2 Corinthians 7:13b-16 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 7:13b-16, which read,
v.13b-15 - And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
Paul had comfort from God in the midst of the opposition and persecution in Macedonia. He had comfort in seeing the return of Titus to him. He had comfort in hearing from Titus about the change in the Christians in Corinth in relationship to the letter written to them in sorrow. Finally, he had comfort of doing what was right in the sight of God by writing that letter and experiencing them taking the instruction and turning it into repentance and further growth in the Lord. Above all that comfort, Paul is rejoicing that Titus got to be there to witness that transformation.
Paul put Titus in a position to grow in his walk with the Lord by doing after all that listening and watching of Paul working with others with the gospel. Paul was passing the baton of being a messenger of the gospel message to Titus. Being an ambassador of Christ has times of joy and times of sorrow. Paul just wrote a letter of sorrow to the Corinthians and now there is joy that Titus experienced in the process.
It is probably one of the hardest things for a leader to give away is the opportunity for others to receive the joy that he or she would have if they were still running the show. We talk about training up others to take our place or to go beyond where we have been but many times we never let go of their cape and let them fly. Paul sent Titus to the Corinthians this time instead of going himself and he got to experience the joy of seeing joy in his student that he wouldn't have if he had gone.
Paul was experiencing that Titus was getting a love for the people of Corinth and also being blessed by seeing people of God who were getting corrected to follow through with repentance and obedience to God's Word. When we are obedient to God, the blessings of God flow both ways, from the deliverer to the receiver and then back to the deliverer again.
v.16 - I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.
Paul ends this chapter with a statement of support to the Christians in Corinth to continue to do as the Lord commands and to live in His ways. Now this is not the end of the letter but it sets up for some more instruction that is coming not in the form of a sorrowful letter but under the atmosphere of a people who are walking with the Lord and ready to learn and transform more.
"Lord, who is the Titus that You have put in my life? Who do You want me to disciple in the name of You so that they can do the same with another? Help me to see that this is the end goal and not just completing the task at hand. Maybe the task needs to take longer to complete so that the 'Titus' will be the one who sees it happen along with me instead of me just showing him that it is done. Lord, who is my 'Titus?' Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.13b-15 - And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
Paul had comfort from God in the midst of the opposition and persecution in Macedonia. He had comfort in seeing the return of Titus to him. He had comfort in hearing from Titus about the change in the Christians in Corinth in relationship to the letter written to them in sorrow. Finally, he had comfort of doing what was right in the sight of God by writing that letter and experiencing them taking the instruction and turning it into repentance and further growth in the Lord. Above all that comfort, Paul is rejoicing that Titus got to be there to witness that transformation.
Paul put Titus in a position to grow in his walk with the Lord by doing after all that listening and watching of Paul working with others with the gospel. Paul was passing the baton of being a messenger of the gospel message to Titus. Being an ambassador of Christ has times of joy and times of sorrow. Paul just wrote a letter of sorrow to the Corinthians and now there is joy that Titus experienced in the process.
It is probably one of the hardest things for a leader to give away is the opportunity for others to receive the joy that he or she would have if they were still running the show. We talk about training up others to take our place or to go beyond where we have been but many times we never let go of their cape and let them fly. Paul sent Titus to the Corinthians this time instead of going himself and he got to experience the joy of seeing joy in his student that he wouldn't have if he had gone.
Paul was experiencing that Titus was getting a love for the people of Corinth and also being blessed by seeing people of God who were getting corrected to follow through with repentance and obedience to God's Word. When we are obedient to God, the blessings of God flow both ways, from the deliverer to the receiver and then back to the deliverer again.
v.16 - I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.
Paul ends this chapter with a statement of support to the Christians in Corinth to continue to do as the Lord commands and to live in His ways. Now this is not the end of the letter but it sets up for some more instruction that is coming not in the form of a sorrowful letter but under the atmosphere of a people who are walking with the Lord and ready to learn and transform more.
"Lord, who is the Titus that You have put in my life? Who do You want me to disciple in the name of You so that they can do the same with another? Help me to see that this is the end goal and not just completing the task at hand. Maybe the task needs to take longer to complete so that the 'Titus' will be the one who sees it happen along with me instead of me just showing him that it is done. Lord, who is my 'Titus?' Amen."
Pastor Adam
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