Devotion - Wednesday, February 23

Sometimes, faithfully living out the Gospel, means speaking a harsh word.

This morning I was reading from II Corinthians. Midway into the first chapter, Paul says, "I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit." Details of an earlier "painful visit" are not given, but we can assume that Paul had come to Corinth to "remind" them of the message and to encourage them to "stand firm" in the faith.

The harsh word need not be a word spoken in anger. Much of what follows in this chapter is Paul's attempt to make it clear that he was not angry with them, he has forgiven them, and asks their forgiveness. He is not angry; he is being true to the message of Christ.

Perhaps this is where we have missed the mark and begun to associate harsh words with inappropriate words. It can be difficult to speak a harsh word which is not angry. Maybe we put off speaking the word until the anger has taken root. We avoid until we can't avoid any longer and we simply explode.

There may have been an explosion in Corinth. Paul felt the need to speak of forgiveness. But what we do know is that speaking this word made it possible for the community to go on. Remembering the Word of God brought them back to the place they needed to be. Remaining silent may have prevented painful interactions, but it would not have enabled them to be in the place where God would have them be. Speaking the harsh word restored them to the community which appropriately bears the name of Christ.

Sometimes, faithfully living out the Gospel, means speaking a harsh word.