Read: 2 Corinthians 11-13
Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 11-13. Today we finish the book of 2 Corinthians, and I think these final chapters are such a reminder that God does not expect perfection from us. He knows. He knows the path planned for us, the mistakes that we are going to make, the ways we are going to sin, our thoughts, our actions, our hearts. He knows it all before we even do, and He still loves us. Great job on finishing another book in the Bible!
That honestly stood out to me so much while reading today because I think sometimes people act like struggling means you are failing. I know that I have felt that before. But there Paul is literally writing about weakness, suffering, hardships, persecution, insults, and difficulties throughout these chapters.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” -2 Corinthians 12:9
“For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:10
Paul is talking about everything that he personally endured while spreading the Gospel and caring for the Corinthians, but what I love is the humility here. He knows none of it was by his own strength. He knows he would not have survived or overcome any of it without God.
That is such an important reminder for us too because so many times we want to rely on ourselves first. We want to fix things ourselves, carry things ourselves, and be “strong enough” ourselves when really God works the most through our weakness because that is when we fully lean on Him.
“Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?” -2 Corinthians 13:5
Obviously, Paul is speaking to the Corinthians here, but this applies to us too. Christ is with us. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives in us and works through us. We are not doing life alone.
“Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong.” -2 Corinthians 13:7
I actually really loved this part because it is such a reminder that we should be praying for strength against sin. Not so that we can look righteous to others or act better than people, because none of us are without sin.
“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”” -John 8:7
We should strive to do what is right and just simply because we love God and want to honor Him.
Paul ends this letter with so much encouragement and peace after all the warnings and correction.
“Rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” -2 Corinthians 13:11
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” -2 Corinthians 13:14
I just love that reminder that through God we can have peace, love, grace, encouragement, and restoration. Not because we are perfect, but because He is!
Discussion Questions
- What does it look like to rely on God’s strength instead of your own?
- Why do you think God works so powerfully through weakness?
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A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest*
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