Reaffirm

Remember, our new format will not include every verse of a particular book; however, I encourage you to read through the passages we skip. In the verses preceding this passage, Paul is addressing some complaints about his motives and the fact that he backed out on a trip in which he had planned to visit them. Paul had been encouraging them to deal with a specific issue of sin and he was afraid another visit would cause too much grief so he wrote them a letter.


2 Corinthians 1
23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.
24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.
2 Corinthians 2
1 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.
2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.
3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.
4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.
6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough.
7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

Reaffirm. The two things God revealed to me in this passage were ... the challenge, heartache and necessity of confronting someone we love that has made decisions that have dishonored God (verse 4) and ... the challenge, heartache and necessity of demonstrating God’s grace by forgiving, comforting and reaffirming that loved one (verses 7-8).