2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13 (NKJV)

Coming with Authority

1This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”

2I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—

3since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

4For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

6But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Paul Prefers Gentleness

7Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.

8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.

10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Greetings and Benediction

11Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13All the saints greet you.

14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Jude 1:24–25

Jude 1:24–25 (NKJV)

Glory to God

24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

25To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Scripture readings

Devotional 📖

‘Peirazete’ = be ye trying aka. you better check yourself

Peirazo threads through scripture as a sober reminder that every heart will be tried and every motive tested. When we remind ourselves that though Christ was crucified in weakness, He now lives by the power of God and will be coming back to test everything in fire, it will produce holy fear in us.

We all fall short, but we must make sure we are not disqualified. Disqualification happens to those who are already in the race, rejecting the will of the Father and choosing to walk in sin.

We sometimes believe that under the new covenant of grace, God is more lenient with sin. Jesus hated and defeated sin. Our desire should not be to live in something He died to free us from and will be coming back to judge. In reality, the expectation for us is higher than those under the Old Testament, because we actually have the Holy Guide (the Spirit of God) correcting, convicting and helping us walk the narrow way.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to check us and to discipline us. His conviction is love and His discipline is holy. If we desire to be a part of the world to come, we must not reject His purifying fire.

Test yourself. Make sure you are not disqualified. In every test, God proves faithful, Christ proves sufficient, and obedient faith proves victorious.

Prayer 🙏

Holy Spirit,

Shine your holy, healing light on every dark part in me. Help me God to not be disqualified. Grant me the grace to test myself and to come to you with every thought, feeling and action. I need you Lord.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Examine yourself

Devotional 📖

Prayer 🙏