Parting shots (part 2)!
| Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Be fully restored, be encouragers, agree with one another, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (2Corinthians13:11) |
These last two verbs are not in the passive voice as the previous two were and I think we can safely say that these are our active responses to what God is already doing inside us.
As we experience God's restoration and encouragement working powerfully in us, we must strive to agree with our fellow-believers and live in peace.
This was particularly pertinent in the case of the Corinthians. There had been lots of damaging behaviour: bad-mouthing, criticism, lawsuits, arguments and division.
God is able to restore and God is able to give hope again.
I love the promise in Joel 2:25:
"I will restore the years the locusts have eaten."
When God does this - when He restores and encourages us - we need to respond - we need to seek agreement (live for the same goals - not following Paul or Apollos (as they were), but God) and live in peace (overcoming the hurts and divisions).
This raises the tough subject of forgiveness:
Living in peace means that we are people who forgive. Forgiveness is hard until we understand what God has done for us. Experiencing God's restoration and encouragement/comfort/renewal is the best first step on the road to forgiving others. When we do this we experience presence of the God of love and peace. When we hold on to grudges, hurts and differences we cannot forgive ourselves and we cannot experience all that He has for us.
So, let's put it all together:
"Finally" (In other words, this is the conclusion of the book)
"brothers and sisters" (we're family: you choose friends but not family)
"rejoice" (God has done much for us)
"be fully restored" (this is done for us by God when we come to Him)
"be encouragers/encouraged" (Again, as God comforts us, we comfort others)
"agree with one another" (focus on the things of God)
"live in peace" (this means forgiveness and other-centredness)
"and the God of love and peace" will be with us and help us.
