Daily Bible Reading – January 2022: God’s Renewing Word of Unity in Christ JesusSample

January 12

Introduction

For the next twenty days, we will be reading the apostle Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, written during a difficult period in Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian community. While some church members had made strong attacks against him, he expressed his deep longing for reconciliation. He begins this letter with a formal introduction that names him and Timothy as sending the letter and God’s people in Corinth and Achaia as the ones receiving it. Paul’s greeting is followed by his thanksgiving prayer to God for comfort in times of great suffering.

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Today’s Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:4

He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.

Reflect

Reread verses 8-11. At the time of Paul, Asia was the name of a Roman province in the southwest part of what is now Turkey. Paul does not explain what kind of suffering he had experienced in Ephesus, but it probably included the threat of death. (Acts 19:21-41 describes an uproar while Paul was in Ephesus.) What kind of suffering do you see in the world today? How is God present amid great suffering? In what ways does God help us in our troubles?

Pray

Loving God, whenever and wherever your people suffer, you suffer with them. Empower your followers to aid and bring comfort to those who are suffering. Open my eyes and heart this day to those in need. May your love and justice reign throughout the world. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

2 Corinthians 1:12-24: The apostle Paul tells the Corinthians of the change in his travel plans.