Jesus Calls Us
Experiencing the Resurrection
Jesus Reinstates Peter
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:52 Corinthians 7:1-11 The Voice7 Because we have these promises, dearly loved ones, out of respect for God we should scour the filth from our flesh and spirit and move toward perfect beauty and holiness. 2 Take us into your hearts; love us as we love you. You have nothing to fear. We have hurt no one, ruined no one, and swindled no one. 3 I am not writing these things to condemn you, as I said before. Our hearts embrace you, so we stand beside you whether facing life or death. 4 I am completely confident and incredibly proud of you. Even in all this turbulence, I am at peace—I am overflowing with joy. 5 When we came into Macedonia, we were completely worn out—under attack from every angle—nagging opposition on the outside, our own nagging fears from the inside. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, brought us comfort when Titus arrived from Corinth. 7 We were relieved, not just to see him, but because he told us how he was encouraged to learn about your longing, your grieving, and your continued enthusiasm for me. So these were all more reasons for me to rejoice!
8 I knew you would be upset with my last letter, but I do not regret sending it. If there were times I did have second thoughts, it was because I could see that the letter did hurt you, even if only for a while. 9 Now I am glad—not because it caused you grief but because you were moved to make a permanent change[a] that can happen only with the realization that your actions have gone against God—I’m glad to know you suffered no long-term loss because of what we did. 10 Now, this type of deep sorrow, godly sorrow, is not so much about regret; but it is about producing a change of mind and behavior[b] that ultimately leads to salvation. But the other type of sorrow, worldly sorrow, is often fleeting and only brings death. 11 Look at what is happening among you! Notice how authentic and diligent you have become because this godly sorrow has been at work in your community. But there’s more: your desire to clear your name, your righteous anger, your respect, your longing, your zeal, and your concern for justice. All these demonstrate how you have been made clean. 25 You say, "The Lord's way is not fair at all!" Hear Me, people of Israel: You think My way is unfair? You are the ones with unjust ways! 26 If a righteous person turns away from the right path and chooses to act wickedly, he will die for it. He will die because of the sin he committed. 27 But if a wicked person turns from the wicked path and chooses to be honest and live a righteous life, he will end up saving his life!
For Reflection Paul had chided the church in Corinth for their gluttony and backsliding into their old ways of relating to each other. This criticism was painful to hear, but with Titus' help, the church was forming the right relationships. They began to serve one another and hold self-interest in abeyance. They opened the doors to redemption and were forming a greater sense of community.
Jesus said blessings come out of mourning (Matthew 5:4). The very thought is ridiculous to some; but from Paul’s perspective, God uses weaknesses and is present in pain. This truth is revolutionary. In the midst of suffering, the mourner abandons pretense and self-consciousness. There we meet God and one another in honest ways that open the doors to redemption when we are willing. Pray Pray for the grace of God to forgive your transgressions. Pray so that you might enjoy the intimate relationships that God wills for you. Forward to a friend
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