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. 9 I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. 10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
how often are we unforgiving.... sometimes it takes us years to really forgive someone... sometimes we have to go through the process over and over again... until finally we are able to let go... but what about when the shoe is on the other foot... what about when we are the one who needs forgiveness from someone... it is easy to decide I would never hurt someone like I was hurt... but are you sure? what hurts you may not be what would hurt someone else... we are no different... we hurt people just like others have hurt us... ours may be unintentional... maybe theirs wasn't... it really isn't the issue.. we need to learn to be forgiving... why carry around all that anger and malice in our hearts? I don't know about you.. but I need a clear heart.. clean hands...
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
our lives are a Christlike fragrance rising up to God... are they? I pray this is the case.. I pray that when God looks at me He is smiling... recently a man decided that the end of the earth will be tomorrow... as we know that no man knows the hour nor the day.. it is easy for us to say.. we are ready... but what about those who are not ready.. what about those who are mislead by such teaching... are we really doing our part to save the sinner? are we really teaching others all we know about the goodness of God? or are we like so many Christians.. who are thankful for salvation but keeping it to themselves... I pray that when people look at me.. they don't even see me.. instead they see Christ shining out through me... I pray that my spirit is the spirit of Christ at all times.. in the light and in the dark....
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