devotional post # 2154

2 Corinthians 2:5-7

2Co 2:5 But if someone has brought sorrow, he has brought it not to me, but to some extent — not to be too dramatic– to all of you.
2Co 2:6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority has lasted long enough,
2Co 2:7 so you should turn to forgive and comfort him instead, or else he may become overwhelmed by too much sorrow.

time to forgive

Paul’s earlier instruction to discipline the offending member had been clear and firm. The sin was public, scandalous, and unrepented, and the congregation’s initial tolerance had threatened the integrity of the entire fellowship. Their eventual obedience to Paul’s directive showed spiritual courage. They acted decisively, and the discipline produced the intended effect: the offender was brought low, confronted with the seriousness of his actions, and apparently moved toward repentance. What began as a crisis became an opportunity for the church to demonstrate fidelity to Christ’s holiness.

But discipline is only half of the pastoral task. Once repentance appears, the community must shift its posture. The same zeal that once protected the church from corruption must now protect the repentant from

LORD, give us the courage to confront sin in our ranks, and the wisdom to know when it is time to forgive and put it past us.