The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 41:1-4 (NLT)
Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The LORD protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The LORD nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.
4 "O LORD," I prayed, "have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you."
The Word of God for encouragement:
2 Corinthians 2:1-4 (HCSB)
In fact, I made up my mind about this: [I would] not come to you on another painful visit.
2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?
3 I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn't have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will [also] be yours.
4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.
My observation:
I have a friend who reminds me often that this place where we are living is only our temporary home; this is the world, and not heaven. Jesus reminded his disciples of this truth.
John 16:33 (HCSB)
33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."
Paul reminded his son in the faith, Timothy, of this truth, and warned him that things will get worse and not better in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1 (HCSB)
But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.
However, in today's focal passage we see that in spite of troubles, the believer's response to trouble should be compassion and not anger. There are things that happen in life that will greatly disappoint us, but they don't have to defeat us.
The behavior of the immoral man in the church greatly disappointed Paul. However, his response moved from rebuke to love. Notice his compassion and love for the man and for the church. Paul delayed his visit to them because he did not want to come with a heavy heart. Rather, when he came he wanted to come with a happy heart.
Oh, that we would learn and practice such abundant love for one another.
John 13:35 (HCSB)
35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, in the midst of disappointment and heavy hearts, I pray that you would give your people compassionate hearts. Father, may repentance and not rebuke be the purpose of our heart.
Father God, help us to give grace to those who have caused our hearts to be heavy, and to love one another as you have loved us. In Jesus name, Amen.
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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
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