2 Corinthians 1:12-14 [ESV]
For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.
I love this picture of the church and it’s interaction with the world and each other. With ‘simplicity and Godly sincerity’. It’s a very pragmatic way of looking at our witness to the world. We have a tendency to over think these things. Gods word is supreme and the position is God on the major topics is not ambiguous. We are the ones who try to pull out or even put in our own desires for what we want to support or communicate to the world.
What this passage also talks about is in the execution of these simple and godly sincere practices, we can boast and support each each other…even on the day the Lord comes.
Application:
The biggest Takeaway I have from this passage is that I need to remember that I do not have to use my own thinking when the word of God is clear. It’s one thing to beseech the Lord and interpretation of his word through study of the Greek, or even commentators, but I should never be putting something in to God’s word that is not there or twisting Gods word through passages out of context to support a worldly view. I consistently pray for God‘s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, when reading his word.