Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 2:1-11 before reading the devotional below.
Have you ever been just close enough to a conflict to know something is going on but not fully understand what? That’s the feeling I get reading today’s passage. Paul is alluding to a conflict, and a specific individual, that hurt the Corinthian church and to some degree hurt Paul as well. The church is hurting, and it sounds as though a visit from Paul at the wrong time might have just made it all worse.
We don’t have the details on what happened or who this person was. But we know that Paul encourages the church to forgive him. Not only that, but he writes that they should “forgive and comfort him” and “reaffirm love for him.” He says that not doing so would cause the man to be overcome by discouragement.
Here’s your freedom for today:
Healing is possible with love.
It might sound awful to think that the hurting Corinthians who had clearly been wronged were now expected to not only forgive but love and comfort this harmful person. What is that person doing to restore trust? How can that guy bring comfort back to them? I find a clue at least in this situation in the word “discouragement.” Sometimes someone can hurt you in ways that don’t reflect their character but instead reflect the messiness of a situation. Recall that in 1 Corinthians Paul had no trouble telling them to kick out a man who was bragging about his sin. Sometimes hurt happens when well-meaning people try their best. And the mess that happened is not what defines that person who harmed you. Forgiveness and restoration creates pathways for healing on both sides. It’s not always possible, but here we see a situation in which maybe the person was so discouraged by what happened that they might start seeing themselves by their worst mistake. Being a part of God’s family means that we don’t define each other by our worst mistake. We give each other second chances. Who can you give a second chance today?