Reasons

11/15/2016

2 Corinthians 1. 4 …who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – St. Paul

Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth was rocky at times; they said and did things that he had to correct them over, and sometimes, his correction was unpleasant, to say the least. But Paul maintained that his correction was for a reason: his correction was redemptive.

Redemption isn’t a code-word. Redemption is a process whereby someone is brought back from a place – either mentally, spiritually, or physically – where they shouldn’t have gone. It is a process of discipline and correction but it is for a purpose. The reasons we go through the redemption process with people is for their good. Otherwise if there is no redemption, there is no correction and there is no care; and they are left in their own error. Comfort is not coddling. Comfort is correcting.

People in error without correction have a very small chance of ever getting things right in the future.

But when correction occurs, there is healing, and restoration and, redemption. A person goes through correction for at least two reasons: one, is to get themselves in a better place, and two, is to help others get there as well. God in His infinite wisdom has called us to help each other in times of trouble to (with His leadership) find our way back – or out. It’s one of the primary reasons that the Church (with all of her faults and blemishes) is so important: she is to be a place of godly healing, restoration, and redemption. It’s a place of loving people so that we can love God. (Yes, I said it that way…)

Paul was harsh with the Corinthians at times, but he never slammed the door on his relationship with them despite the exasperation he felt with them. Paul knew the magnitude of redemption: he’d been redeemed. And his redemption was to help others get redeemed as well. We all need redemption – that is God’s way. Paul stated there was a reason for the process: for good and not harm. And, to help in the process with others who need redemption.

Comfort is a strange thing in this harsh world of ours. People are hurt and hurting and need someone to come alongside them and comfort them. Comfort is not meant for us to remain in the same place but to move to another place; a place of then helping others so that they too can help others in need. We all have needs and we all need to get past them so we can then help others in their need – and that is precisely when true help and hope begin: in serving others in their need.

I work with 6^th, 7^th, and d 8^th grade boys. Sometimes they need correction (okay, all the time…). But they also need to be helped and encouraged to see life differently and to learn how to question their behaviors and outlook. It is an uphill battle at times but it is necessary because boys need to learn to become true men; and true men are necessary to help this world keep from self-destructing. Boys will be boys unless they are taught to become men. It’s all a part of the redemption process and the reason for is are myriad.

Father, as You have comforted and corrected me, I pray You use me in the process to do the same for others that we all may become the people You’ve created us to be – Amen.