Day 2 – 2 Corinthians 1:12-24

For 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. For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; just 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. In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; that 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. Therefore, 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? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For 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. For 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. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.^[1]

There are times when the Apostle Paul appears to be boastful and proud. He begins these verses referencing his “proud confidence.” But contrary to how it may appear, Paul is not engaging in self-aggrandizement but making a statement about his integrity. This a particularly appropriate word for our generation that tends to thoughtlessly exercise deception. It seems that many are more concerned with what they can get away with than maintaining a consistent witness. One dictionary defines integrity as, “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.” But I like the suggestion of some that like character, integrity is what you do when no one is looking. In the case of these verses it seems that Paul is responding to accusations of deception because he had promised to visit Corinth and was unable. His response is revealing in that He concludes that we are to be like our Savior who is faithful and does not vacillate. His promises are sure. His Word is true. When He speaks, He gives a definitive Word upon which we can count. What is our Word like? What are we like when no one is around? Are we people of integrity or do we seek for ways to ‘get over?’ Today let us seek to be people of integrity.

Dear Heavenly Father, we confess our lack of a consistent witness. We desire to be honest and have strong moral principles, but often bow to what is expedient rather than right and true. We often seek to please people more than we seek to please you. Forgive us for our duplicity and lack of character and integrity. Enable us this day to maintain a consistent witness so that our yes is yes and our no is no. Quicken us to see in the mirror whom we really are so that we are not public successes, but private failures. Help us to follow the example of Jesus and heed the words of Paul so that You will get the honor and the glory. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 1:12–24.