2 Corinthians 12 (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 12.1-21; meditate on verses 19-21.

Prepare
1. What was Paul working to do for the Corinthians?

2. What was Paul preparing to do?

Meditation
You will recall that it is a primary aim in working our Personal Mission Field that we seek to edify others in the Lord and to let them edify us as well (2 Cor. 10.15). As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are sent into our world to make disciples (Matt. 28.18-20)—by the grace of God, to build-up others in the Lord.

This was all Paul had ever sought for the Corinthians (v. 19). It didn’t matter that they scorned his teaching or didn’t reciprocate his love. That was their problem. His calling was to continue spending and being spent for their souls. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul didn’t want his “boasting” to be misunderstood. He was not “excusing” himself or his colleagues for his harsh first letter and their follow-up visit. Indeed, he reminded the Corinthians of what they had become in his absence (vv. 19-21), and he feared that, when he came again, they might be still the same.

He didn’t want to spend his next visit mourning for the Corinthians and their lack of repentance (v. 21). He wanted to rejoice with them, as, indeed, he was doing throughout much of this second epistle. Paul’s desire was to help the Corinthians get on the Jesus Pathagain and to resume their callings in the Lord.

Paul was coming to the Corinthians again, and he wanted to see the issues he had addressed in 1 Corinthians on the mend. He had stooped to foolishness in boasting about his weaknesses. But he wanted them to consider that God, Who could humble him in mourning, could also humble them in discipline. Caveat lector et auditor.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
As a reader (lector) and a hearer (auditor) we, like the Corinthians, must beware.

Are we imbibing in contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, and tumults? (2 Cor. 12.20) Have we repented of uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness? (2 Cor. 12.21)

One, or several, or most of those things characterized the Corinthians. Do they characterize us as well?

Jesus said, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven…for I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5.19, 20).

As Moses said, “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days…” (Deut. 32.46, 47).

Paul cared just as deeply for his charges as Moses cared for his and Jesus does for us. They are all pleading with us through these same words. Everything they did was for our salvation, edification, and growth (2 Cor. 12.19).

The overarching question to the Corinthians, and to us, is this: “What will you do with Jesus?”

Jesus is standing in Pilate’s Hall—
Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all:
Hearken! What meaneth the sudden call?
  What will you do with Jesus?

Jesus is standing on trial still,
You can be false to Him if you will,
You can be faithful through good or ill:
  What will you do with Jesus?

Will you evade Him as Pilate tried?
Or will you choose Him, whate’er betide?
Vainly you struggle from Him to hide:
  What will you do with Jesus?

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
  ‘What will He do with me?’
(Albert Benjamin Simpson, 1843-1919)

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you…
These things I command you, that you love one another” (Jn. 15.14, 17).

“…love edifies” (1 Cor. 8.1).

Caveat lector et auditor.

For reflection
1. Why is it important for us to keep ourselves free of sin, to confess and repent of our sins daily?

2. Any sin, be it ever so small, is like a thin entering wedge if not dealt with. Explain.

3. How can our Christian friends help us to keep focused on Jesus and free of sin?

He declares, in what way it tends to their edification, that his integrity should be vindicated, for, on the ground that he had come into contempt, many grew wanton, as it were, with loosened reins. Now respect for him would have been a means of leading them to repentance, for they would have listened to his admonitions. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12.20

Pray Psalm 48.4-14.
Pray for more grace, that the Lord may use you to love and edify even those who are indifferent to you or who do not reciprocate your love. Look to the Lord to build you up and strengthen you for today’s work.

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.