2 Corinthians 2 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven - - if there was anything to forgive - - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 

 

Forgiving someone who has harmed you or a loved one can be one of the toughest parts of the Christian life, but it is also one of the most crucial ones. Forgiveness brings freedom and life, and unforgiveness brings bondage and death! When we don’t forgive one another the way Christ forgave us, we’re not walking in His footsteps but rather walking in the flesh.

 

I sin every day, and most of the time, I may not even realize it or acknowledge it, but the Lord still forgives me, so who am I to hold a grudge against anyone? My sins hung Jesus on the cross, and if He can forgive that, then I can forgive others! The key is to allow Him to lead you into this forgiveness. Under my own strength, it would be impossible, but through Christ, nothing is impossible.

 

When we don’t forgive, we are playing right into the enemy's hands. We give him an open invitation to bring all kinds of other sins and pitfalls and plant them in our hearts! Old wounds can be a breeding ground for new sin! We can’t heal these wounds, but Jesus Christ can, and it starts with forgiveness!

 

I have heard it said that not forgiving someone is like drinking poison yourself and hoping they die. It’s that detrimental to us and can blind us from the truth! The truth is Jesus says there is a prerequisite for our forgiveness: that we forgive one another! Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart today and reveal to you who you may be harboring unforgiveness against and then lay that at the Lord’s feet and walk in His freedom today!

 

Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

God bless! I love you all! Glory, Honor, and Praise forever to God Almighty, Jesus Christ our Risen King and the Holy Spirit! 

 

 

2 Corinthians 2:15

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Isaiah 65:5- “‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.”

Our lives are an aroma to our God. The questions is, what kind of aroma? To live by the Spirit is to be an aroma that is pleasing and glorifying to our God. One He delights in, one that pleases Him and puts a smile on His face. But to live in the flesh causes a stench to rise and meet our God’s pure and righteous nostrils. He cannot stand the stench of sin.

He did not come to die that we may continue in our sin but to save and cleanse us from it. He has given us everything we need to live a life that is pleasing and sweet to Him. No man could do this on his own, but the Living God who came down from Heaven surely made the way! His Spirit dwells in His people, allowing and even equipping them to live a life that brings glory, honor, and praise to God Almighty!

What does my life truly smell like to God? Is my fruit offensive to Him because it’s rotting, or does He delight in the fruit I produce in Him? If you belong to Christ, if you’re serving and following Him with your whole heart, then your life will reflect that, and your aroma will be sweet. But if you’re riding the fence, playing with fire, then your aroma might be more tainted than you realize!

Praise God who welcomes the stinky sinner into His family and replaces the stench of death with the sweet smell of life and victory in Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 1:18-20- “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

God bless! I love you all, but His love leads us down the path of sweetest aroma to our God; will you take it? Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!