(2 Corinthians 2:6-8 GNB) It is enough that this person has been punished in this way by most of you. Now, however, you should forgive him and encourage him, in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up completely. And so I beg you to let him know that you really do love him.
What’s our purpose when we punish those who have wronged us? Is it for revenge, is it because of unforgiveness? How often do we stop what we are doing and think what is God’s purpose in this situation? Throughout God’s Word He makes it very clear that the law was given so that people would know their own sin, their own short comings, and ultimately their need for a savior. God prepared man’s heart for a savior by giving them the law through Moses first, likewise we are to stand up for what is right and true and make God’s Word known, we are not to join the wicked or even a brother of sister who makes bad choices and sometimes that requires tough decisions from us, especially if they are someone who we hold close. The goal is to keep this person from falling any further than they already have, hold them by God’s love, and point them back to Jesus. However, to try and get even for the pain they have caused and to make sure they hurt as bad as we did that attitude is not of God and quite possibly even worse and the punishment from God even more severe, read Matthew chapter 18. You see being called Christ’s is not so easy after all. Belonging to Christ Jesus means taking up our cross, forsaking what comes natural to our flesh and following in His footsteps. This requires us keeping our eyes on Him and our ears open to the moving of His Holy Spirit by what other means do we expect to walk a path unseen, by what other means do we expect to do in the spirit what is impossible in the flesh?
(Psalms 8:3-6 NIV) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
Lord, because you have placed us in a place of authority therefore, You also require of us great responsibility. Help us to not forget nor take for granted this place You have given unto us. We know that You are faithful to forgive, help us to do the same with reckless abandonment. In your Son’s name, I pray amen.
