Slices
Prepare
Under God’s loving gaze, prayerfully reflect on the evidence of faith you see in your life.
Bible passage
Final warnings
13 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 in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong – not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority – the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Final greetings
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Explore
How many times have you said the concluding verse of 2 Corinthians? Were you aware that this is where it was from? It is rich in meaning and elegant in expression. However, its familiarity and simplicity make it easy for us to forget all that lies behind it. Like the last paragraph of a moving novel or the final episode of a complex series, it carries within it the breadth and depth of the story it closes.
It’s been a story of testing in every sense, from the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship to the application of the Corinthians’ faith, with all the tension in between… and it’s not over yet. As Paul looks to his third visit, he assures them that he can demonstrate God’s discipline if needed (vs 1–4) and urges them to forestall this (thus proving him) through honest self-reflection (vs 5–10). When, where and how do you make space for honest self-reflection?
All of it is to one end: that the grace of Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit might indwell them, transforming every thought and action. How do you understand the grace of Jesus? What qualities does Paul focus on in this final chapter? What a stunning summary of all Paul has been wanting and working for, and all that the upside‑down kingdom of God in his church can be.
Respond
Reread verse 11. How can you move towards rejoicing, restoration, encouragement, unity and peace this week?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ecclesiastes 6,7; Psalms 95,96
Pray for Scripture Union
Give thanks for the new openness to faith amongst children and young people in this generation. Please pray for more churches to recognise the season that we are in, and to make plans to reveal Jesus to the next generation in their community.(This week's prayers relate to this article.)
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