Paul’s abundant love for the Corinthians looked like paining them. They needed correction. Paul wrote to them in anguish and tears because it pained him to pain them. He loved them.

Paul had told them to get out of the church the person in gross sin. Now, he’s writing to tell them to forgive and comfort him and show him love. Are they to welcome him back in his sin? No! That was the reason to get him out. But the point wasn’t a final judgment. The goal was repentance and restoration.

Paul has forgiven this man and urges them to love and forgive, so Satan can’t trick them. Unforgiveness can’t be in a believer. Make the choice to forgive in every situation and ask for the grace to forgive and forget.

Paul says the Lord opened a door for preaching the gospel, but he leaves because he wants to find Titus and doesn’t feel settled in his spirit that he hasn’t found him.

It seems like a questionable choice, but Paul praises God that He’s always leading His children in “triumphal procession” and always spreading through us the aroma of Christ.

Wherever we are, we are spreading the knowledge of Christ. Our lives put Him on display if the light of Christ shines through you.

Some will “smell” us and smell death. Some will smell life. Some were drawn to Christ and followed Him everywhere. Some wanted to kill Him. We shouldn’t expect anything different for us.

But we walk on in the triumphal procession He leads us on, knowing He has sent us out into the world bearing His name. And we set our hearts on seeking our greatest pleasure, pleasing our Father.