2 Corinthians 12:11-21 Paul visits Corinth a third time, not seeking their possessions, but instead their souls and his desire for them to repent.

I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 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? 16 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 to you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. Paul makes a point of stating that he has not and will not be a financial burden to those in Corinth, yet he perseveres with them. This is because he desires that their souls be the possession of Jesus Christ. Repentance is the sign that they agree with Christ about sin and now depend upon Jesus and his righteousness for salvation. Paul does not condemn the Corinthians, but extends to love of Jesus to this wayward people and he desires that they set aside their sinful ways and be sanctified by the One who brings their salvation. Daily Prayer; Lord, teach us to repent. Let the inner man grow and the old man die, day by day. While salvation is not of merit, you did not save us to live unrepentant lives. Therefore, give us repentance so that we might grow in our faith. Amen.