Daily Bread 2011 - 2 Corinthians 1
15 Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I planned 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 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “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 me and Silas[b] 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.
What Does This Mean?
The second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians was precipitated by the rumor that Paul was not keeping his word. Some were saying that he said “yes” he would come visit, but then said “no” he could not. Paul wants to clear about that he is not double minded about these things and clarifies why he could not in fact visit them as he had originally planned.
But this also gives a good platform for him to teach on the solid nature of the promises of God. For all of God’s promises in Christ are not a “yes” and “no”, so as to create any doubt of their validity in our minds. But no matter how many promises God has made they are “yes” in Christ. Then he points out that it is this solid foundation of God’s promises coming through in the person of Christ that we can stand firm in Christ. And in fact as believers in Christ, God has anointed us with the Spirit which is a deposit guaranteeing our future inheritance. So it is the Holy Spirit within us that gives us confidence that all of God’s promises can be taken to the bank!
What Does This Mean For Us?
As we grow and mature in our faith, more and more our “yes will be yes”, and our “no will be no”. Wavering back and forth is usually a result of trying to place our confidence in ourselves, rather than God’s promises. The more we realize that we are child of God and act in the authority and power He has given us through the seal of the Spirit, we can speak with confidence about what we will do and not do.
If God calls us to do something in His authority and power we can say “yes”, or if we don’t feel called to do something we can say “no” and leave it at that. There is a freedom here that keeps us from being wishy/washy and unreliable.
Is your “yes a yes”, and your “no a no”? If not, take some time to reflect on Your position in Christ and how you make decisions to commit or not to something.
God we thank you that you do not waver, but your “yes is a yes” and your “no is a no!” May our commitments reflect the same unwavering commitment to being people of our Word based on the “yes” we have received in Christ! Amen.
What Does This Mean?
The second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians was precipitated by the rumor that Paul was not keeping his word. Some were saying that he said “yes” he would come visit, but then said “no” he could not. Paul wants to clear about that he is not double minded about these things and clarifies why he could not in fact visit them as he had originally planned.
But this also gives a good platform for him to teach on the solid nature of the promises of God. For all of God’s promises in Christ are not a “yes” and “no”, so as to create any doubt of their validity in our minds. But no matter how many promises God has made they are “yes” in Christ. Then he points out that it is this solid foundation of God’s promises coming through in the person of Christ that we can stand firm in Christ. And in fact as believers in Christ, God has anointed us with the Spirit which is a deposit guaranteeing our future inheritance. So it is the Holy Spirit within us that gives us confidence that all of God’s promises can be taken to the bank!
What Does This Mean For Us?
As we grow and mature in our faith, more and more our “yes will be yes”, and our “no will be no”. Wavering back and forth is usually a result of trying to place our confidence in ourselves, rather than God’s promises. The more we realize that we are child of God and act in the authority and power He has given us through the seal of the Spirit, we can speak with confidence about what we will do and not do.
If God calls us to do something in His authority and power we can say “yes”, or if we don’t feel called to do something we can say “no” and leave it at that. There is a freedom here that keeps us from being wishy/washy and unreliable.
Is your “yes a yes”, and your “no a no”? If not, take some time to reflect on Your position in Christ and how you make decisions to commit or not to something.
God we thank you that you do not waver, but your “yes is a yes” and your “no is a no!” May our commitments reflect the same unwavering commitment to being people of our Word based on the “yes” we have received in Christ! Amen.
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