the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
2 Corinthians 1:12-24
It was not Paul’s custom to say "yes" when he meant "no" (v. 17). The Corinthians could have confidence in him: he has no ulterior motive and displayed the same sincerity in his actions and decisions of daily life as when he had declared to them a gospel in no way falsified (see 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 4:2 end). How important this is! If a child of God fails with regard to the truth, he makes those who observe him liable to cast doubt in turn upon the Word of which he is so unsure a witness. Paul gave proof of absolute uprightness both in his relationships with the world and with other Christians (v. 12). Was he not the messenger of the One who is "the Amen, the faithful and true witness", the Guarantor that all the promises of God will be fulfilled (v. 20; Revelation 3:14)?
Vv. 21, 22 remind us of three characteristics of the gift of the Holy Spirit: through Him God has anointed us, that is to say consecrated us for Himself and given us the power to enter into His thoughts. He has sealed us, in other words marked us out as belonging to Him. Finally He has made us possessors of the earnest of our heavenly inheritance, giving us at the same time an initial proof of its reality and the ability to enjoy it even now "in our hearts".
