinthians 7 talks about Godly sorrow producing this thing of repentance.

We either move into casualty sorrow, where we have regret and feel sorry, or contrite where we are broken and want to make things right. This seems so simple but when you truly consume it relative to our sanctification, it is super powerful!

For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it; for I see that that letter did pain you, though only for a little while;
Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did. 2 Corinthians 7:8-9 [AMP]

Today was a great reminder that tough love can be used by God to lead others to repentance. Paul wrote a ‘Tough Love’ letter to the church at Corinth to expose their sin and hypocrisy. The big attribute here is that the Corinthians were believers who had strayed. When you submit to the Lord Jesus Christ by putting your belief in Him, the Father will not let you go…He disciplines those He loves. This is the hope we have for our kids -> that they would accept the Lord at some point in their life so that as a parent, you can trust that the Lord promise of ‘nothing can pick you out of My hand’ comes into affect.

Application:

I should never feel empty when I admonish a fellow believer. Paul grieved over what he needed to right to the Corinthians. The reason Paul said he doesn’t regret it now is because he saw the fruit of how God used his letter to turn around a whole church. The ultimate motivation to repent came from a grief God intended the Corinthians to feel. That admonishment and feeling of grief could be levied my way at some point in my life.

...and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,
18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

​1 THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17b-7:1 [AMP]

This connecting of both the end of Chapter 6 and the beginning of Chapter 7 is so encouraging but also an admonition. If we flee uncleanliness “Then…God will receive us and treat us with favor. He [God] will be a Father to us and we shall be His sons and daughters.” Jesus of course died for our sins and when the Father looks at us, He sees His Son – This is the grace and gift we receive which secures our eternity in heaven. On this earth however, God has a bit of heaven that is available to us when we use the strength given to us in the Holy Spirit to flee idolatry and cleanse ourselves of everything that defiles our body and spirit. The motivation to rid ourselves of these impurities comes from within, but the strength to achieve the task comes from the Lord.

Application:

I am going to take the last part of 7:1 which says that we bring our completeness in the fear of God. I have had many Quiet Time posts on the fear of God but applying a ‘fear of the Lord’ is paramount to righteous living. One of the ways I do this is in every situation I find myself; I ask myself the question -> if the Lord Jesus were to return right now, would I be embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty of sinning against Him that moment His eyes caught mine? This reverent awe and aversion to disappointing my God and Savior is that Fear of God I believe Paul is talking about.

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 [AMP]

This is one of those days where the Amplified Bible version really helps consume the intent and interpretation of God’s Word. At first glance it in other versions you might be inclined to see this as an instruction about marriage. However, it is more about linking yourself with any involvement or activity that is inconsistent with our theological understanding of what it means to surrender to glorifying God in all that we do. At work, I engage in business decisions and actions with unbelievers but those actions and partnerships are not always inconsistent with my faith…however, there have been some. I remember being asked to ensure that an application that I was involved with building, did not break or work improperly with sites that cater to voyeuristic endeavors that ARE inconsistent with my faith and purity. I made the decision to remove myself from that product and no longer be in a situation where I might even be associated with that type of work. God honored that decision and provided the next set of opportunities that brought me to where I am today.

We must be ready to walk away from friendships and partnerships where even our ‘above approach’ is questioned. God is honored when we make choices that put His holiness and glory above any earthly exploit.

Nice.Quiet.Day – I worked about six hours and spent a lot of time doing things other than work for a change. It was relaxing and invigorating all at the same time. Thank you, Lord, for a nice quiet day to recharge and rest.

11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and our heart is expanded wide [for you]!
12 There is no lack of room for you in [our hearts], but you lack room in your own affections [for us].
13 By way of return then, do this for me—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also [to us]. 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 [AMP]

First Paul says that he is speaking with ‘candor’ to the Corinthians and not only that, but there is also an investment in Paul’s and his companions’ hearts for the church at Corinth.

The Corinthians lacking room in their own hearts means that there has been a narrowing of the space allowed for their apostle…likely because they have allowed the criticisms leveled against Paul to restrict the breadth of room they have in their hearts for him.

Paul, then talking as though he was talking to his own children, beseeches the Corinthians for reciprocal affection.

Application:

There will be times in my ministry that my love for another may be greater than that returned to me. I can hear Paul’s pleading in his heart for this to be different. I wonder how I, a Christ Follower that is not even in the same league as Paul, can make movement here. God is the one who can move and change the heart…it becomes an aspect of my prayer life, treating others with respect, and living righteously that must be enough. IN Christ I am seen by the Father as justified and without blemish because of His Son. That is where I rest my identity, trust, and worth.

Today I had a nonstop 9-hour meeting with the GOV that started at 9am and ended right at 6:00pm. I am whooped…but not too whooped to hear what the Lord has for me today. My Life Group guys and I decided to push a change in our daily execution to always get in a few moments with the Lord. Most of us feel that taking notes and in my case posting a blog entry, need to be a part of that quiet time…meaning, if we don’t feel we have enough time to take notes or blog then it won’t be a worthwhile QT. That is bunk! So, we have made a commitment to each other to have a time of deliberate reading in God’s Word every day and directed; in other words, we won’t do the ‘close eyes and open to a place in the bible to read’. We will continue to read in our books we are focusing on -> 2 Corinthians for me.

