2 Corinthians 2:5-8 is a really convicting bit of scripture.

Paul’s maturity here is so inspiring.

Let us take a quick look at it a little closer today to see what gems we can take away to apply to our own walks.

Scripture – 2 Corinthians 2:5-8

⁵ Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. ⁶ For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, ⁷ so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

Observation

Paul affirms that he isn’t as offended as the converts in Corinth.

This is likely because He has learned to forgive quickly.

He doesn’t harbor offense.

He has matured to the point where he can quickly move towards compassion.

Paul has learned to look at the offender through the lens of love and forgiveness.

He says we are not only to forgive but to go further by comforting those who hurt us.

We must therefore not just be content with forgiving a person in our hearts.

We must take the extra step of following that up with a loving action.

So forgiveness gives us an opportunity to display and act out God’s love.

We go that extra mile to honor the person even though they have wronged us.

Accepting this kind of challenge frees us and gives great glory to God.

We get to level up by not leaving a brother or sister to wallow in condemnation.

Application/Affirmation

I will go the distance to forgive.

I will forgive and reaffirm my love for anyone who offends me.

This is possible through the help of Holy Spirit who empowers me.

Prayer from 2 Corinthians 2:5-8

Yahweh, how can I not thank You continuously for Your grace.
It is indeed Your grace in me that causes me to grow.
It is Your grace that gives me forgiveness.
Forgiving my neighbor and my enemy no longer falls in 
the realm of impossibility when I contemplate Your 
unmerited, unearned, definitely undeserved forgiveness
towards me.
Help me Lord to remain humble.
Help me Holy Spirit to keep an awareness of Jesus' great 
sacrifice.
Help me to remember my journey, to remember that I had stains.
That You Lord Jesus, washed me clean and took me 
through a process.
Grace me Dear God to be generous with my forgiveness.
I boldly ask to be eager to forgive.
Make me like Jesus I pray.
Remind me of Your grace-filled perspective to pray "Forgive
them Father for they know not what they do"
Fill me up to an overflow with Your love and make 
forgiveness a part of my nature.
I make this and other bold requests in Your Mighty name
Jesus.
Amen.

Think About It…Do You Want The Freedom To Forgive?

Forgiveness is such hard thing for us.

Would you agree though that there is so much freedom on the other side of it?

God wants us to be free and to grow in our faith.

He surely knows how much forgiveness is tied to our faith.

Tell us in the comments if this has been a struggle for you.

If you want more encouragement to access the freedom to forgive, check out our previous post on how to be un-offendable.

Our Song Choice

Today’s song choice is a collaboration between Crowder and Tauren Wells.

It speaks about the forgiveness of God.

Again, it is truly His forgiveness that can empower us to have the capacity Paul displayed in 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.

Enjoy