“TO FORGIVE AND COMFORT!”

 

2 Corinthians 2:5-11                     (ESV)

Forgive the Sinner

“[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. [9] For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. [10] Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of CHRIST, [11] so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DESIGNS.”

“The enemy”, Satan, is often referred to in Scripture as the great deceiver, one who “tricks” or “fools” others with lies that greatly resembles TRUTH!  Being “deceived” by an enemy should come as no surprise to us as he desires to take as many of us into judgement with him as he can.  However, being “deceived” by someone we trust and admire tends to disappoint, sometimes even hurting people, who are not “aware” of the tactics of “the enemy”!

Although I am not able to recall specific details, sharing things that are not TRUTH has undoubtedly been manifested in my life, probably without me knowing about it?  FORGIVENESS for this act can be painful, even debilitating, but we are instructed by Scripture “TO FORGIVE AND COMFORT”!  There are times when a person, even a friend, isn’t properly focused on THE TRUTH and we are moved into sharing something “less than truth” with others.  When that occurs, we are instructed “TO FORGIVE AND COMFORT” our offender, NOT to alienate them!

“TO FORGIVE AND COMFORT” isn’t for the weak and immature!  Being a MATURE Believer isn’t something that is easy to understand.  Arrogance and conceit have a tendency to creep into a HOLY LIFE, exposing a degree of IMMATURITY.  We must constantly guard against being deceived by the “great deceiver” and being used by him.  When we are wronged, remembering “TO FORGIVE AND COMFORT” can be one of the most difficult things to remember???  But it can also be used to MINISTER by our CREATOR, as only HE can do???