S – For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death

2 Corinthians 7:10 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Two kinds of sorrow are mentioned: (1) Worldly sorrow that lacks repentance leads to spiritual death (e.g., see Matt 27:3–6; Heb 12:16–17). (2) Sorrow that leads us away from sin leads to salvation, as it did when the church in Corinth responded positively to Paul’s rebuke

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – Use challenge, grief and even loss to move closer to God.  It causes us to recognize that we can can be healed and free through the blood of Christ.  We have to recognize what we do that contributes to the challenge, repent and accept God’s forgiveness.

R – Lord, thank you for the gift of your forgiveness.  Help me to recognize where I fall short and accept your forgiveness.  I repent of my thoughts, words and actions that don’t line up with your Word.  Give me the ability to turn this decision into growth and closer intimacy with You.

S – And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, 

says the Lord Almighty.^,

 2 Corinthians  6:18 CSB

O – Commentary: A redeemed people are brought into a special relationship with God the Father as His sons and daughters (cf. Isa. 43:6). Those who identify with Christ by faith in Him may call God “Father” (Eph. 2:18; Gal. 4:5–6). From these sons and daughters God wants obedience (Deut. 32:19–21) as He did from David, His people’s chief representative, and from David’s lineage (2 Sam. 7:14; cf. Ps. 89:30–34).

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

“Almighty” – pantŏkratōr,  the all-ruling, i.e. God (as absolute and universal sovereign):— Almighty, Omnipotent.

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – Quoting the OT text, Paul isn’t just establishing God’s sovereignty.  He is establishing our relationship with him in a familial context.  Like an earthly father, God wants obedience.  Not like a robot, but rooted and demonstrated in love.  Fascinating, the only place in the NT you see “Almighty” used and is used in “elevating” us into a place of relationship with the “absolute and universal sovereign.”

R – Lord, we are grateful for our relationship with you.  You are the one true God and you choose to have a relationship with us.  Help us be obedient to your words today.  Draw us closer to you so that we may emulate the character of God.  

S – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB

O – Commentary: The great privilege of believers is to be Christ’s ambassadors (cp. Eph 6:20). • God is making his appeal through us: Paul doesn’t say that he speaks for God; rather, God speaks his word through us. • Christ’s redeeming work for sinners opens the way for them to “Come back to God!” and be reconciled with him (see Rom 5:1–11; Col 1:15–23; Eph 2:11–22). Christian witness has this appeal at its heart. Paul was also appealing to the rebellious Corinthians to come over to his side (see 6:1).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – There is honor in representing Christ to the world.  God entrusts His message to us to model and speak on His behalf.  There is also weight and responsibility that comes with this.  The lives of those we interact with are at stake.  While it is their decision, we must lead well.

R – Lord, I invite you Holy Spirit to minister your love for others through me today.  I appreciate the gravity of being your ambassador.  Help my thoughts, words and actions model your love and draw others closer in their relationship with you.

S – For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal

2 Corinthians  4:17–18 CSB

O – Paul is amazing in calling all of his “challenges” as light afflictions.  Yet, he can do this by sharing that his focus and goal is heaven and eternal life.

A – Life is hard.  We face challenges that impact us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  How do we view these?  What do we do with them?  How do they impact and change us?  How do we move through this to the next thing?  Questions we face all the time.  Grateful that we can invite God into all of them.  Our eternal reward is before us.

R – Lord,  it is hard doing daily life.  The goal of loving You and others every day is challenged by our own inadequacies, people’s behavior and an enemy who loves to pour condemnation on us.  Help us today to walk with you, love people and defeat sin and temptation.  Our goal is heaven…we are one step closer today.

S – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

 2 Corinthians 3:17 CSB

O – Commentary:  The Holy Spirit is the personal “Agent” of Christ; He is the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Rom. 8:9). The Two are One in purpose (John 15:26; 16:6–15) and in result (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 5:1). Paul’s words the Lord is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17; cf. v. 18) do not confuse these two Persons of the Godhead. Instead, they affirm the Holy Spirit’s deity.

A major result of the New Covenant is freedom. Elsewhere Paul compared those under the Old Covenant to children of slavery and those under the New to children of freedom (Gal. 4:24–31). This freedom is possible because Christ has redeemed from the penalty of the Law those who believe so that they become children of God (Gal. 4:5–7). This freedom as children is confirmed by the Spirit, who enables Christians to call God Father (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).

3:18. The 

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Christ’s death and resurrection brought freedom from sin and death.  The Holy Spirit gives us the help to walk that out.  When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit is with us to guide and advocate living a life that honors God free from the stronghold of sin and eternal death.

R – Lord, help us to walk in the freedom provided by Christ’s death and guided by the Holy Spirit.  We can easily put ourselves in our own “prison.”  Don’t let us do that.  Help us to move towards true freedom from sin and self-imposed barriers.  We invite your Holy Spirit to move us closer to you and others today!

S – For we do not market the word^r of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God. 

