2 Corinthians 7:12-16 

¹²So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. ¹⁵And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

Comatose

         A movie featured a man in a comatose state for a prolonged time. His parents were very worried because he was their only child they hoped to continue on their lineage. His girlfriend was more positive for his recovery.

         She whispered to the ear of her unconscious boyfriend, “Honey, wake up! I miss you so much. If you don’t wake up, I will marry someone.” The unconscious man started moving his hand. After few moments he woke up. Few months later, they got married and lived happily ever after. The end.

         According to experts, the brain of comatose patients has some kind of auditory perception that can respond to sound, particularly familiar voices. Comatose patients could respond and may recover faster when they hear familiar voices. Talking to comatose patients is also encouraged.

         Together let’s reflect on Ephesians 2:1-3,¹You were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

         Formerly, we’re like comatose patient. How? We gratified the craving of our flesh. When we followed instinctive desires and thoughts, we cannot behave in righteousness. By his grace, the Lord whispered to our spiritual ears, and we heard his voice He gave us faith so that we believe in Christ.

         By faith, we were born into the spiritual realm. Seriously internalize what it announced in Ephesians 2:4-5. ⁴Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

         God is righteous. He decreed eternal death as punishment for people who violate his law. Eternal death is separation from the presence of God. We were violators of God’s law. We deserve to be separated forever from God. We should repent of our sin to prepare the way for Christ to transform  our life and follow his plan for us. Learn from King David in Psalm 66:18.

            ¹⁸If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

         Sin is the reason God won’t listen to prayers. First, we should repent.

Repentance proves that we sincerely desire to follow Christ as our Lord.

We can only follow Christ as Lord after we repent of our sins. God forgives us when we sincerely repent of our sins. The Lord knows that we need his grace. And at the cross, God sent his most precious Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from the penalty of our sin on account of his great love for us.

1.  Account

    ¹²So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³By all this we are encouraged.

         Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians on account of their devotion to him and his mission team. Some Corinthians told Apostle Paul that spiritual problems have divided the church in Corinth. He addressed their problems in his letter to them. Godly sorrow produced repentance in the Corinthian church. Paul heard it and rejoiced. When Titus arrived, he also mentioned that the Corinthians longed for him. It encouraged Paul and his team to keep on despite the many challenges to their mission ministry.

         Religious or not, anyone needs encouragement from time to time. How do you normally get encouragement when you were in deep sorrow? Do you quickly pray and find peace and comfort from Jesus Christ? If so, that could be a practical testimony you can share with somebody.

Eagle’s Wing

         The song Eagle’s Wings says, “Hide me in Your love, Bring me to my knees / May I know Jesus / More and more. Come live in me / All my life, Take over. Come breathe in me / I will rise / On eagle’s wings.”

         This song Eagle’s Wings have been inspired by Isaiah 40:28-31.

         ²⁸Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. ²⁹He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

         God gave eagles the ability to soar high. Confidently, eagles glide high in the sky. Eagles are natural examples of God’s specific plan for everyone. Have you explored yet, how God designed you to soar high?

         Have you reached you best potential? Discover your spiritual gift that God gave you. To reach our best potentials, we follow his will when we use our spiritual gifts. Eventually, we speak and tell the wonders God did for us.

         Let’s reflect on Psalm 40:5, ⁵Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

         To declare the wonders of God supplements our mandate to witness. By faith in Christ, we trust that God diverts us to return to his righteous path when we’re confused of which way to follow. We are encouraged to explore the great adventure God designed for us. His grace sustains our practical needs in life, here on earth and in eternity, in addition to our spiritual needs.

2.  Addition

    ^13bIn addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.

         Scholars agree that Titus was discipled by Apostle Paul. The division in the church of Corinth had become public knowledge. Probably, Titus visited the church in Corinth to confirm if they have matured spiritually. When Titus joined the mission team of Paul, he reported that the Corinthians had godly sorrow that produced repentance, and they matured spiritually.

