Spaces in the Heart

Spaces in the Heart

Words of Faith 11-1-17

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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2 Corinthians 7

   [2] Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. [3] I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. [4] I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

       So Paul returned to the issue of the relationship between himself and the Corinthians. He appealed once more for a return of mutual love as he had mentioned in 6:11-13.

       The language here is really quite lovely. Make room for us. Literally, give us space or admission into your space. The Greek word choreo is where we get the word choreography. Choreography is literally the "writing of space". It is not just dance, but the filling of space with meaning. Paul asked the Corinthians to invite him and his colleagues back into their space. The language is almost like an image of a dancer asking to be written back into a dance or a scene.

       Paul sensed acutely that he had been rejected in Corinth in favor of the rival suitors, the false prophets. Like a performer coming in for rehearsal and discovering that he had been written out of the dance, Paul felt the rejection painfully and now he asked to be invited back into that space. He asked humbly. He did not demand. Paul could probably have demanded almost anything else, a hearing before the congregation or a location to stay, but the one thing he could not demand was space in their hearts, a place in the dance.

       Paul reminded them that he and his colleagues had wronged no one, corrupted no one, and exploited no one. There was no reason for this rejection. Any accusations had been false. The point was not even to place blame or extract an apology. The goal was simply to get things straight and begin the dance again sharing the space of the heart. The Corinthians, for all their difficulties and troubles, were so very dear to Paul. He was proud of them and confident in them.

       Of course the accusations made about Paul were unfounded. He could offer disclaimers, but the Corinthians' conviction of his integrity was his best answer to all that. Sadly, however, this was yet lacking.

         Paul did not blame the Corinthians for their vacillation. His rivals were impressive, much more so than he, at least in external ways. The Corinthians' vacillation had not produced disaffection in Paul. On the contrary, his love was unabated and his confidence in them was unimpaired. He had an exulting pride and joy in them even in all his troubles.

       Is there someone that you have pushed from the space of your heart? Someone you need to invite back into the dance? Or perhaps you have been pushed out of the choreography and found yourself sitting on the side. Paul addressed this. It is not something to leave alone. We are to be reconciled to God, but we are also to be reconciled to one another.

       Father God, show me the places where I need to invite others back into the space of my heart. Show me the places where I need to seek that invitation just as Paul did. Make us one, Lord. In Jesus' Name.