Give Them Some Space

II Corinthians 1: 15-24

In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing;
that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. 

This was Paul's original plan. He loved these people, and wanted to see them as much as he could.  

Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I?  Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? 

He didn't want them to think he was wavering, or hesitating, to come to them, as if he was indecisive, not making up his mind as to what he would do.

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. 

If Paul was only planning what he would to do according to what he humanly wanted to do, he could have changed his mind after making a decision and having second thoughts. But he was depending on the Lord's leading, and the Lord already knows what His plans are, and always follows through.

For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us--by me and Silvanus and Timothy--was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 

When Paul and company were teaching Christ to the people in Corinth, they were firm and grounded in the Truth of God; so they were confident in everything they preached, not wavering in anything, as it would have been if it was only human.

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 

Whatever God says, it will stand. So however He leads, we can be confident.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 

Paul says that God anointed him to preach, and has established the believers in their faith, along with the teachers, in Christ. 

who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 

God has sealed us, giving His Spirit to us to live in our hearts now as the down payment for the Redemption Jesus won for us on the Cross. Because we have His Spirit, nothing can break that seal, because nothing is stronger that God. No matter what happens, we will some day live with Him in Heaven.

But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. 

Paul only went to Corinth once, after he went to Macedonia, because he didn't want to have a confrontational meeting with them. He waited for them to have time to work out the issues that were so problematic on their own.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. 

He was confident that they were believing the Truth, and he didn't want to be didactically commanding them as though he was someone who forced his authority over them. Paul considered himself just another worker along with all the believers, without being on any special pedestal over them, and wanted to  rejoice with them in the Lord. 

O my Father, please help us all! Let us learn from Paul to be gentle and gracious with weaker brothers and sisters who may be new believers, or have not been soundly grounded in the Truth. May we be mindful of how You see each of us through Your Loving eyes, as already grown up in Your family. 

Father, we sometimes have a difficult time working with others who don't see situations as we do, and have different ideas on how to deal with the problems that come up. 

Like Paul, show us how to give space to others who need some time to work out their own issues. Show us how much guidance they need from us, but keep us from overshadowing them in our eagerness to fix things. 

Teach us how to work together, Father, in promoting Your Kingdom, spreading the seed of the Gospel of Peace. Grant us peace with one another. 

And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!