9-11The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we're not oblivious to his sly ways! (The Message)
Sometimes grudges live on not in those who have been wronged but those who have been close to the one wronged. Maybe it is parent who won't let go of how someone else treated their child or maybe a spouse over the way a boss treated their loved one. Paul says if those closest to the situation forgive then he does as well. It is a lesson that we could learn well. To accept that someone has forgive another and is now ready to move on is a sign of health and joy and Paul says if they have forgive than he rejoices in that forgiveness. What that meant in a very real way was that when Paul came to see the Corinthians he was prepared to treat the person who had been on the outside as if they had not sinned. He was willing to not bring up their short comings and sin just because he hadn't been there to deal with it all.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- Do you think it was difficult for Paul to forgive at a distance? Why or why not?
- Paul didn't want to carry around a lot of personal grudges, why do you think this was important to Paul?
- Do you know anyone who has refused to forgive someone even though others have forgiven them? What does it feel like to be around them?
- What grudges do you need to let go of so that you can move on with your relationships and life?
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