2 Corinthians Chapter 7
Showing all 16 verses for 2 Corinthians Chapter 7.
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"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. "
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let's clean ourselves up completely - in body and in mind - and keep growing towards wholeness, out of a healthy respect for God."
I'm not asking you to punish yourself into shape - I'm asking you to take seriously enough what's been given to you that you let it actually change how you live, inside and out.
"Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. "
"Make room for us in your hearts again - we've wronged no one, ruined no one, and cheated no one."
When people question you unfairly, you don't need to grovel or attack back - just point calmly to how you've actually treated people, and let that speak.
"I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. "
"I'm not saying this to accuse you - I've already told you that you're in our hearts for life, whatever happens."
I want you to love people the way you'd want to be loved through your own worst moments - not walking away the instant things get difficult, but staying anchored to them.
"Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. "
"I can speak to you very openly, and I'm genuinely proud of you - I'm full of comfort, overflowing with joy right in the middle of all our troubles."
You don't need your circumstances to be sorted out before you're allowed to feel joy - real joy can sit right alongside real trouble, and it often does.
"For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. "
"When we got to Macedonia, we still had no rest - we were under pressure from every direction: conflict on the outside, fear on the inside."
Admitting you're afraid or worn down doesn't disqualify you from anything - even people carrying real purpose in their lives get scared and tired, and that's nothing to hide.
"Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; "
"But God, who comforts people who are feeling low, comforted us through Titus turning up."
When you're feeling low, watch for the friend who turns up, the message that arrives, the small relief that comes through another person - that's often exactly how comfort finds you.
"And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. "
"And it wasn't just Titus arriving - it was the comfort he himself had received from you, when he told us how much you longed for me, how sorry you were, how strongly you cared - and that made me even happier."
The kindness you show one person rarely stops with them - it tends to travel on to everyone who loves that person too, so never underestimate how far a caring act can reach.
"For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. "
"Even though my letter hurt you, I don't regret sending it now - though I did regret it for a while - because I can see it only caused you pain for a short time."
Speaking hard truth to someone you love can still be an act of care even when it stings both of you - it's completely normal to feel torn about it, both before and after.
"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. "
"Now I'm glad - not that you were hurt, but that your hurt led you to change direction. Your sorrow was the healthy kind, so what we did didn't damage you at all."
Feeling bad about something you did is only useful if it actually moves you to change - don't let guilt just sit there and rot; let it push you somewhere better.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. "
"Healthy sorrow leads to real change and a better life you'll never regret; but the world's kind of sorrow just leads to despair and death."
I never want you drowning in shame that just eats away at you - I want your regret to become a doorway into something better, not a pit you live in forever.
"For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. "
"Just look at what that godly sorrow produced in you: seriousness, eagerness to clear your name, real indignation, concern, longing, dedication, a readiness to put things right. In every way you've shown yourselves innocent in this matter."
If you're genuinely sorry about something, it will show in what you actually do next, not just in how you feel about it - let your life prove your words.
"Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. "
"So even though I wrote to you, it wasn't really about the person who did wrong, or the one who was wronged - it was so you could see, in God's presence, how much we truly care about you."
When you have to correct someone you love, let the real point be to show them you care enough to be honest - not to win an argument or prove who was right.
"Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. "
"That's why we were comforted by your comfort - and even more, we were overjoyed at Titus's joy, because you refreshed his spirit."
Your kindness to one person rarely stays contained - it tends to lift everyone around them who loves them too, so never treat a small act of hospitality as insignificant.
"For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. "
"If I bragged to Titus about you before he came, I'm not embarrassed now - just as everything we've told you has been true, our praise of you to Titus turned out to be true as well."
Speak well of people in good faith, and let your own consistency - saying the same true things whether someone's listening or not - be what earns you people's trust.
"And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. "
"And Titus's affection for you has grown even deeper, as he remembers how obedient you all were, and how you welcomed him with real seriousness and respect."
How you receive someone who comes to help you says a lot - real humility in welcoming people builds relationship in a way that guardedness or suspicion never can.
"I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. "
"So I'm glad that I can now trust you completely, in every way."
Trust rebuilt after a real conflict is one of the sweetest things two people can have - don't give up on a relationship too soon, because reconciliation like this is worth the wait.