Footsteps #184

^{” 5} When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. ⁶ But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. ⁷ His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!” (NLT)

Let me set the stage here for 2Cor7:5-7. While Paul was away from Corinth on a long missionary journey he received reports about the church that concerned him deeply. In fact, he became so troubled that he couldn’t even complete the ministry God had opened a door for him to do in Troas. But what could he do about the situation in Corinth? He had made one return trip himself to Corinth, but it had ended badly, with at least one of the leaders publicly rebuking him and very few supporting him. So he decided to send his friend and colleague, Titus, to go as an emissary to Corinth in his place to try to resolve the situation and bring back a report. Titus did just that, and apparently, he was very effective in convincing the believers that Paul was their friend, not their enemy. He was able to report back to the Apostle that the situation was vastly improved. One lesson we can learn from this is that no pastor can do everything. No pastor can connect with everybody or reach everybody. All of us have to know when it’s time to ask another gifted believer, like Titus, to take our place, minister on our behalf, or even be a go-between in a conflict situation. Look at vs8-9: Here Paul is looking back at the situation and reminiscing. He had sent a bold and blunt letter along with Titus, calling sin “sin” and rebuking the perpetrators. It stung the congregation. Paul’s hurtful letter was not easy for the congregation to receive, but neither was it easy for Paul to write. At first, he regretted having written it, but that was only momentary. Now he is glad he wrote it–not glad that they were hurt but glad that it produced the desired result–repentance, and therefore they “were not harmed in any way.” Paul uses a phrase here in v9 that is extremely important to understand: “you became sorrowful as God intended.” What does that mean? Vs10-11 has 8 evidences of repentance (see tomorrow’s devotional), a gift that we must receive actively not passively (2Tim.2:25).