Paul’s Integrity
12For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. 13For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; 14just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; 16that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. 17Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? 18But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. 19For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 20For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
23But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. 24Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.
How have you conducted yourself in the world after coming to Christ? In holiness, godly sincerity and wisdom?
Does your yes mean yes or do you vacillate with your words? Are you too busy in your daily schedule that you are stretched thin? Does then, your yes mean no?
Let this sink in: 21Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Yes you have been sealed and given the Spirit as a pledge!
Paul reminds us to stand firm in your faith! Remember Job? All that Satan threw at him, everything Satan did, he stood firm and was rewarded by God in the end.
How about you, will you stand firm until the end and keep your integrity as Job did? I urge you to read the Old Testament book of Job! He lost everything and kept his faith, when his wife and friends failed him.
How are you holding up today in this fallen world? God gave us the Book of Job because there was no one more righteous. When you loose loved ones, friends, income, shelter, food, do you stand firm and keep your integrity? Follow Pauls and Job's example. God will keep His pledge in you! Will you keep your pledge in His Son?
Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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