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Forgive and Comfort and Encourage
Andrea Lende • November 17, 2020
II Corinthians 2:7
Forgive and Comfort and Encourage One Another
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Forgive-and-Comfort-and-Encourage-emjuqt
II Corinthians 2:7
“So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should rather turn and [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and despair.”
Paul is encouraging the church of Corinth to forgive the man.
The man who committed incest.
He is telling them to be gracious to him, comfort him, and encourage him.
Why?
Because continued unforgiveness causes undue pain and sorrow which leads to despair.
As I read this story today, I brought it into today and our current circumstances.
Paul may have as well have been talking to us.
I wondered, have we become so judgmental and unforgiving of one another as to harm until despair overtakes our world?
Have we hurt each other enough to cause the current state of affairs?
I think in part, the answer is yes.
Certainly, there is more to this puzzle.
The enemy is at work in a way we have not seen before.
We wage war against powers that we cannot see.
However, we can have confidence that Jesus gave us power and authority over the enemy – over all the powers of darkness.
Luke 10:19 says, “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.”
Jesus also told the disciples to love one another.
Paul tells us to forgive.
Love and forgiveness are the way we will win this war against the enemy.
For Jesus did not die for us to pick and choose which sins we and others would be forgiven for.
He died so all sins may be forgiven.
Let our judgement of one another not get in the way of true forgiveness.
This requires faith.
Faith that the Lord is working in everyone’s lives.
Just as the Lord deals with me and my shortcomings and sins, He deals with others.
We can be sure our God is working on everyone and with everyone.
It is not our responsibility to take over God’s responsibility and convict and condemn them for their sins.
So, I turn inward.
How can I be more forgiving?
Who do I need to forgive?
How can I love more deeply?
Who am I not loving that the Lord asks me to love?
Today I choose forgiveness over judgement and love over hatred and pray that the Lord will turn my heart inward to change the one person I can change - me.
May you find that forgiveness sets you free and love brings you peace during these unsettling times.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank you for showing me I need to forgive more quickly than I may want to. Thank You for showing me that unforgiveness leads to sorrow and despair. Put Your love in my heart and soul so I am able to forgive without reservation, Lord. Help me put everyone in Your hands for You to love and change as You determine and in Your timeframe. Keep me from judging others, Father. Do not let me take over Your responsibility but let You do what only You can do in everyone else’s life as You do in mine. Show me who I need to forgive and help me let go of all the negative feelings I may have. Replace my pain with love, Father, as I forgive and let go. May Your grace be upon us all. May Your mercy overflow in our lives. Quiet the chaos around us and in this world as we turn to You. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM working in all the lives of My children and will help you forgive and let go and love those around you.
Response: Thank You, most gracious God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.