FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
2 Corinthians
February 27, 2026
LOVE
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
MEDITATE: Here’s the thing about 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 that blows my mind: ‘one died for ALL.’ Not for the good people. FOR ALL. And here’s the part that should change everything: ’therefore all died.’ Your OLD LIFE died with Him. You’re not living for yourself anymore—you’re living for HIM. That’s 2 Corinthians love. It’s not warm fuzzies. It’s a complete life swap. Who do you need to love like that today?
JOY
2 Corinthians 6:10 - “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
MEDITATE: This is the most PARADOXICAL verse in the Bible. ‘sorrowful, yet ALWAYS REJOICING.’ Paul isn’t pretending to be happy. He’s IN the sorrow. But he STILL rejoices. How? Because joy isn’t based on circumstances. It’s based on WHO GOD IS. You can lose everything and still possess everything. What’s got you sorrowful right now? You can hold both—sorrow AND joy. God can handle it.
PEACE
2 Corinthians 13:11 - “Be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
MEDITATE: This is the CLOSING of 2 Corinthians. Paul ends with PEACE. But notice: it comes after a whole letter of dealing with chaos—false teachers, division, the church messing up. And STILL: ‘Live in peace.’ The enemy wants you fragmentated. Wants you at war. But God says: be of ONE MIND. Choose peace. That’s aggressive peace. You FIGHT for it. Who do you need to make peace with today?
PATIENCE
2 Corinthians 6:4-6 - “In great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses… in patience and kindness.”
MEDITATE: Look at the list: ’troubles, hardships, distresses.’ That’s where patience is TESTED. Not in easy moments. ‘In GREAT endurance.’ This isn’t patience like ‘waiting for your coffee.’ This is patience in the FIRE. When life is hard. When nothing makes sense. Paul is saying: I keep going anyway. What’s burning right now? Don’t quit. You’re being refined.
KINDNESS
2 Corinthians 2:7-8 - “So now we urge you to reaffirm your love for them.”
MEDITATE: Context matters here: someone in the church had Sinned big. The community punished them. And Paul says: ‘Shouldn’t you rather forgive and reaffirm love?’ That’s radical. When someone hurts you—your instinct is punish them. Make them pay. But Paul says: NO. Love them. Reaffirm love. This is 2 Corinthians kindness: loving the unlovable. Who do you need to show unexpected kindness to?
GOODNESS
2 Corinthians 9:8 - “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that you will abound in every good work.”
MEDITATE: Here’s the 2 Corinthians goodness deal: ‘abound in EVERY GOOD WORK.’ It’s not about you being good. It’s about you being a CHANNEL. God blesses you ABUNDANTLY—why? ‘SO THAT you will abound in good work.’ The blessing isn’t the destination. It’s FUEL for the mission. You have resources—time, money, gifts—NOT for yourself. For EVERY GOOD WORK. What resources do you have that God wants you to channel somewhere?
FAITHFULNESS
2 Corinthians 1:18 - “As surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.”
MEDITATE: Paul is essentially swearing: GOD IS FAITHFUL. So our word is SOLID. Not ‘maybe.’ Not ‘we’ll see.’ YES or NO. That’s 2 Corinthians faithfulness. Rock solid. Because GOD doesn’t change. When everything else in your life is unstable—job, relationships, health—God remains FAITHFUL. And because HE is faithful, we can be faithful too. Who needs to see faithful consistency from you?
GENTLENESS
2 Corinthians 10:1 - “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…”
MEDITATE: Paul wrote THREE chapters defending himself against people who said he was ‘weak’ in person but ‘bold’ in letters. And his response? ‘By the meekness and gentleness of Christ…’ Translation: I don’t need to prove anything. MY STRENGTH is being LIKE CHRIST. Gentleness isn’t weakness. It’s power WITHOUT violence. Christ could have destroyed everyone. He chose gentleness instead. Who do you need to be gentle with—without proving yourself?
SELF-CONTROL
2 Corinthians 10:5 - “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought.”
MEDITATE: This is MENTAL warfare. ‘We take CAPTIVE every thought.’ Not just actions. THOUGHTS. Every argument. Every excuse. Every thought that says ‘God doesn’t exist’ or ‘you don’t matter’—TAKE IT CAPTIVE. Your mind is a BATTLEGROUND. 2 Corinthians self-control isn’t ‘don’t eat cake.’ It’s demolishing every thought that sets itself up against God. What thoughts are fighting against your faith right now? Take them captive.
Drop an “Amen” if this spoke to you today 👇🏾
#faith #fruitsofthespirit #2Corinthians