Good Thursday to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
INTEGRITY is a character trait we long to see both in ourselves and others, right? But would you agree integrity is rare, especially with consistency? I find it fascinating that the apostle Paul wrote this to his friends in the crazy city of Corinth, about 2000 years ago: “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.” (2 Cor. 1:12) Oh my! Can you make that statement about yourself and your relationships? In a world full of deceit, manipulation and irresponsibility have you found it difficult to trust people? Can people trust you?
In Paul’s day, the city of Corinth had a devious, suspicious, even dark reputation. Unethical, immoral, deceitful, unreliable were words which described almost everything about life and business in Corinth. Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth (Acts 18:11) so Paul understood the challenge it was for Corinthian Christians attempting to live God honoring lives in crazy Corinth as the Holy Spirit was doing His soul sanctifying work in those who had trusted Jesus Christ to redeem them from the strongholds of darkness, after all darkness was all they had known.
Do you see Paul declaring that Integrity and Godly Sincerity are lifestyle character traits only possible with consistency, as a result of God’s grace and the life transforming work of an indwelling Holy Spirit? Pause. Does your reputation, with all who have contact with you, include those traits? If you claim to be Christian but your answer is NO, what does that mean about the reality of the relationship with Jesus you think you have?
Paul continued with another profound declaration: “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 Cor. 1:21,22) Oh my, do you see FOUR powerful statements that should be very encouraging to you and me today, especially if the city where you live is like Corinth in Paul’s day? Let’s take them one at a time…
First… “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ” Every authentic Christian, anywhere in the world, has received this promise from God: the power of God can enable them to stand firm with integrity and godly sincerity, regardless of the darkness or depravity or danger in which they are living. Do you believe that and are you living it, consistently? So, what Scriptures can you claim which assure you of this? I claim Psalm 9:9,10 and Jeremiah 17:7 and Isaiah 40:25-31 and Is. 41:10 and Is. 45:5,6,22,23 and Romans 8:1 and so many more great truths which help me stand firm in God’s power. By the way, this standing firm power is experienced as you LIVE God’s truth which is why we need to have it rooted deep in our souls! (Ps. 119:105)
Second… Paul’s powerful words “He anointed us.” Paul is calling us to understand the miracle of Almighty God sending His Holy Spirit to CONSECRATE as holy, every person redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 1:17-19) A beautiful picture of this is when the prophet Samuel was sent by God to Bethlehem to find the young man God had selected to be the next King of Israel, remember? 1 Samuel 16:16 describes the moment Samuel saw young David: “The LORD said, ‘rise and anoint him, this is the one.’ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him, in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.” Has God anointed you with His Holy Spirit, to live a holy life, my friends?
Third… Paul wrote that God “set His seal of ownership on us”. Do we understand that Jesus’ shed blood, applied by God the Father to our sinfulness, our sin bondage and our sin condemnation liberates us, delivers us from our inescapable slavery to sin and Satan? And more… God puts His mark of ownership upon us! Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians that “When you believed the gospel, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance… of those who are God’s possession…” (Eph. 1:13,14) It means as we are purchased by the blood of sinless Jesus Christ, God the Son, then God the Father places His holy mark of His ownership upon us as the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us! That spiritual seal is unseen by human eyes, but I believe is absolutely seen by angels, both holy and fallen, and by Satan and Jesus! I am proud to bear the God given mark of the Holy Spirit, how about you, my friends?
Fourth... Paul wrote that God “put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” The Holy Spirit alive in you and me is God’s guarantee of our forever future with HIM, both here as we walk this journey of human life on planet earth with the Holy Spirit guiding us, but also God’s promise of our eternity future where we’ll be in God’s presence forever! Peter describes it as “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you who through faith are shielded by God’s power…” (1 Peter 1:3,4) Are you claiming this future inheritance God has for you, AND are you living in the power of that inheritance today?
Oh my such great and powerful truth Paul wrote for us today and the ‘lessons learned’ study notes will help you dig even deeper. The worship song I’ve selected will draw you to thankful praise to God and lead you into prayer, and I’ll be here waiting for you tomorrow, my friends.
Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12,21,22.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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