Devotion: 2 Corinthians 7:15

2 Corinthians 7:15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.

When first reading this verse you may find yourself wondering who we are talking about. Because of that, go back and read a few verses to get a feel for what is going on and who it is referring to. In this case, Paul is writing about his companion Titus, a Gentile convert who assisted with establishing church leadership and addressing problems like those the Corinthian church faced.

It is hard to imagine anyone having more affection for the church and its people than Paul, but he comments on the great affection Titus has for the Corinthian church who responded to him in obedience and showed great respect. Titus was impressed by their choice to obey God by obeying Paul’s instructions to them to discipline the man who was opposing Paul’s ministry.

The Corinthian church members showed great respect to Titus who came to them as a representative of Paul. Paul writes that they received Titus with fear and trembling, meaning that they recognized that he came with Christ’s authority. Their attitude toward him was not one of emotional fear or being scared of him, but instead it was an attitude of respect and reverence. That demonstration of humility caused Titus to have great affection for them.

But what does this mean to us as believers today? It may seem to have nothing that we can draw from the verse, but as we have said before, all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16). That means there is still something we can learn from this verse and apply in our own lives.

There are a few things we can learn from this verse. One is respect for authority and leaders. We are to show respect to those in authority positions and honor their role. Another is obedience in correction. The church in Corinth had issues that Paul was trying to address and they were quick to respond and humbly made changes, which resulted in Titus’s affection for them growing. We can learn from these believers to humbly submit to authority and obey directives.

Do you struggle with authority? If yes, what can you do today to submit humbly and walk in obedience?

Prayer: Lord, Help me to show respect and respond with humble obedience to You and to the leaders in my life. Amen

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