From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Oct 6, 2022 at 6:00 AM
Subject: 10-6-22 THOUGHTS
10-6-22 THOUGHTS
The letters to the Church in Corinth are largely corrective. Paul observed behaviors that needed to be changed. With the Spirit’s aid, Paul wrote words that made them sorry, for the larger benefit. The anxiety and sorrow on the part of Paul had to wait for the receiving of the Corinthian Church. They were “made sorrowful to the point of repentance”! A risk, a cost, God’s truth, produced a right rejoicing. It gave them an earnestness, a longing, a zeal! Titus, who was involved, was “refreshed”. They had received Titus with “fear and trembling”. It’s a beautiful “SUCCESS STORY” The “fear and trembling”... STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP, is what allowed TRUTH to advance here. Both sides cared enough to allow correction. This is not some wimpy social interaction by people of fragile character. It is love with a common goal, shared by people of strong Godly character, who wished to be right in God’s sight. Can we hear this lesson?
2Cor 7:8-16 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it — for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while — 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. 13 For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. 15 His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.
My Prayer:
Help to see clearly, O God, our need for “one another” love. You placed us in the Church for that very reason. May we take advantage of the love that jointly participates in what is right. May Your Name be exalted on this earth through us. Remove our apathy and laziness and replace it, O Lord, with an earnest zeal that bears fruit. Help us to share in the powerful, rather than the mediocre. Awaken us Lord, to your awesome possibilities. May we learn to rejoice, as we spend and are spent. Draw us each, nearer to Yourself each day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Pray for Heather