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PASTORAL WELL-WISHES
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
2 Corinthians 13:11-14
Ephesians 6:23-24
 
“… the God of love and
peace shall be with you.”
 
PASTORAL WELL-WISHES
 
In 2 Corinthians 13:10, Paul declared that he sought the edification of the Corinthian saints and not their destruction. This heart of Paul could be seen in the closing remarks of the letter. There were no imprecations pronounced upon the Corinthian church but rather a sincere desire for spiritual blessings to be upon God’s people (see especially the benediction pronounced in 2 Cor 13:14). This is all the more remarkable considering that the Corinthian church had on many occasions caused much hurt to the Apostle Paul. Yet Paul had great patience with the Corinthians. This is what it means to be a humble servant of the Lord.
 
What were Paul’s well-wishes for the Corinthian church (2 Cor 13:11)?
 
• “Be perfect” – Paul was not talking about sinless perfection but rather that the Corinthian Christians should grow in spiritual maturity (cf. 2 Pet 3:18).
 
• “Be of good comfort” – This was Paul’s desire that the Corinthian Christians should find their encouragement and comfort from all the ecclesiastical issues in Christ Himself.
 
• “Be of one mind” – The Corinthian Christians should set aside their sectarian spirit and unite in Christ and His truth to build up the church.
 
• “Live in peace” – This is an exhortation to keep the peace in the church. This peace is not one at the expense of truth, but one which is achieved by adhering to the truth (cf. Eph 4:3).
 
Did the letter achieve its purpose? Not much is said in the Scriptures, but the fact that the book of Romans was written after Paul’s visit to Corinth and the success of the collection for the Jerusalem saints seem to indicate that the Corinthians received Paul. If so, the church learnt from its issues and matured in the Lord. May it be so also in our churches today!
 
THOUGHT: (Read Mark 10:45.)
PRAYER: Make me a servant like Christ, O Father.

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