July 27

For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you. — 2 Cor 2:4 BSB

Sometimes love requires us to cause pain to those we care about. Paul made his friends sad, but it was so they would be glad later.

If we see a friend doing something wrong and say nothing, we are failing to be faithful. Our silence encourages them to continue on the wrong path. However, it’s not easy to confront others about their mistakes. It takes great love and wisdom to do it in a way that helps, rather than harms.

Paul shows us how to do this delicate task. “I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears.” His motive was not to make them sad but to show them his love. “I wrote not to make you grieve, but to let you know the depth of my love for you.”

We are never ready to confront someone about their sin unless we genuinely love them.

One pastor asked another what he had preached on the previous Sunday. “The wrath of God,” was the reply. “Did you preach it tenderly?” his friend asked.