The Appearance of Our Care for You 2 Corinthians 7:12

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth “For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yes, what clearing of yourselves, yes, what indignation, yes, what fear, yes, what vehement desire, yes, what zeal, yes, what revenge! In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. In chapter seven and verse twelve of Second Corinthians, Paul shared with the church members about he and his companions', “care for” the church members where we read:

Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

The verse begins, “Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong,...” Paul began with the word, “wherefore” which means “so then and therefore”, “though I wrote” which means “even if and also Paul expressed in written characters”“unto you” which refers to “the church members”, “I did it not” which means “Paul did not exercise his writing” “for his cause” which means “on behalf, account or for the sake of” “that had done the wrong” which is all one Greek word “adikeō” and means “to act unjustly, wickedly or to sin”. Paul's motivation for writing to the church members was not just because of the person who did wrong or on behalf of the father who suffered wrong within the church.

The verse goes on to say, “...but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “that our care” or “that Paul and his companions' earnestness and diligence” “for you” which refers to “on behalf, account and for the sake of the church members” “in the sight” or “before and in the presence” “of God” which means “of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “might appear” which refers to “should be made manifest, visible or known” “unto you” or “toward the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul's desire and motivation for writing to the church in Corinth was that the know he and his companions' “earnestness and diligence” for them.

When we meditate upon words of Paul, we see how much he and his companions “cared” for the church in Corinth. There were other extending factors such as concern over the person who did wrong or this “injured father” that could have easily influenced Paul, but Paul and his companions were “earnest” and “diligent” toward each of the believers who were part of the church. Jesus Christ desires for His church members to “care” for one another in this manner. Certainly there will always be other motivations for addressing issues as long as humans exist, however, let the “appearance” of those within the church be to “care for” one another in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Next time Paul shares with the church members about how he and his companions,“were comforted in your comfort”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.