“Make room for us in your hearts. we have WRONGED NO ONE, we have CORRUPTED NO ONE, we have EXPLOITED NO ONE. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that YOU HAVE SUCH A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN YOU. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles MY JOY KNOWS NO BOUNDS (Meaning you have AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF JOY).” (2 Corinthians 7:2-4)
Now Paul begins to describe just HOW POSITIVE his feelings are for them. He is writing with GREAT BOLDNESS, and not because he is ashamed or disappointed in them. The opposite is true. PAUL DECLARES THE GREAT PRIDE HE STILL TAKES IN THEM. The following verse helps to explain why he now says that, in fact, he is filled with comfort and overflowing with joy despite all the affliction he and his friends have experienced.
Paul said, “I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. But THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO ALWAYS LEADS US as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread THE AROMA OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM EVERYWHERE.” (2 Corinthians 2:13-14) In the Roman victory parades, incense was burned in celebration of the defeat of Rome’s enemies. In that way, people could both see and smell the evidence of a captured foe as it passed by. Paul describes God’s use of His willing captives, Christians, in a similar way. He uses us to spread the fragrance of His knowledge EVERYWHERE WE GO. We serve His purpose of spreading the truth of the gospel down every street He leads us along.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham