Jesus Christ, God’s “yes”
Opening Prayer
Lord, set Your seal on my heart today, and fill me with Your Spirit so that the world might see Your glory.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:12-22
[12] Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. [13] For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, [14] as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. [15] Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. [16] I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. [17] Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? [18] But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” [19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-by me and Silas and Timothy-was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” [20] For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. [21] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What validated Paul’s ministry?Paul’s uneasy relationship with the Corinthian Christians begins to emerge as we continue into this letter. Some had written him off as unimpressive, duplicitous and difficult. Now maybe Paul could be hard to cope with, but devious? Never! His yes is yes, his no is no (17,18). His opponents flaunt their achievements and put their framed diplomas on the office wall, but if Paul is forced to boast and to play their game, he will do so by boasting of the grace of God that enables him to act with all integrity (12). The only credential he needs is the gift of the Spirit of Christ, who has anointed him (21,22). We might impress others with our academic achievements or our personality, with our earthly wisdom or our worldly strategies, but if it is God you want to impress, then all that counts is whether you are found “in Christ,” united to him by his Spirit, forgiven by him through Christ’s sacrificial death and living a life of godly sincerity. Only in Christ is every promise a “yes”; all other ground is sinking sand.
Apply
Keep your word that you might be known as a person of integrity, worthy of trust.
Closing prayer
Lord, today may I live to please You above all others and know that You are my reward.
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