Serving

DEVOTION

2 CORINTHIANS

SERVING

2 Cor 13:1-4

13:1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."   2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.

NIV

Here we are once again seeing that there is a need to be honest in dealing with problem areas of life. Paul is not holding back anything about how he intends to deal with some of the believers regarding their behaviors. When we are confronted with the Word of God regarding areas in our life that are not pleasing to God, we need to see that confrontation is with power. Can it come from another person as well as from the scriptures? Sure thing, as in the case with Paul, but of course the people in Corinth did not have the scriptures, except the letters written to them by Paul, which of course to us are the scriptures. But nevertheless a lesson is to be learned about how we should deal with each other in regard to any offenses which have become known or are out in the open so to speak. But if we say something to another believer we certainly need to know it is coming from God rather than from us. We better make absolutely certain what we say is Christ speaking through us. It is possible that we could take the opportunity to speak to someone simply because we think they might be in the wrong. We also need to be extremely careful not to become judgmental in our attitudes about others who may need to hear some words of correction and or rebuking. Surely Paul was frank about what was needed but he also displayed love and concern for them. God desires for us to grow, to overcome, to change the way we behave, the way we think, the way we live and he is very frank and very clear about what is right and what is not. But we also know he loves us and desires for us to enjoy his blessings in our life. He definitely deals with us in power. So when the Holy Spirit prompts us to speak, we need to speak with power infused with love or speak with love infused with power. The point of all this is that we should serve each other. When we speak in the manner needed  we are serving.