A Call to Live Well
Read the Text: 2 Corinthians 13
Memorize the Text:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me
(2 Corinthians 12:9, CSB)
Consider the Text: 2 Corinthians 13:11
A wellness check provides a patient with necessary information concerning their health. Such a visit to the doctor may reveal an undiagnosed ailment or may be used to set a course to strive for better health. After Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, he wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11, CSB). This spiritual wellness check provided goals for believers.
Strive to Rejoice
The apostle Paul challenged the believers in Corinth to live in an attitude of worship. He charged them to live in a manner of rejoicing in the Lord at all times. He shared about the faithfulness of the Lord throughout all of life’s situations and even noted the greatness of God’s grace and strength in one’s life. Thus, the apostle’s call to rejoice extended as a command to worship the Lord and to praise Him for his past, present, and future work and presence in one’s life. Today, we need to find ways to rejoice in the Lord. On the best of days, rejoice. On the worst of days, rejoice. As a believer, our life needs to be rejoicing.
Strive to Become Mature
The apostle called the believers to a life of growth. The picture provided in Greek comes as one being mended and put back together. This means that the believer becomes more like Christ as they grow in spiritual maturity. This growth does not occur without effort; thus, Paul knew they needed to set this mature state as a goal and strive for it. Today, we become more like Jesus as we mature in the faith. This maturity brings for a state of being restored and mended together as we grow closer to the Lord.
Strive for Encouragement
Paul built on the opening of 2 Corinthians in his command for believers to encourage one another. In the introduction of this letter, the apostle discussed how believers comfort one another out of the comfort each experienced. Such an approach brought unity and encouragement to the body of Christ. Such an act focuses on the desire to build the body up instead of fragmenting it. Today, the act of encouragement needs to be commonplace within the body of Christ. We need to strive to encourage others through the practice of extending comfort, Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 1.
Strive to be of the Same Mind
The apostle Paul called the church to strive to live in like-mindedness and unity. The ability to accomplish this task comes through the striving to live under the guidance of truth. When the body seeks to follow the Lord and His Word, the ability to live in the same mind occurs. Paul knew that such a goal and strategy would be beneficial because of both spiritual encouragement and support. Today, believers face the threat of living in spiritual isolation and the influence of opinions based on one’s rights. The believer needs to live submitted before the Lord and in a state of obedient surrender seeking to live under the leading and ways of the Lord to have the same mind.
Strive to Live at Peace
The apostle Paul charged believers to live in peace. This call comes as an extension of living under the desired ways of the Lord. Believers are to live in peace because the Lord is peace. At the same time, peace does not exist as a lack of combat or tension but as an extension of loving God first and people second. Such a life occurs when others are treated more highly than the self. Today, believers should strive for peace to illuminate Christ. Such a life happens because they allow the Lord to dominate and control their life.
The apostle closed with these five commands to believers. He charged believers to rejoice, grow, encourage, unify, and live peacefully. These commands extend to believers today. We must strive to carry out these five charges in a manner that brings the Lord honor and reflects his goodness. These characteristics cannot occur as manufactured approaches but happen when we allow the Lord to control us completely.
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
