2 Corinthians 2:5-11. Paul says if anyone causes him pain, that person really causes pain to all people. So that person suffers immensely for it - "For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough; so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow." So Paul tells us to reaffirm our love, even for those who have hurt us, and to forgive, as he has forgiven. Forgiveness is a defense against Satan "for we are not ignorant of his designs."

I am often overwhelmed by the thought of the pain I have caused people in my sin and my ignorance. At such times, if the person is still in my life, I apologize, but I often feel that this is not enough (it really isn't enough). The only thing that can heal the person whom I've hurt and me, the sinner, is love, Christ's love, and his mercy.

Paul is telling us to model this love by realizing that those who have hurt us will eventually suffer for it, even if they aren't right now. We must always love them so that when they realize what they have done, they know that we do not hold it against them. They know that we love them and forgive them.

Holding on to grudges and pain and not forgiving gives the devil an opening. He will use our pain and our bitterness to try to cause us to sin - to lash out or to harm others. Our pain is the perfect tool for the devil, it often makes us want to hurt others. So we have to let it go. We can let go of the pain by truly loving and forgiving others. There is no room in a loving heart for feelings of retribution.