“Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.  You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections” (2 Corinthians 6:11-12).

No one is able to “make” another do anything.  Yes, we can be coerced by force, but we have been given a free will which we exercise often.  We are free to do as we please.  We are also free to learn how to love as the Lord loves.  Is this not then the challenge to all who believe?  Are we not called to become as Christ?  Your own affections will restrain you.  Are they for this world or for the Lord?

Lord, teach me how fleeting this world is.  Guide me to see that in this world there is heartache and disappointment.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life that I may walk in the way of truth.  Help me keep my eye upon the prize that I may learn from You how life was created to be lived.  Let me not be constrained by my worldly affections, but by You, the author and finisher of my faith.

Lord Jesus, have You not taught us to love as You have loved us?  Have you not said that we are to love the LORD and our neighbor?  Lead me in this way, Lord, that I would now and always be guided by the law of love and not by the affections of my heart which will lead me astray.  Teach me the way to abide in You and guide me to seek how to have You always abide in me.  Amen.

“As unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:9-10).

This is more than just an attitude; it is the reality of being a part of the Lord’s kingdom in a fallen world.  What good does it do to gain the world and lose your soul?  What momentary costs in this age can compare to the benefit of gaining your soul and eternity?  Do not these two things spell a very different way of looking at things?  Come then and see things as they truly are and walk in the way of the Lord.

Lord, open my eyes to see that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in You is all hope and a future.  Lead me in the way of life that I may now and always be guided by You and Your goodness.  Help me not focus upon what I do not have, or what I suffer in this age, but upon what is mine in You now and forever and can never be taken away.

Lord Jesus, You walked humbly in this world and did not seek what this world seeks.  You came as an everyman and lived with no worldly possessions.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way that is eternal that I would focus upon all that is good according to Your word.  Help me to be content in all circumstances.  Lift up my spirit to see that I already have all things necessary when I am in You.  Amen.

“In the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true” (2 Corinthians 6:7-8)

The Lord is in all and through all.  That is, He who knows all things works even through all of those who rebel against Him for His glory to those ends which He has determined.  Be not as one who is in rebellion, but as one who willingly walks in the way of the Lord and rejoice that He has given you your portion amongst the children of Zion.  Come and rejoice in His goodness and mercy.

Teach me, Lord, that in good times and bad, You are there.  Lead me that I may face every circumstance trusting in Your provision and grace.  No matter what I do, honorable or dishonorable, remind me that Your grace is more than sufficient. In You, Lord, is all hope and glory.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always walk firmly within Your arms of mercy.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come to walk through all of life’s circumstances and take upon Yourself our sins that we might be set free from sin, death and the devil.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that You established in the beginning that I may learn, live and love Your way, truth and life.  Lift my countenance above all circumstances that I would see You above all things.  Amen.

“In beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love” (2 Corinthians 6:5-6)

The call of the Lord is to come into and live His love. Yes, we each suffer many things. What has the Lord suffered as He created this creation to watch it rebel against Him? Sometimes we become conditional in our life and because of circumstances, harbor bitterness. Rather than react in rebellion, come to the place where you love because you were first loved. God is love.

Lord, I can do nothing about what happens to me. Lead me to rejoice that You are with me every step of the way. Lead me in the truth of life, that You are love and have loved us so much that You gave Your only begotten Son that we may not perish, but be with You eternally. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk in the way of life and love now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You love us more than we can imagine. You even said that there is no greater love than that one would lay down their life for another. This is what You have done for each one of us. Lead me, Lord, to understand more fully the gift You have given me that I may respond and learn to love as You love. Teach me to love, Lord, that I may put You on and become like You. Amen.

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation” – giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses” (2 Corinthians 6:2b-4)

The word servant here is slave. Slave, not as sinners perverted this in more recent times, but slave as in totally dependant upon the Lord in, through, and for all things. We are to be totally dependant upon the Lord. He will lead and guide us through all that will come before us. He will strengthen us for the struggle which will be ours as we follow the Lord through this age.

The world is filled with difficulties. The Lord has given each of us the will do do as we please. We see the outcome of this with all of the wickedness that fills the world. Yet, He has also given you a will that you can give to Him that You might be what He created you to be. Come then into the presence of the Lord and walk with Him that you may know the salvation He grants to those who believe.

