Scripture Reading : 2 Corinthians 1
Theme : The God of Comfort
As mentioned in the introduction, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to defend himself against the assaults of false apostles who sought to discredit Paul in order to replace the truth of God with their satanic lies.
- The comfort of God in trouble (1:1-11). The first section of this passage shows Paul’s defense against their false charge that his trials were God’s punishment for his sin and unfaithfulness. Here, Paul uses two OT titles of God – “the Father of mercies” (2 Sam 24:14; Ps 86:15; etc.) and the “God of all comfort” (Is 40:1, 51:3) to make the point that God was comforting him in his sufferings, not chastening him. God alone is the source of true comfort, which in turn gives us hope and strength amid the trial. Through God’s comfort in sufferings, we can then comfort others in their trials with the same comfort we receive.
- The testimony of the conscience against accusation (1:12-24). Not only that, the false apostles were also accusing Paul of being untrustworthy and fickle through a trivial evidence: a change in Paul’s travel plans. In his defense, Paul did not call on his friends to verify his integrity, but appealed to the highest human court: his own conscience. Because Paul’s fully informed conscience affirmed that his conduct had been in holiness and godly sincerity, it exonerated him from these false charges. After defending his integrity did Paul finally explain why he changed his travel plans: it was to give the Corinthians time to correct the problems he wrote of in 1 Corinthians in order to avoid another painful visit to them. This displayed his sensitivity towards his beloved church, not untrustworthiness and fickleness.
Praying the Scripture
- Many people today question why bad things happen to good people. But Scripture rejects the underlying assumption that people are truly good (Rom 3:10). Bad things happen to all people because they are sinners who live in a fallen, sin-cursed world. In the course of godly living and ministry, it is inevitable that believers will be afflicted (2 Tim 3:12). Yet in God’s providence, we have the promise of God’s comfort to strengthen us when we suffer for Christ. Are you discouraged by the various trials in your life? Know that those who experience the most suffering will receive the most comfort and those who receive the most comfort are thereby the most richly equipped to comfort others. Let’s pray that we will not be discouraged by trials, but to trust God for deliverance and comfort through trials.
- The conscience is a warning system, placed by God to warn of damage to the soul. But today’s culture aggressively tries to silence sin and guilt in the conscience as harmful to their self-esteem. However, those who attempt to do so face spiritual ruin (cf 1 Tim 1:19; 4:2; Titus 1:15). Though the conscience either affirms right behaviour or condemns sinful behaviour, it is not infallible. Therefore, believers need to set their conscience to the highest moral standard by submitting to all of God’s Word so that their conscience can call them to live according to that law. Do you have a clear conscience before God? At salvation, God cleanses the conscience from its lifelong accumulation of guilt, shame and self-contempt. It is now our responsibility to keep a clear or good conscience as commanded in the Bible (1 Peter 3:16). Let’s pray that we will be sensitive to any sins in our life by examining ourselves in light of Scripture and confess them quickly before our faithful and forgiving God.
经文：哥林多后书1
主题：赐安慰的神
如前言所介绍的，保罗书写哥林多后书的目的是要在假使徒的诬告中维护自己，因为他们试着销毁保罗的信誉，以便用魔鬼的谎言取代神的真理。
- 神在患难中赐予的安慰（1:1-11）。这段经文显示保罗被诬告说他所面对的试炼是神因着他的罪与不忠所实行的处罚，而保罗为此辩护。这里保罗使用了神的两个旧约称呼：发慈悲的父（撒后24:14；诗86:15等）和赐各样安慰的神（赛40:1,51:3），以强调神是在患难中安慰他，不是管教他。唯独神是真安慰的源头，而这在患难中给予我们盼望和力量。藉着神在患难中所赐的安慰，我们也能在他人的患难中给予他自己所曾领受过的安慰。
- 良心的见证与被受诬告（1:12-24）。不仅如此，那群假使徒也藉着一件微不足道的证据控告保罗是个不可信及善变的人，即保罗对他旅途计划的改变。在他的辩护中，保罗并没召他的朋友为他的诚信作证，而是向人类的最高法院作出请求：他自己的良心。由于保罗全然知情的良心确认他是在圣洁和敬虔的诚实中行事的，所以他不会被这些诬告缠累。维护他的诚信后，保罗最后解释他为什么要改变旅途计划：为要给哥林多教会时间改正他在哥林多前书所记下的问题，叫他不会再次“忧愁”地探访他们。这实际上展现了他对自己挚爱的教会的敏感之心，而不是他不可信又善变。
用经文祷告
- 许多人试问遭遇为何会发生在好人身上。然而，圣经拒绝其理论说人也有好的（罗3:10）。坏事发生在所有人身上，因为我们都活在一个堕落罪恶的世界里。在敬虔生活与事工中，信徒难免受会到逼迫（提后3:12）。可在神的供应中，神应许当我们为基督受苦时，祂的安慰会给予我们力量。你是否因生活所遇的各种试炼而灰心呢？要记得，经历最多苦难的人也将是领受最多安慰的，从而最有装备安慰他人。让我们祷告我们不会因试炼感到气馁，乃信靠神救我们，在试炼中赐安慰。
- 良心是神所安装的预警系统，避免灵魂受损。然而，今日的文化正积极地尝试按压良心的罪恶与愧疚感，说那对自尊有害。可是，试着如此行的人会面对灵里的毁害（参：提前1:19；4:2；多1:15）。虽然良心能肯定好行为，也能谴责坏行为，但它也能败坏的。因此，信徒必须顺服神完全的律法，将他们的良心以最高的道德品格为标志，使他们的良心能驱使他根据这个标准生活。你是否在神面前有无愧的良心？得救之时，神洁净一人的良心免去终生的愧疚和自我轻视感的积累。我们现在有责任保持一个清洁无愧的良心，如圣经所吩咐的（彼前3:16）。让我们祷告我们会对生活中的罪敏感，常常在经文的光照中审察自己，在我们信实与宽恕的神面前快速承认罪行。
