Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.
Paul is checking up on the saints in Corinth. Were they obedient to his instructions regarding the restoration of the errant member of the local church? Not was the punishment sufficiently severe, but was the process of restoration at work and active.
We often forget that we are all recovering sinners and take a superior attitude towards the fallen one. It is love that restores. We must never forget that is to be our goal.
Today's readings in the Psalms:
Morning: Psalm 54
Mid-day: 119:121-128
Evening: Psalm 130
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