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Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 187

"My God will humble me among you..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:21

WHERE PEOPLE WOULD NOT REPENT

Paul was deeply concerned about how his third visit would turn out. He hoped that there would be an appropriate response to what he had written. Yet, realistically, he also knew that things may not turn out well.

“Lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you,
and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before
and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication,
and lewdness which they have practised.”
2 Corinthians 12:21

1. “Lest, when I come again”

This is a reference to the intended visit mentioned (2 Corinthians 12:14, 20).

2. “My God will humble me among you”

There would be a number of ways in which God could have worked in Corinth.

a) He could grant joy on this third visit.
i) The people would have repented.
ii) And they would have returned to the Lord.
iii) They would be fully reconciled with the Lord and with Paul.
b) He could also grant anguish and sadness.
i) If the people had not repented.
ii) They continued to resist.
iii) There would be high tension at Paul’s proposed third visit.
c) God humbling Paul.
i) Paul would have to discipline the unrepentant church members.
ii) Such work is usually unpleasant.
iii) For Paul, this kind of work was truly humbling.

3. “And I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented”

a) Mourning
i) We recall what Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who mourn”.
ii) Paul had such a heart. He would mourn over unrepentant sinners.
b) For many who have sinned
i) Sin always brings sadness to the heart.
ii) Paul mourned for the Corinthian Church who seemed unable and unwilling to break from sin.
c) And have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication and lewdness which they have practised.

These sins were difficult to eradicate, partly because Corinth was a city where prostitution was a deep-seated problem. Ultimately, the heart must be convicted of sin and become repentant!