Sparing The Church

II Corinthians 1:15–24
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Misunderstandings are often very difficult to untangle, because one misunderstanding often leads to another. This is what had happened to Paul as he was forced to make a change of plans (vv. 15-22). In Paul’s initial itinerary, he had intended to go immediately from Ephesus to Corinth and spend the winter.  When that didn’t work out, he had planned to travel to Macedonia and then back to Corinth if the Lord permitted him to do so (I Cor. 16:2-8). Much to Paul’s regret and embarrassment, he had to cancel both plan A and plan B. When we consider how difficult both transportation and communication were in that day, it is a miracle that Paul did not have more problems. 

With this change in plans, Paul’s opponents accused him of following fleshly wisdom (v. 12), of being careless with the will of God (v. 17) and making promises he did not plan to keep. These false apostles hoped to discredit their chief rival (11:4,13). Paul had informed the church about his change in plans, but this did not silence the opposition. They were saying, “If Paul says or writes one thing, he really means another! His yes is no, and his no is yes” (vv. 17-18). No matter what his accusers said, Paul stood firm because he had a clear conscience. He knew that his motives were sincere; he was seeking to please the Lord and not men. The thrust of this expression is that the promises of God find their affirmation and fulfillment in Christ (vv. 20-22). The promises of God are as good as the gospel because he which established us with you in Christ … is God (v. 21).

Application

Have you ever been forced to change your plans, which others did not understand, and they made a big issue about it? When I am forced to make a choice between doing what I know the Lord wants me to do and what others are saying, I must always follow the Lord.