April 04, 2013
In I Corinthians 5 Paul tells the believers to put an unrepentant sinner out of the church. In II Corinthians 2, Paul is telling the believers to forgive and accept the repentant person back into their lives. In the one instance the person was unrepentant—and they were to separate. In the other, the person was repentant—and they were to accept him back.
Forgiveness is such an important truth. Even in separation there should be forgiveness. To forgive doesn't mean you accept the other person's actions. To forgive acknowledges that we are not the judge and that Christ forgave us. To harbor resentment and anger only harms yourself and those close to you. It does nothing to the person who inflicted the harm. I've always said it this way, "Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself." Always forgive! Forgive always! You don't forgive by your feelings. You do—and the feelings will follow.
There is victory, and it comes from Christ. II Corinthians 2:14 - "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet smelling perfume." To those being saved we are the scent of life that brings life, meaning to fellow believers we are an encouragement and reflection of Christ. But to those who have chosen not to follow God's ways we are the stench of death. Christ didn't change and the smell didn't change. What changed was the way the person perceived it. To the believer it is encouragement. To the one who has refused Christ we are a reminder of what they are fighting against and we are repugnant to them.
Paul asks, "So who is able to do this work? We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God." (II Corinthians 2:16–17)
Again—TELL THE STORY! We must tell the story of what God has done. How interesting that II Corinthians 2:17 says they do not sell God's word for a profit. From the time we finally understood we were to tell HIS story and the story of Jane (Her Name Was Jane) we KNEW we were not to personally profit from it. The story isn't ours. The story is God's and God's alone.
In I Corinthians 5 Paul tells the believers to put an unrepentant sinner out of the church. In II Corinthians 2, Paul is telling the believers to forgive and accept the repentant person back into their lives. In the one instance the person was unrepentant—and they were to separate. In the other, the person was repentant—and they were to accept him back.
Forgiveness is such an important truth. Even in separation there should be forgiveness. To forgive doesn't mean you accept the other person's actions. To forgive acknowledges that we are not the judge and that Christ forgave us. To harbor resentment and anger only harms yourself and those close to you. It does nothing to the person who inflicted the harm. I've always said it this way, "Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself." Always forgive! Forgive always! You don't forgive by your feelings. You do—and the feelings will follow.
There is victory, and it comes from Christ. II Corinthians 2:14 - "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet smelling perfume." To those being saved we are the scent of life that brings life, meaning to fellow believers we are an encouragement and reflection of Christ. But to those who have chosen not to follow God's ways we are the stench of death. Christ didn't change and the smell didn't change. What changed was the way the person perceived it. To the believer it is encouragement. To the one who has refused Christ we are a reminder of what they are fighting against and we are repugnant to them.
Paul asks, "So who is able to do this work? We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God." (II Corinthians 2:16–17)
Again—TELL THE STORY! We must tell the story of what God has done. How interesting that II Corinthians 2:17 says they do not sell God's word for a profit. From the time we finally understood we were to tell HIS story and the story of Jane (Her Name Was Jane) we KNEW we were not to personally profit from it. The story isn't ours. The story is God's and God's alone.
*****
I wish I could remember the two songs running through my mind last night. Every time I awoke I would repeat it so I could remember to tell my husband in the morning. But alas, by the time morning came the songs were gone. They both were songs I have not heard in years, and they were both about God's protecting love. God has been reminding us of His faithfulness throughout this process. Jane; providing a buyer for our joint project (refused by my sister and brother-in-law); God's protection exactly one year from Jane's last God-given words of restoration; blessing our business; blessing our family; and that is just part of the list. HE is in control—and we trust Him. He did not separate the waters and have us walk on dry land only to drown us as we near shore.
God, we continue to believe. LORD, rise up, face the enemy and throw them down. Save us, O LORD, by your sword. Save us, O LORD, by your power. Amen.
God, we continue to believe. LORD, rise up, face the enemy and throw them down. Save us, O LORD, by your sword. Save us, O LORD, by your power. Amen.
Addendum: 4/15/16 ~ I'm in II Corinthians already!! I only have two more journals to transcribe. How can that be? Everything seems to be moving along at break-neck speed. Our Praise Shelter is coming along. The structure is finished. The old street brick fireplace is finished. The engraved stones are finished. Now it is time for me to start laying the street brick and cobblestone "floor." On one hand it is very exciting to see everything coming together and close to completion. On the other hand, I want to yell SLOW DOWN!! There are mixed emotions as we realize this portion of our journey is nearing an end. What happens next? When do I uncheck the private box and check the public box instead on this blog?
Of course we want the lawsuit to be over, but we don't want the days of grace for my sister and brother-in-law to run out. This morning as I was walking and praying I said the same prayer we have prayed for years now: LORD, may my sister and brother-in-law understand that without you they are nothing, and may they desire nothing but you. As I prayed that last line, I recalled an article I read which they (my sister and brother-in-law) wrote for an online forum where my brother-in-law made the statement "living the lifestyle I desired so much." He was referring to wealth, success, exotic vacations and lavish lifestyles. What a contrast to what we have been praying for them these last nine years. What a chasm between their desires for wealth and our prayer that they would desire nothing but God. Goodness.
Francis Chan does a great illustration of what is truly important. Watch it here. Life is short—eternity is forever.
II Corinthians 2:14–16 contains some very interesting thoughts. When we spread His knowledge we are like a sweet smelling perfume and it is an offering to God. It is pleasing to God like the smell of the burnt offerings of the Old Testament. It is also pleasing to other believers, but to the non-believer (or the religious unbeliever) we are a stench. This explains so much. It's easy sometimes to wonder why there are some people who just really seem to dislike you for no apparent reason. The answer is found right here—we are a stench to them! Not because of who we are but because of whose we are. It is the heart of the person that determines whether the aroma is sweet smelling or a stench. What is sweet smelling to God and His followers is repulsive to the world.
Next Entry: II Corinthians 3:1 – 4:15
Of course we want the lawsuit to be over, but we don't want the days of grace for my sister and brother-in-law to run out. This morning as I was walking and praying I said the same prayer we have prayed for years now: LORD, may my sister and brother-in-law understand that without you they are nothing, and may they desire nothing but you. As I prayed that last line, I recalled an article I read which they (my sister and brother-in-law) wrote for an online forum where my brother-in-law made the statement "living the lifestyle I desired so much." He was referring to wealth, success, exotic vacations and lavish lifestyles. What a contrast to what we have been praying for them these last nine years. What a chasm between their desires for wealth and our prayer that they would desire nothing but God. Goodness.
Francis Chan does a great illustration of what is truly important. Watch it here. Life is short—eternity is forever.
II Corinthians 2:14–16 contains some very interesting thoughts. When we spread His knowledge we are like a sweet smelling perfume and it is an offering to God. It is pleasing to God like the smell of the burnt offerings of the Old Testament. It is also pleasing to other believers, but to the non-believer (or the religious unbeliever) we are a stench. This explains so much. It's easy sometimes to wonder why there are some people who just really seem to dislike you for no apparent reason. The answer is found right here—we are a stench to them! Not because of who we are but because of whose we are. It is the heart of the person that determines whether the aroma is sweet smelling or a stench. What is sweet smelling to God and His followers is repulsive to the world.
Next Entry: II Corinthians 3:1 – 4:15
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