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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
November 26
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Today's Pathway:
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We have mentioned previously that this epistle is a very personal letter from Paul. He "bares his soul" to the Corinthian believers. Yesterday we saw Paul write that he had sent his letter of rebuke to the church primarily because he wanted them to know how much he cared about them. Sometimes I fear that those of us who are in leadership positions can become more concerned about solving problems than we are about the needs of those who are causing or experiencing the problems. We want people to do the right thing, but not necessarily because we really care about their spiritual welfare. It is not their standing before God that concerns us, but rather our concern about how their behavior impacts our own ministries. This was not Paul's attitude.
According to verse 12, when the Corinthians were comforted, he was comforted. Their comfort undoubtedly stemmed from the fact that they had repented. Their changes encouraged Paul. They also encouraged Titus, because he was both joyful and refreshed when he saw the evidence of repentance in the church. There are two practical things to notice here. First, we ought to be excited when other people get right with God. If we are sincerely burdened for them, and truly love them, then when they repent we should be thrilled for them. Second, we need to understand that our own behavior impacts others. Both Paul and Titus had been discouraged by the things that were going on in Corinth. Often we fail to understand that our refusal to serve the Lord faithfully can affect other believers negatively. Allow me to illustrate. If the pastor of a church went into sin, would that have an effect on his congregation? Would they be hurt emotionally and spiritually? Certainly they would. But, wouldn't the same sinful behavior of a church member have a similar effect on the congregation? Yes it would. We may not notice it, but the strength or weakness of our relationship with the Lord impacts all our fellow believers.
In verse 14 Paul says that he is not ashamed of the good things that he had spoken to Titus about the Corinthians. He apparently had pointed out to him some of the godly characteristics of the church there, and now that they had repented they were proving his "boasting" to be correct. He had spoken the truth to the Corinthians, and now it has been proven to Titus that he spoke the truth about the Corinthians. One thing to notice here is that even though the Corinthians had gone astray, Paul still had confidence in their willingness to return the Lord. He did not give up on them, even in spite of their treatment of him. And because of their repentance, Titus now had a greater affection for them as well. He told Paul about their decision to obey the Word of God. He told him about how they received him with "fear and trembling". Adam Clarke commented,
"They reverenced his authority; they were obedient to his directions; and they dreaded lest any thing should be undone which he had delivered to them in the name of God."
The end result of all of this is found in verse 16, where Paul says that he now has confidence in the Corinthian church. He certainly doesn't mean that they will never do wrong. But it does mean that he has confidence that they are heading in the right direction and desire to do the right thing.
Warren Wiersbe wrote,
"One of the most difficult things to do is to rebuild a shattered relationship. This Paul tried to do in 2 Corinthians, and especially in chapters 6 and 7. Unfortunately, there are many shattered relationships today—in homes, churches, and ministries—and they can be repaired and strengthened only when people face problems honestly, deal with them biblically and lovingly, and seek to get right with God. As you and I examine our own lives, we must determine to be a part of the answer and not a part of the problem."
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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