2 Corinthians 7:2-16
 
Pastor Dave began by reviewing the context of this week’s passage: Paul had confronted the Corinthian church with their sin and failures, and conflict ensued. Before the Lord, asking His help to recall, consider the context of your own life with regard to confrontation. When, if ever, have I been the confronter? How did it go? Have I ever been the one confronted? How did I respond?
 
No matter how chronologically or spiritually mature we are, we are capable of error and sin. There are times we need to be confronted and corrected. Acknowledge that truth before God and ask for the ability to respond rightly, to experience godly grief that leads to repentance. Pray for perseverance to engage in the process, even if it doesn’t begin well. The Corinthians’ first response to Paul was apparently worldly grief. They were offended and defensive; they hurled accusations back at Paul. However, with God’s help, they eventually realized that Paul was speaking as God’s ambassador and accepted his message. Unity and joy were the result. Lord, the next time I am confronted, give me the gracious gift of godly grief that leads to repentance. Help me look past the present pain and aim for a restored and deepened relationship with You and with my confronter. 
 
Pray for yourself as a confronter. We can fail in that role in several ways. One is to never confront, to be so risk-averse and to value peace so highly that we give sin a pass. Lord, give me the courage to do the right thing, the hard work of confrontation that helps the other person grow and mature. Another way we fail is to confront as a self-righteous meddler, not as an ambassador of the Lord. Lord, pull me up sharply when I am tempted to act on my own initiative and to confront out of a motive of pride instead of love.

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