Second Corinthians is the most underrated, underappreciated book in the New Testament, maybe the whole Bible. In it, Paul is passionately personal in his defense of his ministry and his authority, but he also exhorts and encourages the believers in Corinth in a touching heartfelt way. It is packed with tremendous truth. (I could do several posts on my favorite verses…)

 

One thing worth noticing, even keeping a list of, is everything Paul says about God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. 

 

For example in 1:3-4, Paul says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

 

 

Some major topics Paul covers include:

But the guts of the book are found in chapter 5:17-20. It is perhaps the most succinct statement of what God did for us and what our job is as a result. Love these verses!

 

 

 

Is Second Corinthians the most underrated book? If not, which one would you say?

 

 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

 

I love this. 

 

"My grace" - It's Christ's and He can dispense it as He chooses and He chooses to give it to me.

 

It gets better.

 

"Sufficient" – Enough to meet my needs

 

"Made Perfect" – That's the same Greek word Jesus used on the cross when He cried out, "It is finished!" 

 

The fullness, the completion, the totality of His grace and strength is best revealed in my weakness.

 

My weaknesses, failures, distresses are all redeemed and turned to opportunities because of His grace.

"[W]e are perplexed, but not in despair."  2 Corinthians 4:8 (NKJV) 

 

Perplexed. Not like with algebra homework or programming your television.

 

The Greek points to being confused, frustrated, unable to find a way out, filled with uncertainty or indecisiveness.

 

Been there? I have. 

 

But there's hope. Not despair. Hope.

 

Despair gives up. It folds. 

 

Hope waits to see what happens next.

 

Hope may not know what or how or when,

 

But it knows God. 

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…  2 Corinthians 2:14 ( NKJV ) 

 

Always. Always in triumph.

 

I don't ALWAYS feel like I'm triumphing.

 

Some days feel more like a train wreck.

 

But I don't have to worry about results. I don't have to fear failure.

 

If I am following God's leading (Granted, that's  big 'if')

 

I am assured of victory, regardless of how things appear.

 

 

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5)

 

Sufficient.

 

No matter where He has placed you, 

No matter what He has given you to do,

No matter the challenges you face,

 

In His power, in His grace, He has made sure you are…

 

Sufficient. Adequate. Qualified. Competent.

 

 

 

After a week of normal running and super aerobic VBS music, my knee seems to be ready to resume my plan to hit five miles (continuous) before the season is out. With football season right around the corner, my son has been getting up and running my last mile with me. For a time, my daughter ran with me, but she's decided she's more of an afternoon runner. Even so, it's fun to have a buddy, and it's fun to coach my kids along. 

 

On the flip side, every once in a while, I'll run with my husband, he of the "eight-and-a-half-minute-mile, eleven mile" runs.  Thankfully, he lets me set the pace and I feel accomplished just getting out with him. Even on my solo runs, he encourages me, and checks on my progress. He's good to diagnose my pains and recommend treatment. If we need more help, we consult with his running buddy, Jay. (Jay is so far out of my league, I'm not even going to discuss him.  )

 

In the same way that I'm coaching and being coached as a runner, as believers, we find ourselves in between newer and more mature Christians, with opportunities to learn and to teach. The New Testament is full of descriptions on how this works in the body of Christ. My favorite is 2 Corinthians 1:4.

 

[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (NLT)

 

All the lessons we learn in our trials, all the comfort we receive, God expects us to turn around and share that with someone else. See, He designed the coaching system.