DAY #270: 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

As founder of the church, Paul had fatherly affections for the Corinthians. He had spent hours agonizing over the believers’ spiritual welfare and had worked hard for them. But like rebellious children, the Corinthians had returned Paul’s concern with a cold heart. Although Paul could have commanded and disciplined them, he merely pleaded with them. He wanted to give them a chance to reform their ways.

After passionately appealing to the Corinthians to open their hearts to him, Paul exhorted them, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.” He urged them not to form binding relationships with nonbelievers because this might weaken their Christian commitment, integrity, or standards.

So what did it mean to avoid “teaming up”? The picture is of teaming up two animals, such as an ox and a mule, to plow a field. However, because the plow would be pulled unevenly or the weight being carried would be spilled, it wouldn’t work out. In the same way, a believer and an unbeliever are categorically different. Teaming up with unbelievers would lead to disaster.

The Corinthian church was having a difficult time separating themselves from the immoral practices of their unbelieving neighbors. Paul was telling the Corinthians to avoid any situation that would compromise their faith or their Christian morals. Why? Because goodness cannot partner with wickedness; light cannot live with darkness; Christ and the Devil cannot live in harmony. Therefore, how can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? While this verse applies to all partnerships and alliances, dating and courting and marriage certainly comes under this teaching.

As building blocks of God’s temple, each individual had to maintain a holy life, set apart to God. There was no room for any mixed loyalties. No compromise or agreement had been made between the true God and idols.

In this letter, Paul had exhorted the Corinthians to discipline their members who persisted in error—specifically, the one who had publicly opposed Paul’s authority. The letter had produced its desired effect. Although harsh, it had produced a change of heart in the Corinthians, the repentance that God desired.

The repentance Paul wanted was not merely anguish over the acrimonious situation or a regret that it had ever happened. Godly repentance implies a reorientation of the entire person away from sins and toward God’s ways. It is a “turning around.” The type of remorse that compels a person to change his or her direction is what God wants—not “sorrow” that paralyzes or becomes resentful.

Many people are sorry only for the effects of their sins or for being caught. In the original Greek, sorrow without repentance literally means “the sorrow of the world.” When people do not channel their grief over their behavior into life-changing actions, it is unproductive grief. It leads to self-pity. But godly sorrow is practical and action-oriented. When a person realizes what he or she has done wrong, that person should not only regret the error but also turn back to God. Only God can empower people to change their ways. Only God can save people from the way sin imprisons them and paralyzes them. Only God can help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Paul exhorts us to do just that in this passage today. Guard your heart and don't give it to someone who doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength.

Single people, don't date or court a guy or a gal in hopes they will turn their lives around. It very rarely happens. Don't compromise. Don't bind yourself in that way. Guard your heart. Wait for God to bring the right guy or gal into your life. If you're dating a person like that now, as painful as it might be, break it off. Trust God to supply His man or woman for you in His time.

Habakkuk 2:3 (LB) says, "But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"

Also, guard your heart from giving it to the wrong things. A hobby or a sport or a career or some possession/toy. Don't waste your life by spending it on things that won't last. Don't play trivial pursuit with your life. Only two things will last forever. God's word and people's souls. Invest your life and time and resources in those things.

Lord, speak to every woman's heart who is attending the COV women's retreat. Lord, draw people to COV today to hear Your life-changing message through Pastor Matt.