2 Corinthians 2:5-11

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶ The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
  ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

When I was married we applied this principle to our children.  If she punished the children I would not do it again and vice versa.  If there was a major failure in my marriage on my part was not reaffirming my wife after a disagreement.

⁹ Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

I'm imagining my Pastor saying "The reason I preached to you was to test that you would be obedient.  So when I come to visit next month we won't be confrontational."  What things in my room here would I put away if I were to host my pastor for a week or so?

  ¹⁰ Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

I think here Paul is trusting the judgement of the church at Corinth.  He's not going to approach the trouble makers and stir up more trouble.  So for me when something is over, I need to let it go and not allow Satan a tool to use against me.

God Bless.