Make room in your hearts for us. We didn’t do anything wrong to anyone. We didn’t ruin anyone. We didn’t take advantage of anyone. I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I’ve already said that you are in our hearts so that we die and live together with you. I have every confidence in you. I’m terribly proud of you. I’m filled with encouragement. I’m overwhelmed with happiness while in the middle of our problems. Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we couldn’t rest physically. We were surrounded by problems. There was external conflict, and there were internal fears. However, God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival. We weren’t comforted only by his arrival but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your desire to see me, how you were sorry, and about your concern for me, so that I was even happier. Even though my letter hurt you, I don’t regret it. Well—I did regret it just a bit because I see that that letter made you sad, though only for a short time. Now I’m glad—not because you were sad but because you were made sad enough to change your hearts and lives. You felt godly sadness so that no one was harmed by us in any way. Godly sadness produces a changed heart and life that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but sorrow under the influence of the world produces death. Look at what this very experience of godly sadness has produced in you: such enthusiasm, what a desire to clear yourselves of blame, such indignation, what fear, what purpose, such concern, what justice! In everything you have shown yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it wasn’t for the sake of the one who did wrong, or for the sake of the one who was wronged, but to show you your own enthusiasm for us in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 7:2-12, CEB)
I have a postcard from when I was a pastor in Victoria, TX, around 2011/2012. It was for some kind of conference I honestly don’t remember what the context was, but I kept it because one side said, “Change is not something you just get from a vending machine.”
Paul talks about the letter he wrote to Corinth and how it made them sad and he is sorry for making them sad, but he really is not sad because they got the message and they changed.
Will we as a people get the message and change our hearts?
Will we see that the call to love ALL people is greater than anything else?
The call to love trumps our understanding, our desires, our wants, our wanting people to fit neatly and nicely into our boxes.
Do not be discouraged but also know it is not about what you want, but what God has put into place.
Love unconditionally.
You are called to love.
Not understand it all the time.
Not control everything.
Love.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 