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- Oct 26, 2007
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For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 2 Corinthians 7:8-9 NKJV
The church in Corinth was a mess, and the apostle Paul found himself in the unenviable position of having to write a letter of correction.
Many believe that Paul was referring in today’s scripture verses to the letter that now appears in the Bible as 1 Corinthians. In that epistle, Paul spoke very direct correction to the church for not only tolerating but condoning the sinful actions of one of its members. As a result, the church stopped tolerating sin. Not only that, the man repented of his sin and got right with God.
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you knew a Christian brother needed reproof, then you know how Paul must have felt in writing his first letter to the Corinthian church. But Paul was willing to tell the hard truth. Are you willing to do as Paul did?
Prayer: Lord, speaking hard truth to an erring brother in Christ isn’t easy. Give me the courage to speak the truth and the love to do it in a way that assures my brother that I care about him and want him to receive Your very best.
The church in Corinth was a mess, and the apostle Paul found himself in the unenviable position of having to write a letter of correction.
Many believe that Paul was referring in today’s scripture verses to the letter that now appears in the Bible as 1 Corinthians. In that epistle, Paul spoke very direct correction to the church for not only tolerating but condoning the sinful actions of one of its members. As a result, the church stopped tolerating sin. Not only that, the man repented of his sin and got right with God.
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you knew a Christian brother needed reproof, then you know how Paul must have felt in writing his first letter to the Corinthian church. But Paul was willing to tell the hard truth. Are you willing to do as Paul did?
Prayer: Lord, speaking hard truth to an erring brother in Christ isn’t easy. Give me the courage to speak the truth and the love to do it in a way that assures my brother that I care about him and want him to receive Your very best.
