I'm continuing with a little series of Scripture Sunday posts, sharing some of what I learned last fall from my study of 2 Corinthians with Good Morning Girls. Today I'll share from 2 Corinthians 2, verses 8 and 11. As I mentioned last week, I utilized the SOAP method of Bible study.
S= "Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him ...
"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."
(2 Corinthians 2:8, 11)
O= Paul is instructing the believers at Corinth as to how to forgive and love someone who has fallen into sin and then repented. They are to offer him forgiveness and comfort (verse 7) "lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow" (verse 7) and to confirm, or reaffirm, their love for him. They do this for the encouragement of the restored one, as well as for the blessing they themselves gain by obeying Christ. They also know that Satan would desire to use their lack of love for his own purposes.
A= Paul is giving excellent advice here. Having been a Christian for many years and having seen all different types of situations over that time, I know he is right. This is how we're called to forgive, and for very good reasons: the spiritual health of the repentant sinner; our own spiritual well-being and that of the church; and the thwarting of Satan's schemes.
P= "Lord, I thank and praise You for the important principles in Your Word. You provide guidance and direction for every season and situation of life that we face. I thank You that I have seen this particular principle lived out in others' responses to a repentant sinner. It is such a blessing to see the truths of Your Word in action! I pray that You will help me to be kind and loving in my responses to others' repentance as situations like this arise in life. I thank You for all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."
Beautiful application of an important scriptural truth. Oh if we could always look for ways to show compassion to those who are repentant, instead of continuing to judge them even when they are truly sorry for their sins. I think we as believers have a lot of work to do in that regard. I've known too many people who say they forgive, but they refuse to truly forgive and and forget. God blots out our transgressions and throws them as far as the east is from the west. We tend to say "I forgive you", and then we grab those sins back to remind them of them all too often. Something to really pray about. Thank you for these thoughts today.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true, how we handle a repentance makes all the difference in that person's life! I believe When we forgive we gain as much if not more than the other person.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like it was a great study, thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Sue
So very important because we will all stand in need of being forgiven along this Christian walk and of forgiving. I remember the expression that Christians are the only army that kills its wounded—or something like that.
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