Skip to main content

BE AN ADVOCATE OF RECONCILIATION

 

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)


DATE: WEDNESDAY, 3RD AUGUST, 2022 


TOPIC: BE AN ADVOCATE OF RECONCILIATION


TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1-13


1. But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

2. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

3. And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is [the joy] of you all.

4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

5.  But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent -- not to be too severe.

6.  This punishment which [was inflicted] by the majority [is] sufficient for such a man,

7.  so that, on the contrary, you [ought] rather to forgive and comfort [him,] lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

8.  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm [your] love to him.

9.  For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

10.  Now whom you forgive anything, I also [forgive.] For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11.  lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12.  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to [preach] Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,

13.  I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.


MESSAGE: 

In this passage, Paul recalls his sorrowful letter to the Corinthians. He reminds them that he intended to provoke them to repentance and conversion through his letter. It was not to cause them pain, but to let them know of his love for them (vs. 1-4). He also asked them to forgive the member of the Church whom they had punished for some serious offences. He wanted them to restore such a person, thus exercising the ministry of reconciliation. According to him, by so doing, Satan would not have opportunity to exploit the Church (vs. 5-11) Paul further maximised every opportunity he had to preach Christ, even when his expectation was not met; he moved forward from place to place (vs. 12-13). Christians are to learn a great lesson from Paul’s ministry as an advocate of reconciliation. We should desire to bridge the contact between parties in the body of Christ. While we condone discipline, effort should be made to restore such a member after genuine repentance. Forgiveness and repentance should also be our watchword; this will bring comfort among brethren and Christ’s kingdom would be greatly expanded here on earth.


PRAYER: 

Teach Your Church, O Lord, to uphold the ministry of reconciliation, so that we may enjoy the fellowship of the brethren through Jesus Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHURCH OF NIGERIA ELECTS NEW BISHOPS AND ONE ARCHBISHOP

The Episcopal synod of the church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has elected six new Bishops, and one Archbishop. The election which took place at the Basilica of Grace Apo, Gudu district in the Diocese of Abuja on Thursday October 29, 2009 has the following:- The Rt. Rev. Friday John Imaekhai Bishop, Diocese of Esan, Elected: - Archbishop of Bendel to replace The Primate elect, The Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh The very Rev. Ralph Ebirien of St Stephen’s Cathedral Bonny Elected: - Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese The Venerable Ezekiel Bolarinde Dahunsi of Church of Pentecost FESTAC Lagos Elected: - Bishop Diocese of Ido- Ani The Rev. Canon Justus Emeka Mogekwu of St. Paul’s Kakuri, Kaduna Elected:-Bishop Diocese of Asaba to replace Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh. The Venerable (Prof.) Dapo Folorunso Asaju of the chapel of Light, Lagos (LASU) Elected:-Bishop for Theological Education in the office of the Primate The Venerable James Olaoti Akinola of St. James Iludun Oro, Kwara S
Post a Comment
Read more

EXCERPTS FROM: 24/7 WARFARE PRAYERS AND SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH MANUAL

INTRODUCTION Right from childhood, the number “SEVEN” has always been an intrigue, an interesting puzzle, a fascination, and a great phenomenon to me. I was actually born on the seventh day of the month; perhaps this was one of the reasons why something leaps inside of me whenever I see the number. But as I grew up in the Christian faith I began to see a regular reference to it the scriptures. I was kind of saying, whoa! Holy bliss! Seven occurs 257 times, or 7 × 41 Seventh, the fractional part occurs 98 times or 7× 14 Seven –fold occurs 7 times. Seventy occurs 56 times or 7× 8 “Seventy” in combination with other numbers occurs 35 times or 7× 5. God is pleased to stamp the number “Seven” with the seal of perfection and completeness. God never down played the importance of the number, because it was the number of God. It is a carrier of God’s mysteries. It pleased God that, the Seventh man from Adam – Enoch sh
Post a Comment
Read more

FIVE NEW FULL FLEDGED ANGLICAN DIOCESES

Five new Dioceses have been created in the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. The Church's official website - http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=352&p_t=index.php? posted the information thus: The Standing Committee Meeting of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has approved the creation of five new full fledged Dioceses at their meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen’s Umuahia, Abia State. They are Shendam Diocese carved out of Langtang Diocese, Plateau state, Ido-Ani Diocese from present Owo Diocese, in Ondo state, Igbomina West from Igbomina Diocese,Kwara state, Ilesha North East from Ilesha in Osun state and Ijebu South West from Ijebu Diocese in Ogun state. At the presentation, the head of the Committee responsible for creation of new Dioceses, the most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa Archbishop Ibadan Province and Bishop of Ibadan who led a team of four assured the house that the stage is set and the New Dioceses have met all the requirements for creation
Post a Comment
Read more