In today’s passage, Paul is
instructing the believers about the confidence they can have in the claims of
the Gospel. Have they truly been forgiven? Can they trust in the promise of
life after death? Are they part of the family of God? Paul says that the answer
is yes, and that their experience of the Holy Spirit can give them confidence
in that “yes.” How has your experience of God’s presence in your life given you
confidence in the unseen, or unfulfilled, promises of God?
Study the Scripture
Read in 2 Corinthians 1:12-22
For more help use this Bible Study method
REFLECTION
A
Promise Guaranteed
by Mary McGinnis
How do you feel about promises? When I was a child, I remember my parents telling me, “We will go to the zoo on your birthday.” I would ask, “Do you promise?” My Dad would respond, “If I said we would take you to the zoo on your birthday, yes, that is what I meant. Unless of course it rains, then, no, we won’t be able to go.”
What makes us so doubtful when people make a promise? Well, they are people, right? Sometimes they let us down, either by their
lack of commitment to their word, or simply because they are human and can not control all possible obstacles. So,
what happens? We become cynical. Underneath we suspect that “promises” will come,
at worst, with some diabolical, ulterior motive or strings attached. Or at best, they will be broken when the
going gets tough.
The Corinthians too had become cynical. The missionary, Paul, had been traveling to
bring the good news of Jesus to different parts of the world. He had promised that he would go to Corinth
and visit the church there, but he was delayed. Their disappointment led them to question
his sincerity and his integrity, that perhaps he could not be trusted, and that
when he said “yes” he really meant “no.”
Paul defends himself by saying, “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.”
But Paul did not stop there. He also wanted these Corinthian Christians, and US to know, that we can trust all of GOD’S PROMISES! God’s character is not like that of human beings.
“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.” 2 Corinthians 1:20
Amen means, “Let it be so!” In other words, God said it, I believe it and that settles it.
How can we REALLY know God will keep His word? Our lives and our world seem to be spinning hopelessly out of control. Where is God right now?
God’s promises come with a guarantee, the gift of His Holy Spirit. By filling us with His Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead:
- God has anointed us. His Spirit has prepared us and empowers us to serve Him. He has called us, anointed us, to be His light in this dark world.
- God has sealed us. God gave us His Spirit to identify us as His and to protect us. No one, not even Satan himself, not even the worst circumstances this life has to throw at us can EVER pluck us from His hand.
- God has given us a guarantee. This Holy Spirit is a deposit, a massive down payment, the guarantee of what is yet to come. God has purchased us on the lay-away plan, He will not walk away from the final payment because He has so much invested already.
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:22
Those
He saves are His delight,
Christ
will hold me fast;
Precious
in His holy sight,
He
will hold me fast.
He'll
not let my soul be lost;
His
Promises shall last;
Bought
by Him at such a cost,
He
will hold me fast.
UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - SATURDAY
Prayer Practice: Spend time remembering when you have experienced God’s presence and activity in clear ways in your life. Allow those memories to strengthen your faith in the things God has still promised that He will do.
