Holding Back

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 2 Corinthians 6:12

Drop this verse on us without its story and we are a bit baffled. Eh? What? Restricted by my own affections? Paul had written previously to the church in Corinth and there is much more in this letter as well. To summarize: Paul did not feel that he was getting in return all the affection he was pouring out onto his church. This is unfortunately not at all uncommon in our relationships. We don't know how to love as we should and we have trouble returning the love given to us.

How many of us could say that we have returned the love of God as much as He has given to us? Given that all of us reading or writing this have not died on the cross to save God from His sins, well , we just are going to come up short. Jesus, the Son of God, gave His life to save us from our sins. He didn't have any sins, so we are never going to catch up that way. How ridiculous is it to even suggest that God might have a sin we could die to propitiate anyway? However, God's love is so great and perfect that it is not dependent upon a full return from us. More good news: He is going to enable and teach us to love Him and our neighbors in that same selfless way.

Jesus showed the love; Paul wrote it down for us in his other letter to Corinth. God also gave to us a precious gift in His Holy Spirit living in us. We can learn by prayer and listening for that voice of the Spirit as we walk this life. We will learn to not be found holding back our love and affection as Paul's church was from him.

Praise God for His patient and loving teaching,

Bucky