2 Corinthians 2:10-11: “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
Do you find it hard to forgive some sins and yet not other sins that people have committed? Do you have an imaginary list of which sins are tolerable compared to others? I think we all have been guilty of that sometime during our life. Then there is our modern-day culture that wants to be all-inclusive in diversity and not call sin what it is – sin.
Paul’s purpose in writing the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 2, was in admonishing the people to accept the repentance of a leader within the church. Paul was willing to forgive this offender that had come to repentance. Some believe this man had been living immorally and had led in a rebellion against Paul. But Paul told the people to follow his Christlike example of forgiveness and mercy. Then he pointed out a direct question in asking them if they were obedient in everything (2 Cor. 2:9)? That is a question I have to ask myself. How about you – can you relate? The reason Paul asked this question was to remind the Corinthians and warn them that any lack of forgiveness within a body of believers, Satan grabs onto to stir things up and will cause damage.
Strategies of temptations Satan uses to try and outwit Christians:
- Withholding forgiveness
- Lust or envy
- Hopelessness
- Despair
It all started in the garden with Eve. As Pastor Todd (Crossroads Community Church) just said in a recent sermon, “Satan weaponizes doubt. Temptation works on our emotions and insights the will.”
How has your week been going so far? Did you ever stop and realize the negative effect stress has on our Christian testimony in bringing out the sin that is in our heart that we didn’t even realize was there? Satan tried that tactic on Paul. His strategy was to make Paul so stressed and upset over the Corinthian Christians that Paul would lose peace and would then become less effective in his ministry. But Paul was wise and wouldn’t allow that to happen and forgave the offender who belonged to the Corinthian church. Paul lived what he taught, did what he professed, and acknowledged he was living in the presence of Christ who knew everything he thought, did, and taught (2 Cor. 2:17; Joshua 1:9).
Have you asked the Holy Spirit to make you aware of Satan’s strategy against you right now?
What weak point in your life is Satan trying to exploit?
Do you have difficulty showing love to someone because of harboring hurts they have said or done against you in the past? Would you call it a grudge? I know I have been often guilty and tempted in not obeying 1 Cor. 13:4 where Paul states, “love . . . keeps no record of being wronged.” Paul had a clear conscience and a compassionate and forgiving heart because he had experienced God’s faithfulness and never compromised his belief that God is good.
My Grandma Helmers words ring out in my mind once again when she was alive and had warned me when I was a teenager, “To him that standeth, take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:12 KJV).”
Lead like Jesus. Stay in the Word of God that will unmask Satan’s schemes with providing the counteracting truth. Be forgiving and don’t hold onto a grudge so the enemy does not outwit you with your bad attitude. “After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief – we’re not oblivious to his sly ways.” 2 Corinthians 2:13 MSG.
Listen to We Are Messengers – Point To You – (Official Music Video).