"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR FAITH, AND GOD'S JOY IN YOUR LIFE"
2nd Cor 1:23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
2nd Cor 1:24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
Some explanation, application, and a prayer:
1. In Paul's ministry, like with many people, he fell victim to false accusations, and lies being spread about him, his authority as an apostle, and his character in general. Thus, much of this 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, deals with his defense, and explanations about the real facts of the case at hand.
2. One thing Paul took great comfort in, and you can also, is that God is a witness of our souls. Notice, what Paul said in verse 23,
"Moreover I call God as witness against my soul," You see, while others may say untruths, and others may believe untruths, their is always one who knows the absolute, true truth. And, that of course is God. So, in actuality, Paul was "Swearing to God" as we often say, that he was telling them the truth in all that he had been saying to them.
3. He also goes on to express the real reason why he did not come to Corinth for a visit as planned. ( He was being accused of saying he would come there, and then did not, and thus he was a liar and so on, and on. ) But, here, he tells them what really happened. It was actually his love for them, he did not want to have to come and rebuke them. He was being patient and long suffering, and trusting that perhaps God might work out the problem, and he would not have to come and bring a severe rebuke to the church there.
4. Funny isn't it, when the truth finally comes out, that it's far different then what liars and rumors have done with it. Paul wanted to spare them, not hurt them. How opposite are these two things. He did not want to have to hurt them with hard words, but, chose to spare them, by not visiting them.
5. Now, in verse 24, he makes a very, very important statement. Here it is for your reflection in the NLT version. "But that does not mean we want to tell you exactly how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy as you stand firm in your faith." Some things to point out here.
(1) Paul, though an apostle, did not have dominion over their faith. Nor does anyone have dominion over your faith, you that are reading this devotional.
(2) Paul did not want to tell them how to put their faith into practice. That was not his job. He could teach them, he could encourage them, he could pray for them, he could be a living example to them, he could show them from the Scriptures all that Jesus had taught him, and he could show them all he knew from the Old Testament. But, He did not have the God given assignment of being in charge of their faith. That right, and rightfully so, belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the head of every man.
(3) What Paul really wanted to do, was to be a help to them. Just as we ought to want to be to each and every person we meet and know. Especially Christian brothers and sisters in Christ. We like Paul, ought to try and work together with them, to help them be as full of joy as possible, and to help them stand as firm as possible in the Lord. Helping one another, not lording it over one another.
(4) Your faith is in God not in man. God may use men to help you in your faith, but, you only have one Lord and Master, and, that is the Master Himself, Jesus Christ.
A prayer:
Father, first of all, may we say thank You for giving us faith. You have given each one of us a measure of faith. And, thank You that You not only want us to stand firm in our faith, but, You make it possible to do so through being rooted and grounded in Your Word. And, we also want to say thank You for Joy. The Joy of the Lord is our strength. No question about it. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who produces Love in our lives, and joy is really a part of, and come from that love. This must be why You want us to love one another, because it's just plain joyful. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