 2 Corinthians 2:17 CSB

O – Commentary:  

In Paul’s day there was apparently no lack of false apostles (cf. 2 Peter 2:1). According to Paul, the ministry of the many false apostles was a matter of self-interest. Unlike them, he had ministered in Corinth without charge (cf. 2 Cor. 11:7–12; 12:14), though in principle he had no problem accepting material remuneration for spiritual labor (1 Cor. 9). What characterized the false apostles were their messages and their motives. Like dishonest merchants they selfishly hawked their wares. Paul said they peddle God’s Word. This word kapēleuontes, “to hawk, peddle,” is used only here…So too these false apostles adulterated the Word of God for profit. They served themselves, not God whom Paul represented. They were “greedy for money” (1 Peter 5:2), an evidence of their falsehood. But Paul ministered with sincerity (cf. 2 Cor. 1:12).

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A  – In doing anything for the Lord, we need to check our hearts.  Is it genuine or does it have other motives attached to it?

R – Lord, thank you for our relationship with you.  Please check my heart and actions today.  Test them.  Show me if there is anything done in your name that is not true and genuine.  We want to reflect you in a way that show an authentic love for you.

S – Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment

2 Corinthians  1:21–22 CSB

O  – Commentary:  

At the moment of belief God anoints each believer with the Holy Spirit so that like Christ (Christos means “the Anointed One”), he may glorify God by his life (cf. Matt. 5:16). John wrote that believers receive this anointing from God (1 John 2:20, 27). It is a pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the believer, reminiscent of the anointing of priests with oil.

A further consequence of the Spirit’s presence is the seal of ownership (cf. Eph. 1:13–14) which also is accomplished at the moment of faith. A seal on a document in New Testament times identified it and indicated its owner, who would “protect” it. So too, in salvation, the Holy Spirit, like a seal, confirms that Christians are identified with Christ and are God’s property, protected by Him (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19–20).

A third work of the Spirit at salvation is His confirmation that what God has begun He will complete. Present redemption is only a foretaste of what eternity holds (cf. Rom. 8:23), and the presence of His Spirit in our hearts (cf. Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 5:5) is like a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. These last seven words are a translation of one Greek word arrabōna, a down payment which obligates the payer to make further payments. 

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – The Holy Spirit anoints, seals and guarantees us.  We can walk in peace knowing that God has claimed us and continues to interact with us through the Holy Spirit.  

R – Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It marks us with your ownership but is also an active part of our relationship with you.  It also empowers us to accomplish all that you have for us to do.  We invite it to be in every aspect of our lives today.

S – Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 

 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 CSB

O  – Commentary:  

Paul began the conclusion with a pointed exhortation along a fivefold line. The command, Be on your guard (grēgoreite) might be rendered “be diligent” in carrying out the will of God. In view of the Corinthians’ susceptibility to false teachers (cf. 2 Cor. 11:3) the exhortation to stand firm in the faith was a timely reminder (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1, 58). So too were the closing exhortations to be men of courage and be strong, that is, marked by maturity (cf. 1 Cor. 14:20) and not infants easily swept aside (cf. Eph. 4:14). That sort of diligence and commitment is required if everything is to be done in love (cf. 1 Cor. 12:31b=14:1).

“1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – Be men.  Paul is charging the men of the church to be men.  Diligent, faithful, mature, masculine and loving.  What a great description of what we need in men today.  Not perfect but men who are growing in all five of these facets of their lives.

R – Lord, help us to grow in these areas today.  We want to be consistent in all of them.  When we waiver, get us back to the line you are causing us to walk.  I ask your Holy Spirit to empower us with your presence and power to excel in these today.

S – For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. ²² For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 CSB

O – When Adam sinned, all of humanity that came from him was condemned to die due to their sin.  When Christ was resurrected and was victorious over death, He became the pathway to defeat sin.

A  – This is the simple statement of how we are sinners and need to recognize Christ as our savior.  It is a challenging principle for some and easy for others.  As believers,  we must continue to keep this central in our message as we share the good news with others.

R – Lord, I am a sinner.  I am grateful that you provided a way out of my sin through Jesus Christ.  Help me to share this with other s who need the good news.  Let me carry your message with compassion, courage and humility.

S – What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB

O –  Commentary: 

When the church met, anyone was free to participate by contributing a hymn, or a word of instruction (cf. 1 Cor. 14:6; probably a lesson based on the OT), a revelation from one gifted in prophecy (cf. vv. 6, 29–32), or a word from one gifted in a tongue followed by an interpretation of what was said. The controlling principle in this free participation was the rule of love. All that was said and done was to have as its goal the need to strengthen (pros oikodomēn, “edifying”) others (cf. vv. 4–5).

“1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When the church gathers, everyone is a participant.  Each person uses their gifts to strengthen others.  It builds yourself as well.  When the body comes together this way, the whole grows together and community is established.

R – Lord, thank you that you don’t want us to do life alone.  In coming together, we gather to glorify you, build each other up and walk in unity with others through your Word.  Help us to use our gifts with a humble heart and a courageous expression.  In loving You, let us love each other unconditionally.