2 Corinthians 13:7

2 Corinthians 13:7 says, Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.  Paul was still showing his concern for the church at Corinth.  He was praying that they would live by faith so that they could prove themselves to be true followers of Christ.  He prayed this not so that he should be approved, or for his own glory, but so that they might do what was right in the eyes of God.  We should always pray that other Christians, and we ourselves should live lives that are honest in the eyes of the world, but especially in the eyes of God.  Verse eight adds, For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  I believe that Paul was saying that we can do nothing to change the truth of God.  We may deny it or we may even attempt to change what the truth of God says, but God's truth is eternal.  It always was and always will be the truth.  Some things that people once thought were the truth, such as the world is flat, have been proven wrong, but God's truth never will be.  God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  He is the Creator and Redeemer of mankind.  We can either accept this truth or reject it, but we can never change it.  Verse nine continues, For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.  I believe that Paul was saying that he was not upset if he was weaker than another Christian, or at least was viewed that way.  We are never called to feel that we are superior to other Christians, and if their faith appears stronger, we should rejoice for them.  Paul said that he wished for their perfection.  They would never achieve it, and neither will we, but perfection in faith should always be our goal.  It should also be our prayer for others.  Verse ten concludes, Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.  Paul wanted to help edify or build up the church at Corinth.  He said God gave him the power to deal harshly with heresy in the church, but that he hoped that his words, written out of love for them, would lead them to correct the problems in the church there.  We have to point out heresies in the church, but we should always do so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and out of an attitude of love.