Notes
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How different we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
God’s Word strengthens our faith and gives us security in tough times. In the above passage, Paul was getting trouble from people because he was experiencing such hardships. They said that because of his hardships, Paul must not be connected to God. But Paul knew that he could get through challenges because of the truth in his life. His letter was to encourage the church in Corinth that when they face tough times, they can get through them, too.
1) God’s Plan
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing.
2 Corinthians 5:1-7
As good as it is in these bodies, it pales in comparison to what it will be. Our earthly bodies will fade away, and we have hope in Jesus’ return. And when He returns, He will make all things new.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”
Isaiah 35:3-4
From front to back, the Bible speaks of God’s restoration. He will make all things new, and we will abide with Him for all eternity.
2) God’s Power
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
“...This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” … He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!
John 9:3b, 7
Our lives are fragile and imperfect. But the light that shines through our brokenness is a sign that God’s power is great even in times of trouble. With Jesus, you can walk above the brokenness and instead live by the power of the resurrection. Power is seen through our participation with God’s chosen vessel, the Church. The Church is fi lled with broken and imperfect people; it’s the enemy’s strategy to make you run and hide when you are hurt by someone in the Church. But God’s plan is to heal your broken heart. Paul was hurt by many people, but he’s the reason many of us are sitting in churches today. Imagine if he had just quit because of what other people were doing or saying!
3) God’s Purpose
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Our task is to be reconcilers in spite of the brokenness and troubles. Maybe it’s something we caused, or that someone else caused, or is just happenstance. But if we focus only on what is happening right now, we’ll miss opportunities to reconcile people to God.
Group Questions
- Can you share a personal experience where focusing on God's promises helped you navigate a difficult situation?
- In what ways can we encourage each other to live by faith and not by sight, especially when facing life's challenges?
- Have you ever seen God's power at work in a situation where you felt particularly weak or broken? How did that experience strengthen your faith?
- How can we be reconcilers in our daily lives?
Prayer
Thank you for your unwavering promises and the hope of eternal life. Help us to focus on your truth, live by faith, and be reconcilers in our broken world.