Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 12:14-18

Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he?

Paul often prayed from brothers and sisters in Christ. Every letter that Paul wrote mentioned how he was praying for them. His prayers are not mere utterance of words, but each time, he was praying for the needs of brothers and sisters and for some particular matter. Paul knew how to pray for others. Today, God is also looking for people who are willing to pray for others.

Paul gave us a few examples here. In verse 14, he says, "What I want is not your possessions but you." In other words, we must pray for brothers and sisters in a selfless manner. When we pray for others, it is not for the benefit of ourselves. On the other hand, selfless does not mean trying to prove that you are better or more righteous that the person you are praying for. Many people are filled with a critical attitude when they pray for others. This goes to show how prideful they are. Just like in Luke 18, Jesus pointed out that the prayer of the Pharisee was filled with criticism of the tax collector and self-righteousness. As a result, Jesus said the Pharisee was not praying, but merely mumbling to himself. There was once I was encouraging a couple to pray together. Before I finished talking to them, the husband shook his head and said, "It's not that I don't want to pray. I just can't stand how she kept confessing my sins for me in her prayers." May the Lord have mercy on us, so that when we pray for others, we are not praying for our own benefit or elevating ourselves, but that we will truly seek the benefit of others.

Secondly, in verse 19 it says, "And everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening." We need to pray for opportunities to strengthen others. In other words, we need to pray for the spiritual health of others and ask God to pour out His spiritual blessings on them. When you pray, ask the Lord, "Lord, show me how you want to bless my brothers and sisters." When you pray this way, the Holy Spirit will guide you. Many years ago, I was praying for a family whose children were retarded because of brain damage. The atmosphere in that household was very bad. The husband did not have any joy. The wife was stressed out. When I was praying for them, the Lord showed me a picture of joy. I started to bless this family and pray that God will grant them the spirit of joy. Many years later, when I saw this family again, praise the Lord, the children's condition was improving and the parents faces were joyful, just like what I had prayed for. Have you prayed for brothers and sisters as well as your own family? Have you prayed for your pastors and your church? May the Lord help us to start becoming an intercessor today.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you because you are our mediator. You pray for us day and night from the throne of heaven. Pray you will help us be people who will intercede, so that your heart may be satisfied. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!