2 Corinthians 8 (6)

Pray Psalm 48.1-3.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.

Sing Psalm 48.1-3.
(Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Great is God, now greatly praise Him in the city of the LORD!
Holy she, His lovely mountain, great and glorious by His Word!
God her King is great within her, He, her Stronghold ever sure!
He, her Stronghold ever sure!

Read 2 Corinthians 8.1-24; meditate on verses 22-24.

Prepare
1. What was Titus’ role with Paul?

2. How did Paul refer to the churches?

Meditation
Greatly encouraged by Titus’ report of the changes that were taking place in Corinth, Paul decided to strike while the iron was hot and send three brothers to carry his second epistle and organize the promised gift to the churches in Judea.

We don’t know who the two “apostles of the churches” were, either the one mentioned in verse 18 or the other mentioned here (v. 22). But they were solid citizens in the Kingdom of God who had proved themselves faithful and diligent “in many things”. Titus was Paul’s “partner and fellow worker” and the other two brothers were “apostles (“messengers”, NKJV) of the churches”, that is, men picked and sent out by the churches to further the work of Christ. Paul instructed the Corinthians to justify his boasting about them and prove their love by receiving this team and cooperating in its work.

The phrase, “the glory of Christ”, seems to me deliberately vague. Were these men “the glory of Christ” or were the churches “the glory of Christ”? Calvin lumps the two together, commenting “all that excel in piety and holiness are the glory of Christ, because they have nothing but by Christ's gift.” I think that makes sense.

But what is the “glory of Christ”? Is it not His Presence, the manifestation of His beauty, goodness, truth, love, and power? God intends to glorify Jesus through His Church, as each member is transformed from glory to glory into the image of Jesus (2 Cor. 3.12-18) and as each church grows up “in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Eph. 4.11-16).

But where is this happening in our day?? Where is the Presence of Jesus clearly and consistently being revealed by believers and their churches? Where is the fragrance of Christ, the grace of the Gospel, and the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit of the Kingdom of God shining, expanding, and turning our world rightside-up for Jesus?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Proof text is a Scriptural passage adduced as proof for a theological doctrine, belief, or principle; so says Merrian-Webster.com. And Paul is pleading with the Corinthians to be just that. “Be the proof text for what I have said about you. Show Titus and the other messengers your ‘Jesus behavior’; don’t just tell them about it.” “Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf” (2 Cor. 8.24).

Much has been written about good writing. Here are two memorable quotes from two excellent writers:
“Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the things you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us a thing was ‘terrible’, describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was ‘delightful’; make us say ‘delightful’ when we’ve read the description.” (C. S. Lewis)
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” (Anton Chekhov)

The Scriptures show us many ways to be a proof text in our own Personal Mission Field:
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless,
plead for the widow” (Is. 1.16, 17),
“Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore” (Ps. 37.27).
“He has shown you…what is good…to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6.8).
“…a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Ps. 111.10).
“Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath” (Zech. 8.16, 17).

And the loudest, showiest proof text of all? Keeping God’s Law (Ex. 20.1-17; Matt. 22.37-40).

Wouldn’t it be great if our behavior caused someone to say, “Delightful, I see that glint of Jesus’ light reflected in their life, as if shining on broken glass!?!”

Showing the Presence of Christ—as text proof—clearly and consistently.
Where? In everything we do.

For reflection
1. What “proof text” will be read from your life today?

2. What can you do each day to prepare yourself to “proof text” Jesus to your world?

3. Who has been a “proof text” of Jesus to you lately? Have you thanked them?

Paul is urging the Corinthians to demonstrate their love by the way they treat those he is sending to them. If they received them with honor, they would be demonstrating to all the other churches how far they had progressed and that the good things which were said about them were true. He is therefore encouraging their resolve, for someone who is well thought of usually shows improvement. Ambrosiaster (f. 366-384), Commentary on Paul’s Epistles

Pray Psalm 48.4-14.
Pray for revival in your church, the churches in your community, and churches all around the world. Pray that Jesus will again show His glory to the world through His Church.

Sing Psalm 48.4-14.
(Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Earthly kings, amazed and wond’ring, look upon the Church with fear.
See them flee in dread and anguish, knowing that the LORD is near.
For the city of the Savior God will keep forevermore!
God will keep forevermore!

For Your grace and lovingkindness we proclaim Your matchless worth!
As Your Name is, great and boundless, let Your praise fill all the earth.
Let Your people sing rejoicing for the judgment of Your truth;
for the judgment of Your truth.

Walk about the blessèd city, see her beauty, see her power.
Count her ramparts, filled with glory, look on every mighty tower.
Tell her glory to the nations: God will guide her evermore;
God will guide her evermore!

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help you see both the greatness and the smallness of God’s salvation. Such a Great Salvation and Small Stuff will show you how to think small, live big, and know the salvation and glory of God in all your daily life. You can learn more about these books and order your copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.