I once heard a pastor say something like, “Rules without relationship will lead to rebellion.” I have hung on that statement for years now. Profound and true.
We read correction has taken place between Paul and the church at Corinth. There are times where we each need a course correction or at least I do. With that correction we see the deep care and compassion between them.
-Open your hearts to us… v2
-Great is my boasting on your behalf… v4
-when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more… v7
-but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you… v12
-Therefore, we have been comforted in your comfort… v13
-And his affections are greater for you… v15
Yes, there was correction and there will be times we each need that too, but it came from a place of relationship; it came from a place of love.
You can look at the Bible as a rule book or you can look at it for what it really is, a testimony of a holy God loving and redeeming a broken world. It really is the greatest love story ever written. It isn’t the rules that change us. It’s when we recognize the great love, He has for us.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
Have you let the love of the Father transform you? Redemption is found through all the history of the Bible. Redemption begins when we recognize His great love for us.
Man… if someone hasn’t told you today… JESUS LOVES YOU!
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.