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2 Corinthians 1:15-22
In 2 Corinthians 1:15-22 the Apostle Paul is taking a stand against the accusations against him by the Corinthians of his faithfulness to them as he had promised to visit them and yet his visit was postponed. Enemies of the faith has accused him to the Corinthians of being unworthy of the message of the gospel in which he preached to them; with this in mind, they became suspicious of his dedication to them. Paul explains, however, that it is not by way of men in his word, “Yes, Yes, and No, No,” but by the way of God in “Yes” to God and His will that Paul is following (2 Corinthians 1:17-20). He continues to explain that God is the leader, and it is His will that is to be followed in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NKJV) as he states, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” Jesus gave the initial promise of the sealing of His Holy Spirit in John 14:15-18 as He instructed, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
This is a promise and example that the ways of man, however sincere, are subject to change by the ways of God, which are always best for us in God’s great plan of salvation for our lives.
We are sealed to God in Christ Jesus through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit for everyone who believes in Him, who professes Jesus Lord and Savior. God sends His Holy Spirit to live within us and make us the new person that is described in the Bible. Jesus describes this new person to Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 and states in John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Sometimes our intentions are sincere, but God has other plans for our lives that need to be implemented. This is not wrong or deceiving, but that we are not “all-knowing” as God is – that is why His way is best. Sometimes our plans are changed (more often than not) as we seek God’s will for our lives as He knows best. And in our obedience to Him as guided by His Holy Spirit working in our lives we are to follow the path that He sets for us – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
We try to walk in the path that you have for us, but we do not always know what that path is until You reveal it to us, and sometimes we have already made other plans. Please help us to always seek Your will and direction for our lives – even if that means that we have to change our plans to follow the road that You have for us – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.