8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest.
9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed;
10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:8-10 [AMP]

On the surface, when reading this, it can come across as depressing; but after careful consideration I find this very encouraging. Paul is outlining 9 antithesis statements representing the view of his ministry from a worldly point of view and then from a spiritual point of view. From the view of critics within the church and from those who are walking in obedience to the Lord.

The reason this is encouraging is because it clearly shows me where my ear should be tuned. It should not be bent toward the world or an unrepentant believer living in a veiled existence thinking they and their personal views are right. No, my ear should be angled toward the Lord and what He has to say; what He has to say through my trusted followers of Jesus Christ. I should not expect a different response from anyone who has not aligned themselves squarely on the teachings of my personal Lord and Savior.

6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;
7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 [AMP]

As I was reading through this passage today, I was really encouraged by the contrast of these 2 verses.

Verse 6 talks about having innocence, purity, knowledge, spiritual insight, longsuffering, patience, and kindness IN the Holy Spirit…in genuine/sincere love. All of these admirable attributes come after Paul telling us all about the things that he and his ministry have endured in persecution, imprisonment, and unspeakable hardships….BUT

…in Verse 7 he pulls out the BIG GUNS. These things in verse 6 are enabled through speaking the Word of TRUTH IN the Power of God. How? you might ask…

…with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]

2 Corinthians 6:7b [AMP]

Hands full of everything you need to fight…weapons of righteousness. I just like this idea that what when both the right and left hands are full of righteousness there is nothing else that needs to be wielded to both attack and defend. There is just something very powerful about this.

Boy, am I glad its Friday! This has been one rough week. Microsoft Layoffs, high stress meetings with the GOV, and trying to find time to write 2 documents that carry a lot of contractual responsibility with them. All the while I have had this sore throat and cough that just doesn’t want to go away. However, God is so good…all the time. No matter my predicament, He is always there for me in full force; standing ready to give me the comfort, wisdom, and peace that I need at that moment.

3 We put no obstruction in anybody’s way [we give no offense in anything], so that no fault may be found and [our] ministry blamed and discredited.
4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,
5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger;
 2 Corinthians 6:3-5 [AMP]

There is a lot here today and covered 3 verses that have some very important points to the Corinthians in Corinth regarding Paul’s ministry. Remember that yesterday Paul was talking about not accepting God’s grace in vain. In verse 3 and 4a, Paul is saying that his own conduct as God’s messenger does not constitute a stumbling-block which might hinder the ‘proper’ acceptance of God’s grace by others. What he means he makes clear in what he says next, “so that no fault may be found and our (lit. the) ministry blamed and discredited”. If fault could be found in his ministry, and there were those in Corinth only too ready to find it, then presumably that could be used as an excuse to reject his message. So, then he says, “but we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God”. This is not really a personal commendation but more appropriately a commendation of a ministry.

Paul now goes into listing a bunch of factors to give evidence in commending his ministry.

• General Terms
  • Great Endurance
  • Tribulation and Suffering
  • Hardships and Calmities
• Particular Examples
  • Beatings
  • Imprisonments
  • Riots
• Voluntary Hardships
  • Labors
  • Sleepless watching
  • Hunger

It kind of seems strange that Paul would call out these hardships to ‘commend’ his ministry…but underneath this is Paul’s recognition that the true servant of God is the ‘Suffering Servant’, and that the one who is the ‘Loyal Follower of Christ’ will share the fate of Jesus.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant or slave above his master.

Matthew 10:24

Application:

This really made me question whether I have really internalized ‘sharing in the fate of Jesus’ in my ministry. It might be easy to interpret this passage as Paul being boastful about himself and his ministry, but it is actually quite the opposite. When I think about my ministry, I need to be sure that I can stand with assurance that I am not standing in the way of someone properly receiving the grace of God. I must maintain a humble heart and crucify the prideful ‘Old Ben’ every day. I am the new Ben where that ‘Old Ben’ no longer lives but it is Christ who lives in me. This life I now live in the faith, I live by the grace of God Who loves me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 personalized to me)

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 [NKJV]
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Today I came up on 2 of the most important verses in the Bible for believers. I just love that the heart of ambassadorship for Christ is imploring others to be reconciled to God Himself. As though God were pleading through us. This is one of the places in Gods Word where we see how even though God is so mighty and powerful, He still partners with and chooses to work through us to reach others and grow His Kingdom!

Then right after then amazing ambassadorship acknowledgement, Paul throws down the Gospel that leads to reconciliation. The most powerful line in these two verses for me is “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”. When we are reconciled through Christ’s she’d blood, God sees us clothed in His righteousness, but He sees us that way IN His Son. Sooooo awesome!