Used In Relationship! (part 2 of 2)

When we are used by God in relationships we should rejoice in those connections and the significant difference He can bring to the lives of others through our actions and words. Yesterday we considered God using us a comforters. Let us now consider a PAINFUL side of genuine relationships. In the second chapter of Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, he mentioned the PAIN.

We read…
“(1) For I made up my mind not to make another PAINFUL VISIT to you. (2) For if I cause you PAIN, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have PAINED? (3) And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer PAIN from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. (4) For I WROTE TO YOU OUT OF MUCH AFFLICTION AND ANGUISH OF HEART and with many tears, NOT TO CAUSE YOU PAIN BUT TO LET YOU KNOW THE ABUNDANT LOVE THAT I HAVE FOR YOU.” ( 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 ESV)

The PAIN of genuine relationships can arise from separation (for a particular length of time or by the death of a loved one) or be experienced because of a HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF CONCERN. This latter cause seems to have been what Paul was going through. Paul had a genuine concern for the spiritual health of the Christians at Corinth. He had written in his first letter of a situation with which they needed to deal. ( 1 Corinthians 5) In his second letter he seems to have addressed the result of this action and needed to encourage the church to know where to go from there. Paul wanted to maintain the relationship with the saints there, but He also wanted to make sure they retained a proper relationship with each other and with God.

Like Paul, do we feel the PAIN when our relationships are not right? Have we also experienced the “anguish of heart” when lives seem to be drawing away from rather than moving toward God and His Will? Praise God we can be so touched. If there is no attachment, the wrong others do may not bother us so much. When we feel the PAIN it is because the connection is a genuine one. Having such a heart, God draws us into a glorious role of using us to reach out, warn, and draw others back to Him. Is there any higher calling than that since the very soul of another may be at stake? May we retain such a heart that we can be used by God to draw others back toward Him and His Will. In so doing we will have opportunity to rejoice in going from the PAIN back to the comfort our blessed relationships in the Lord provides.

Have a great day DRAWN TO OTHERS TO DRAW TOWARD GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Relationships