Ever been around a refreshing group of people? Folks who lean in and ask questions, who encourage and want your best? Connecting with such people is truly a gift.

Paul sent his emissary Titus to the Corinthians and wrote of the reception, his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. Part of this refreshing came with an easing of mind for Titus. The Corinthian church dealt with lots of junk, Paul laid the wood to them more than once, and Titus served as messenger.

How did these yo-yoing church members become so refreshing? At least one part of their conversion from self-centered to other-focused involved wrestling with their issues. Paul wrote them a difficult letter—which to their great credit they took to heart.

For you became sorrowful as God intended…Godly sorrow bring repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.

Rather than complaining about Paul’s lack of understanding, the folks in Corinth leaned into his painful letter. With the Lord’s help, they moved from VDP status (Very Draining People) to ones who surprisingly gave lift to a delighted and relieved Titus.

I hope I’m a refreshing person to be around. To do so, I have to wrestle with the junk the Lord points out—my self-centeredness mostly. But if the cantankerous Corinthians can get there, then hope exists for me as well.

2 Corinthians 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Gaelle Marcel