         It’s very timely update that encouraged Paul and his team in the midst of mission challenges they endured everywhere. Certainly, it feels great to hear other believers talk about our activities in the church. But it is also not very pleasant to hear gossips about ungodly behavior that may confuse us.

         But when we find comfort in God, we’re compelled to speak about his great wonders. What wonderful experienced do you want to tell others?

Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4 (NBA Finals 2026)

         Did you watch the Game 4 in the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs? It was heart stopping game. By half time, the Spurs were leading by 29 points early in the third quarter. With less than 10 minutes in the game, the Spurs were still leading by 20 points.

         After the buzzer sounded to signal that the game ended, who won?

The Knicks celebrated their one point win over the Spurs. It was historical moment for Knicks fans to talk about in many days or even years to come.

         Surely, many spectators could feel sorry when one team leads by many points. They will find their way out of the gym before the game ends. And it is easy to quit when there’s little hope. But if there’s still time, there will still be a glimpse of hope to hold onto, especially when we trust God.

Battle Belongs – Phil Wickham

         The song Battle Belongs articulated trust in God. It says, “When all I see is the battle, you see my victory; When all I see is the mountain, you see a mountain moved; And as I walk through the shadow, your love surrounds me; There’s nothing to fear now, for I am safe with you.

         Problems could wear us down, drain our energy and undermine our confidence. But by faith in Jesus Christ we’ve got confidence he will help us  overcome difficult circumstances. Together, let’s read and be encouraged by what it challenges us in Romans 8:31-32, ³¹If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

         Interestingly, this truth is presented rhetorically. It’s written in question form, why? It challenges us to reconsider. We declare that as long as God is with us no one can defeat us. Yet, struggle may defeat anyone, including believers. We claim that God graciously gives us all things. Yet materialism is prioritized more often than not, and God is relegated to trivial relevance.

         The Corinthians did not prioritize the Lord, and Apostle Paul rebuked them. Their godly sorrow produced repentance. And on account of their obedience to the Lord, Titus practically sensed greater affection for them.

3.  Affection

     ¹⁵And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

         The Corinthians must have learned that Titus was discipled by Paul. And some of them did not want to follow Paul. But after Paul rebuked them for their spiritual confusion, they repented in godly sorrow. Titus witnessed their transformation. They even told him about their longing to see Paul.

         Affection to someone you care may grow greater when you are apart.

We don’t need to be separated to sense greater affection for each other. We can be together and build greater affection and care for each other.

         Personally internalize what it challenges us in Ephesians 5:17-20.

          ¹⁷Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

         It is wise to understand the will of the Lord. He wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit instead of getting drunk on wine. He wants us to speak of our gratitude for everything, with psalms, hymns and songs. May the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace in us and smartly understand his will.

LSS

         What is LSS or Last Song Syndrome? The last song we heard keeps ringing in our heart so that we unmindfully sing it over and over again.

         I used to listen to secular songs. After Christ actively lorded over my life, I switched to Christian songs. Secular songs are relegated to optional. I loved the songs, “He who began a good work in you, and Purify my heart!”

         I had no idea that the Lord was speaking to me through those songs. Truly, God was preparing my heart and mind to firmly decide and serve him in fulltime ministry. I never regretted my decision to serve the Lord fulltime.

         How should we respond after God purifies our heart? Together, let us learn from the prophet in Isaiah 6:7-8, ⁷“Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” ⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

         Formerly, Isaiah spoke offensive words. So, he was scared he might die when saw a Serafim. Accordingly, Serafim are associated with the highest order of angels of God. They are fiery or burning angels. After the Serafim touched the mouth of Isaiah and took away his guilt and sins, he responded to serve the Lord. Reflect on Philippians 1:6, ⁶He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

         The Lord continues to transform us until Christ returns and takes us into heaven. As practical proof of our transformation, we are encouraged to respond by serving the Lord like Isaiah. Pray that God would completely remove the guilt and sins in your heart. You’ll gladly serve him afterward.

         Believers are set apart from worldliness to be light of the world. We are encouraged to discover our spiritual gifts and explore the glorious adventure that God designed for us and then, we testify about his wonders.

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