2 Corinthians 7:2-7

2 Corinthians 7:2-7  Make room for us in your hearts.  We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.  I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.  I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you.  I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.  For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within.  But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him.  He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. 

Paul's life at this time was very traumatic, for he said we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within.  Paul, the mighty man of faith, the father of many churches, expresses in this passage his need for love and concern from others.  He felt that he had been harsh with the Corinthians in previous letters, but now he was encouraged by Titus, for Titus relayed to Paul how much the Corinthians loved him.  Paul needed to hear these words of encouragement from Titus.  They brought great joy to his heart, for Paul loved the Corinthians so much that he would willingly die for them.  Now, he heard of their words of reciprocating love.  

If Paul the apostle needed people caring for him, loving him, praying for him, how much more do we, average believers, need people loving us.  The journey through life for all of us is often difficult and challenging.  As with Paul in the above passage, sometimes we are stretched beyond our capabilities to endure.  Then we need others to come along side us and help us to live successfully and victoriously.  Like Paul, many times we need a message of encouragement from someone, a visit, a phone call, a card, an email.  We need someone to say that he is standing by us, praying for us.  If we don't hear such words, the journey is even more difficult because we feel we are facing the struggles of life alone.  As members  of the body of Christ, the questions we must ask ourselves are: Where is our prayer life?  Who do we pray for?  What communication do we have with those outside of our family?  Do we send cards of comfort or encouragement?  Is our hospitality lacking?  Do we weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice?  Do we really care about others?  Do we care about the body of Christ?  The body of Christ is one; we are all connected as one body.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (2 Corinthians 12:27)  Recently a good friend of ours experienced a loss.  We expressed concern and we prayed.  Although we talked about sending a plant with a card, things got in the way, and we did not follow through with that plan.  How much better it would have been if we had.  We need to put feet to our prayers and good intentions.

Paul loved the Corinthian church and it touched him deeply to know that this was a reciprocal love.  That is how the body should function.  That is what the world should see in the church--God's love in action, working in and through us and reaching out to others.  John speaks often of God's love.  He says, How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  (1 John 3:1)  And he understood that as his children, we become his ambassadors, lights in a dark world as John goes on to say.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  (1 John 3:2)  Today you may be the one who is struggling and even then, that is a good time to reach out to someone else who is in need.  There is strength in the body.  Jesus said where two or three come together in his name, there He is in the midst of them--there is power and authority when we gather together in Christ and lift each other up.  So whatever it is that God wants you to do today, just do it, and you will be blessed and so will someone else.  Others will say, "God comforted me by your coming."