A Healing Balm

Meditations on Second Corinthians

April 14, 2023

A Healing Balm

When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit . . .

2 Corinthians 2:10

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Apparently, a major issue within the Corinthian church had to do with the actions of a man. Paul challenged the man, but the church had been reluctant to do so. After following Paul’s counsel, although somewhat grudgingly, Paul now leads the church in forgiveness.

My first thought after reading today’s passage was to a recent occurrence in a church where one of the leaders was rebuking the other leaders for their failure to exercise church discipline. He reminded the other leaders that while they were called to love the sinner, they were not called to bless their sin. This condition in churches occurs far too often. As a pastor, I had to offer counsel like Paul’s. Regrettably, other leaders in the church declined to affirm my counsel and by their acceptance of the circumstances, they in effect blessed the sin.

My Takeaway: The grace and forgiveness of God is a healing balm to our souls. But it is only after our confession and repentance that we receive God’s grace and forgiveness.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.