How we Should be

DEVOTION

2 CORINTHIANS

HOW WE SHOULD BE

2 Cor 12:19-21

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

NIV

These people in Corinth are supposed to be believers, right? Yet within this part of the letter there is a list of things which certainly should not be for a bunch of believers. But there is it, plain and simple, a list of behaviors we might even think are unacceptable for a group of unbelievers. How can this list of offenses exist in the church? It must have in Corinth, but it certainly can’t be in our church today, right? Well maybe there might be a little quarreling, and some jealousy, and an occasional outburst of anger. There might even be a few occasions when factions show up, like every time a new denomination shows up, or a non-denomination shows up. And if we are honest we might admit there may be a bit of slander, and a whole lot of gossip, especially the type that is disguised as a prayer request. It might even be possible that some among us may be a tad bit arrogant. About the only thing we can be sure does not exist is disorder, for we all are so very much in order, almost stoic. Now as far as that list which is at the end if it does exist, we have learned how to hide it well or we have learned to overcome those behaviors. Even though these lists might be in the center of the point written here, it may also be we can learn something else as well. If we find ourselves in the midst of any of this behavior, which is by others, and we are in their presence, how do we handle it? Do we accept it, join in, or simply ignore it? If we say anything would we be judging, or be accused of judging? If we said anything, would we fear being or actually be ostracized? Yet Paul makes the point, he has said something and as in the sight of God for their strengthening. Is it our Christian duty then to say something in the sight of God when we see such behavior among our fellow believers? Is it their duty to say something to us, if we are engaging and any of this behavior? It would seem the answer is yes. But also it would seem we have the obligation to not engage in that behavior at all. Maybe the Corinthian people were expecting Paul to be a little more tolerant of their sin, knowing full well all have sinned including Paul. But he assured them he would not be as they expected, but would speak to them in the sight of God for their strengthening. This is the truth of how we should also be, speaking the truth in the sight of God. This is how we should be.