email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

August 17, 2018

2 Corinthians 2:5-9

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

New International Version (NIV)

                 A good friend once asked, “Is it ever appropriate for Christians to judge others?” Often I hear Christians speak condemnation over non-Christians who sin in ways that violate the scripture. On the other hand, I also find Christians paralyzed in their response to sin within the church: “Who are we to judge? We have all sinned, too. Christians should never judge. God doesn’t judge.”

                Based on the teachings of Jesus and Paul, we realize that Christ’s followers are called upon to judge and hold others accountable, but we have flipped it upside down. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5, we are not to judge people outside the church, but we are to judge people inside the church. The judgment is not punitive but redemptive. Contrary to popular opinion, we are not acting in love if we ignore a fellow-Christian’s self-destructive behavior.

   In his first letter, Paul urged the believers to distance themselves from one who was living in immorality, until the person turned from his sin. Apparently the believers did so. Now Paul implies that they should restore this one gently because the judgment has worked. Paul says Christians must forgive repentant church members because otherwise their grief may overwhelm them and cause them to fall prey again to one of Satan’s schemes. After we afflict the comfortable we must also bring God’s comfort to bear on those who are afflicted by their own guilt.

Pray with me:

Father, we thank you for forgiving us. Help us to preach the gospel to ourselves today, reminding ourselves that we are worse off than we thought and more loved than we ever dreamed. Let your church not pass judgment on non-Christians. Help us to love each other enough within the church to call each other to account. Empower us to forgive others as we receive your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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