2 Corinthians 7:6–9 (ESV) — 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by
the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort
with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your
mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret
it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only
for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved,
but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so
that you suffered no loss through us.
NOTE: I know that
feeling where you feel that you did the right thing and you also wonder if you
did the wrong thing. Should I have approached it differently? Could I have said
it more gently? Did I really need to say all that I did? Were some of the issues
convictions? Am I just overly critical?
On one side, it is
easy to justify ourselves, and too many of our church members are far too
critical of things that really aren't than important. They do say things in a
harsh way, and we respond in a harsh way. Oh, to be more like Jesus. The woman
caught in adultery, he said, "go and sin no more." The woman living
with her fifth lover, "I am the living water." But we respond to
these examples that they were not believers, and so that justifies our meanness
to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus said, "By this all men will
know that you are my disciples, that you love one another." Doesn't really
sound like the church of today.
PRAYER: Father
forgive us for our meanness. Forgive us for our lack of love. In this new year,
may we truly live a life of love for others. We don't want to negative and
pout-y and critical. Give us an attitude of positiveness, rejoicing, and
blessing others.
No comments:
Post a Comment