2 Corinthians 7:3-4 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
It was not Paul's intent to
reprimand the Christians in Corinth; his mission was to set the church on the
path to spiritual growth in Christ Jesus. Paul's missionary team was not out to
disparage the Corinthian church members; on the contrary, they had Godly
compassion for the members of the Corinthian Church. Paul and his entire team
were attempting to prohibit the Corinthians from the lifestyle that comes with
being influenced by false teachers. When Paul told them that he and his team
would live or die with them, it demonstrated the missionary team's loyalty to
the church at Corinth. The missionary journey that Paul and his companions were
on was not just a career, nor were these faithful followers of Christ Jesus in
this for fame or fortune. Paul and his fellow missionaries loved all the
congregations that they served. When our brothers and sisters waver in their
Christian principles, we should not adopt a blame game method; instead,
undiminished love and compassion should be our path.
Paul spoke frankly in his
correction to the Corinthian church; his communiqué with the Christians at
Corinth was open and honest. Paul used this approach to communicate with all
Christians, which should be our pattern to approach church issues with Christian
love and compassion. When Paul said he took great pride in them, he must have
meant that he spoke very favorably of them in his conversation. Paul's
missionary team was very encouraged when they saw that the church at Corinth
had responded well to their rectification (2 Corinthians 7:9). Although Paul
and his team went through great tribulation and accusations, they found great
joy in being supported, encouraged, and maintained by the churches.
It is crucial to preserve and
uphold our confidence in people in our lives, not for what they have done or
will accomplish but for what God can do in their lives. Our assurance and faith
in God can give us the courage to do things we would not otherwise attempt to
engage in. Even with his setbacks, maltreatment, and affliction from the
non-Christian community as well as the Christians at the Churches he had
planted, Paul was able to rejoice. The Corinthians said many horrific things
about him, found in chapters 11 and 12. The church attacked his techniques and
disparaged and belittled him personally. Paul had spent two years in Corinth,
substantially longer than at any other church during his missionary journeys.
Some hold the idea that we should
face tribulations in a catatonic state with a stoical attitude; however, what
God genuinely wants for His children is that we have His joy even in the days
of rocky roads and rough seas. As many tribulations as Paul went through, he
was greatly comforted by the many people he saw come to Christ Jesus. There is
no tribulation or trial that we can go through that can damper the joy we
experience when we see someone accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The pleasure is so great and massive that nothing can mute the exhilaration.
There is joy among the heavenly Angels when, but one person comes to the saving
grace of Christ Jesus (Luke 15:10)
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