Strong Words Lead to Life (Day 33)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about immorality in the church. In verse 2 he uses some very strong words and says some harsh things to them.

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, so that he who has done this deed may be taken from your midst.

WOW! “You are puffed up.” New American Standard says “You have become arrogant.”

Can you imagine your pastor speaking to you like that? How quickly would he be looking for a job at Walmart. There is a possibility that he should speak to you like that if he is a true shepherd. But that is another subject. Paul tells them they should have mourned and taken the offender from their midst, in order that though he may suffer in his body, his spirit might be saved. (vs 5)

True, honest, godly mourning often leads to action.

Apparently this church took Paul’s exhortation seriously because in 2 Corinthians 7:1-10 he addresses this same issue. And especially in verse 10 he says;

For the grief according to God works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the grief of the world works out death.

Because Paul spoke harshly to those who needed correction, they learned to mourn in the way that leads to salvation. Some form of the word comfort appears 7 times in this chapter.

This is the law of God. This is the course that creation follows.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed Father in Heaven Thank you for this truth which is life to my spirit and body. Help me to take this word seriously and see how you want to apply it to my life. Give grace I pray to go where your spirit leads. In Jesus name Amen.