Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2183117951984132/?source_id=181918175166472

December 4th

The bible reading today is in 2 Corinthians 1-4.

By the time Paul wrote this second letter to the disciples in Corinth, most of the issues that had divided the young church had been resolved.

However, the years of selfish behavior and false judgments against one another had left deep wounds. So deep that some members of the family probably said that relationships would never be the same. How sad.

So Paul gave the following admonition... “Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.

For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:5-8‬ ‭

Paul admitted the pain he felt when some brothers accused him falsely. They gave bad reports about him that were not true. Paul knew that other disciples in Corinth had been hurt very badly by hateful words and selfish actions.

And the temptation? Don't forgive...try to get even...and let the root of bitterness continue to grow.

Paul said...” let’s turn to forgive our hateful brothers and sisters...let us reaffirm our love to them...Paul was calling on the offended parties to be Jesus toward those who hurt them deeply. That’s the kind of action that stir up revival in any church.

Nowhere in the 13 letters of Paul do we see and hear more personal insights of the apostle than in 2 Corinthians.

Such as...“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3-4‬

Paul spoke truth to the brethren in Corinth. God does comfort us in all of our trials and troubles. Did Paul have personal experience of that?

Let’s listen to his confession...“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8‬

Wow...Paul just admitted to the church that he planted and nurtured, that he and Barnabas, during their first mission to Asia, experienced severe depression.

How severe?....Severe enough to cause them to entertain thoughts of wanting to die. Wow.

Sometimes I forget that Paul was just as susceptible to mental, emotional, and spiritual stress as any of the rest of us. But what puts Paul head and shoulders above most was the fact that he admitted it along with the fact that God comforted and guided him in and through the despair...to the place of renewed faith in Christ and the fresh oil of God’s strengthening.

Thanks, Paul and Barnabas and all the foreign missionaries that spread the gospel and planted churches around the world to this day. Lord, Continue to stir up such devotion and personal sacrifice to reach the world for Christ’s sake.

Have a great day