2 Corinthians 7:2-4 says...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 7:2-4, which read,
v.2 - Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.
We can see here the depth of the attack against Paul and his companions. His opponents painted Paul and what he said as "wrong" meaning to treat someone unjustly, "corrupted" meaning to harm someone's morals, and "took advantage" meaning at the other person's expense. Paul appeals for a heart change of the Corinthians after listening again to him through this letter, examining how they lived their lives in their presence, and the words of Scripture. They once had space in their hearts for Paul and his companions but because of other influences they have been squeezed out of that space.
v.3 - I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.
What the Christians in the Corinthian church did was wrong to follow the false teachers and their influence over the Scripture of the gospel of the grace of God given to them by Paul. Paul still has a heart for them even though they have done this. He wants them to die together in the faith so that they will live together with each other in eternity. They have not lost the love of Paul because of what they have done and he is still concerned for their souls.
v.4 - Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
Paul is optimistic and positive that the Christians in the Corinthian church will "see the light." He is confident of this and still speaks of the act of God on behalf of even their existence. The fact that God is working brings Paul comfort and joy in the midst of this affliction. The affliction is coming against something worth standing for just as Christ stood against the affliction that lead Him to the cross. Great good for the sake of the gospel came out of that event for the souls of the world and so Paul is looking for great good to come out of this event of standing and enduring persecution and opposition in light of the souls of Corinth.
As a pastor I can really relate to these three verses. There are times when I am saying and reminding my congregation to continue to make room for Christ and His church in their hearts. The world fills up our schedules so much that our time for God and with God and with God's people gets squeezed into a little corner. I don't say this to condemn anyone but I say it because of our souls and a longing to die together in Christ so that we can live together in Christ. To make room in your heart for Christ and His Church usually means that something has to go. Something has taken up so much space of residence in your heart that the most important relationship of all time that deals with your eternity and security gets pushed to that little corner. Actions reveal true priorities. Do your actions reveal a life centered on Christ?
Sometimes it is hard to be optimistic about this in a world that is full of things to do and occupy our time. It is hard because many of the influences of the world draw us away from our walk with the Lord rather than to Him. I want to compete against the world to get those hearts back but it doesn't work that way. I have to have confidence that what God has started that He will also complete in the lives of those who have surrendered their lives to Him.
Just some confessions of a pastor who struggles to speak and act as Paul as he watches the world go by taking many along with it while the church doors of worship are open and few walk through them on a regular basis.
"Lord, what an eye opening experience this morning as I looked at these three verses and thought that there was nothing really there to talk about. You are real and You do reveal Yourself through Your Word. I sang 'I Surrender All' but do my actions say that I have taken some of the 'all' back and are You calling out again to me to make some room for You? Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.2 - Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.
We can see here the depth of the attack against Paul and his companions. His opponents painted Paul and what he said as "wrong" meaning to treat someone unjustly, "corrupted" meaning to harm someone's morals, and "took advantage" meaning at the other person's expense. Paul appeals for a heart change of the Corinthians after listening again to him through this letter, examining how they lived their lives in their presence, and the words of Scripture. They once had space in their hearts for Paul and his companions but because of other influences they have been squeezed out of that space.
v.3 - I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.
What the Christians in the Corinthian church did was wrong to follow the false teachers and their influence over the Scripture of the gospel of the grace of God given to them by Paul. Paul still has a heart for them even though they have done this. He wants them to die together in the faith so that they will live together with each other in eternity. They have not lost the love of Paul because of what they have done and he is still concerned for their souls.
v.4 - Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
Paul is optimistic and positive that the Christians in the Corinthian church will "see the light." He is confident of this and still speaks of the act of God on behalf of even their existence. The fact that God is working brings Paul comfort and joy in the midst of this affliction. The affliction is coming against something worth standing for just as Christ stood against the affliction that lead Him to the cross. Great good for the sake of the gospel came out of that event for the souls of the world and so Paul is looking for great good to come out of this event of standing and enduring persecution and opposition in light of the souls of Corinth.
As a pastor I can really relate to these three verses. There are times when I am saying and reminding my congregation to continue to make room for Christ and His church in their hearts. The world fills up our schedules so much that our time for God and with God and with God's people gets squeezed into a little corner. I don't say this to condemn anyone but I say it because of our souls and a longing to die together in Christ so that we can live together in Christ. To make room in your heart for Christ and His Church usually means that something has to go. Something has taken up so much space of residence in your heart that the most important relationship of all time that deals with your eternity and security gets pushed to that little corner. Actions reveal true priorities. Do your actions reveal a life centered on Christ?
Sometimes it is hard to be optimistic about this in a world that is full of things to do and occupy our time. It is hard because many of the influences of the world draw us away from our walk with the Lord rather than to Him. I want to compete against the world to get those hearts back but it doesn't work that way. I have to have confidence that what God has started that He will also complete in the lives of those who have surrendered their lives to Him.
Just some confessions of a pastor who struggles to speak and act as Paul as he watches the world go by taking many along with it while the church doors of worship are open and few walk through them on a regular basis.
"Lord, what an eye opening experience this morning as I looked at these three verses and thought that there was nothing really there to talk about. You are real and You do reveal Yourself through Your Word. I sang 'I Surrender All' but do my actions say that I have taken some of the 'all' back and are You calling out again to me to make some room for You? Amen."
Pastor Adam
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