Tuesday, July 1 – 2 Corinthians 12, 13

1. How many times did Paul ask God to remove the “thorn from his flesh”? (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2. What does Paul fear he might find in the church when visiting them? (2 Corinthians 12:20,21)

3. What advice does Paul give the believers when greeting each other? (2 Corinthians 13:12)

Be perfect…

Perfection has often been a downfall for my emotional health. I stress in my professional and personal life, trying to achieve perfection in all I do. Most of the time, I end up disappointed in myself when I realize that no matter what I do, I fall short of the “perfection” I dreamt of.

However, in this passage, God calls us to perfection through the apostle Paul. To truly understand this perfection, we must read the entire passage.

In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul discusses accepting his “thorn” in the flesh, which helps him remain humble and glorify God’s strength to cover his weakness. He continues to work gladly for God despite this “imperfection” that he calls a thorn in his flesh. He says we should be glad when we are weak, for God’s strength can be glorified through our weakness.
He ends Chapter 13 with the most powerful verses: “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace.” Be perfect…

We find the meaning of perfection in Matthew 5:43-48. God wants us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, by loving our enemies. The New Living Translation, in 2 Corinthians 13:11, calls it “maturity,” and the English Standard Version calls it “restoration”. It’s all about human relationships and setting them right. God’s perfection is restoration in Him, to live in perfect harmony with God and our neighbors. Loving those who love us is so easy that even those who do not love God can accomplish this task. But loving those who insult us, who cut us off in the highway or the grocery line, is the perfection God asks us.

May God help us turn away from squabbles and learn to respect each other in the pure love that comes from God living in our hearts. May His strength cover our weaknesses to glorify His name.