Lord Jesus, You have prepared the way and You know the difficulty of this age. Lead me, O Lord, in faith that I would walk as You lead knowing that You have already prepared the way. Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope and a future glory. Teach me endurance that I may fight the good fight and run the race with perseverance, knowing my hope is in what You have already accomplished. Amen.

“And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain – for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Listen to something that does not exist in what others offer. The Lord God is personal. That may seem obvious, but this simple and unique thing is another of the many realities the Lord shows us. He is not some distant potentate who creates things, but a personal, loving God who cares for His creation. When you listen to the Lord, on that day you know He has provided salvation.

Lord, open my ears to hear that I may listen to all that You say. I often run off with my assumptions and then falter in faith. Help me to trust You by listening to all that You say. You are here each and every day and are constantly calling to me. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may truly be one who follows You in all of the ways You direct me.

Lord Jesus, in the days past, the Father spoke to us through the prophets of old, but now in these last days He has spoken to us through You. Help me to learn to listen to all that You have said that I may be guided by Your goodness and grace. Teach me how to follow You, Lord, that I may be one who lives in the salvation You have prepared before the foundation of the world. Amen.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

You have been called as an ambassador for Christ. It is not just about Sunday church-going behavior, but about who you are becoming. How is your everyday behavior? Do you care about those whom you meet along the way, or do you see the world in an us-them way? Live doing what the Lord gives you to do knowing that He loves all people enough to die for every one of them.

Lord, lift up my spirit that I would see things as You want me to see them. Help me realize that my behavior at all times is important. You have called me to be a witness in thought, word, and deed. You have called me to be a full-time follower who knows that the unbelieving eyes that watch me are seeing a witness of the faith in action. Guide me into a behavior and attitude that freely lives the grace You have given while being serious about the impact I have upon others.

Lord Jesus, You were the only One who was able to do this perfectly. In Your example, help me to live into the life for which You have called me, that I may be an ambassador to a world that does not know You. Equip me to serve as You know I can that I may live out this new life to which You have enabled me to live by grace. In all things, help me to do what is pleasing to the Father. Amen.

“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

Are you able to see the reality of grace? All of these things are from God. It is the Lord who is doing this and not counting against us our iniquities. Yes, work as if it depended upon you, but never forget it is the Lord who has made possible our reconciliation with Him. He who knew no sin became our sin that we who cannot know perfection might become perfect through Him.

Lord, these things often confuse me, for I live in an age that is always bargaining and seeking an upper hand. With You, it is all or nothing and You offer this with Your own life. Lead me into heavenly thinking that I may see things through Your eyes. Guide me to know that in You alone is all hope, for only through You can anyone become what You have created them to be.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world that we might have eternal life. But this is not a then and there proposition, but something that begins here and now. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may be guided by Your example, goodness, and above all, Your grace. Through You Lord, there is nothing but hope and a future. Lead me into the future You have placed before me. Amen.

“Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).

We are often impressed by what we see in the flesh. Do not weigh another based upon the standards of this age, but look beyond and see what the Lord is doing through the one who lives by faith. Yes, Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead, but we are to focus upon our lives of faith and not upon what this world lifts up as important. We are new creatures in Him who has redeemed us.

Lord, grant me spiritual eyes to see the more important things. I am guided by this world’s standards and the things I have experienced. Help me instead to see that in You is all hope and a future. Guide me to see things thus that I would not weigh the works of another, but encourage them to walk in the faith You have given and live into the life to which Your grace calls me.

Thank You, Jesus, for paving the way into the new life made possible by grace. Lead me today and each day farther along the trail of this new life that I may grow and be strengthened in faith. Let me see that You are walking with me always and that You will guide me in all of my ways. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear that I would live this new life which You have given me. Amen.

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Do you see the reality? God is not capricious, but merciful. He died once for all, that all who believe would be offered a new way to live. More than a choice one makes, it is the reality of God at work in and through those who walk with Him. Living this new life means no longer living for ourselves, but abiding in Him that He may make of us what has always been intended.

Lord, grant that I would see through all of the fleeting temptations of this age and live into the life You give through grace. You have united me with You on the cross that I may become what the Father intends. Open my eyes to see that I may believe and live into the eternal life which You promise by grace. Guide me in Your goodness to believe and trust in You above all things.

Lord Jesus, You have come to pave the way for those who believe. Guide me, O Lord, in this new life You have given me that I may walk according to the Father’s will. Lead me in Your example to see the steps You are giving me to take that I may learn faithfulness. Through all things, help me each day to understand more and more that I am united with You and through You by grace. Amen.