2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Because we are the body of Christ, and joined to one another, what one does, he/she does to all (5). It’s good to remember this. We implicate others in our conduct, whether that is positive or negative. Whatever we do to one of the least of Christ’s brothers we do to Him.

Paul’s letter (rather than the initially planned visit) had produced a good result. Church discipline had taken place (6). Paul saw that it was sufficient. He didn’t want appropriate chastisement to slip over into unduly harsh treatment. We can so easily go ‘over the top.’ Paul saw that ‘enough is enough’ and after the ‘smack’ it is important to follow up with a ‘hug’ and a ‘cuddle’. So I don’t want you to come down too hard. What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough. Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love (6-8) The Message.               

Verse 9 reads like this in The Message: The focus of my letter wasn’t on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church.

It can be hard to forgive certain things. It doesn’t come cheap to reach out a hand of friendship to one who has hurt you. But when we realise that we live in the sight of Christ (10) we recognise the obligation on us to forgive. He has cancelled such an enormous debt in my case. How can I fail to cancel your much smaller debt?

So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! (10, 11).The Message

Unforgiveness, bitterness and the like are major weapons the devil will use to bring us down and damage the church, if we let him. He will turn these armaments on us given half the chance (11). But we have God – given insight into his schemes and ‘forewarned is forearmed.’

Prayer: Lord, enable me not to allow any root of bitterness to grow up in me. Help me to practice the grace of total forgiveness.