You know as I mentioned in the previous blog, this year’s focus for me is about having more of God’s love as described in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.  As I was cleaning house one morning, the Lord brought this scripture to my mind while I was meditating on His love. Of course I had to stop the vacuum cleaner and write this blog while it was on my heart. I pray that it will challenge someone today to take a step closer to one of the purest forms of God’s love.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11
5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
KJV

Paul was talking about someone that had caused trouble in the church and had offended some people.   Here is a great example of love in verse 7, we are not to only forgive but comfort him.  And if we choose to ignore the situation, he might become so bitter that he won’t be able to recover from this horrible offence he has committed. Wow! That's hard when we've been hurt by that person. Then Paul goes on to say in verse 8  that we need to confirm our love to that person. In other words go tell that person you love them!

When we are hurt by someone it's so easy to feel justified in the way we act and/or treat that person. But you see God's love doesn't do that. We must personally show love AND COMFORT to those that hurt us. How do we do that?  I personally think Paul was saying it’s more than just praying for them and saying hi when you come to church.  It’s having them over for dinner, bake them a cake, invite them out to eat with you after church, send an encouraging card in the mail.  You say it’s not that easy!  Absolutely, it’s not easy because our flesh wants to make that person suffer just a little bit longer. Sometimes, the hurt is so deep that we want to punish them forever.  But to truly forgive someone, we are giving up our resentment toward them and the desire to punish them.

We all have times in our life that we need forgiveness. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  If you want God to forgive you then you MUST truly forgive the one that has offended you.  Do you want to show a pure form of God’s love in your life? I do and that’s my desire this year.  Have I challenged you yet? I hope so. 

Lord my prayer today is that Your love will overtake me and erase any offenses, hurts, anger, bitterness, wrath or any negative emotion that I have in my heart for another. I want Your pure love in my heart towards others.  Until next time….