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Motivation in Accordance with God’s Grace

찬송 : 찬송가 223장 (새찬송가 236장)
2020-09-27 [고린도후서(2 Corinthians) 1:12 - 1:22]

12	For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
13	For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and acknowledge and I hope you will fully acknowledge--
14	just as you did partially acknowledge us--that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.
15	Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.
16	I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.
17	Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time?
18	As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.
19	For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.
20	For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
21	And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,
22	and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Thinking & Understanding
In response to the criticism that he kept changing his word and therefore could not be trusted, Paul defended his honesty and faithfulness. Paul changed his plans for the benefit of others in accordance with God’s grace. He planned to visit the Corinthian church twice so that they could experience twice the amount of God’s grace. He did not change his word for the sake of personal convenience; he was dedicated to spreading the news of God’s word and faithfulness, even if it meant going back on his word (vv. 12-22).

Who is God?
Vv. 18,20 God is faithful. God’s faithfulness is the source of our hope and the principle for our actions. Therefore, we must also respond faithfully to God who is faithful. Are we steadfastly relying only on God in both good and bad situations?

What lesson is God teaching me?
V. 12 Paul chose to live a ‘simple’ and ‘basic’ life. People who do not know God regard as wise those who know how to present themselves artfully for the sake of personal profit. However, Paul responded to others with the heart given to him by God. How do we treat our neighbours?

Prayer
Help us, Lord, to become communities of people who earn trust by treating others honestly and lovingly.