Following His Plan

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

FOLLOWING HIS PLAN

2 Cor 1:15-17

15 Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

NIV

The is just the beginning of the point that Paul is making. Still, there is one thing that we notice that seems we should spend some time thinking about. He says that he planned to visit them on his way to Macedonia and the come back to them again from Macedonia. What is interesting is that the reason is so he can benefit them twice. Should not that be our goal to benefit others? The answer is yes, and it should not be yes and no as Paul is also making that point as well and will continue explaining it further, but for now let us just touch on it. We should not be conflicted about what we are to do, as far as being a benefit to others. What that means is that it is so easy to be concerned about our own plans, our own desires, and even being acknowledged for how what we do. Some might even boast about how much they do, as it might appear Paul is doing about being confident that he would be a benefit to them. It does not seem that Paul is very humble about his ministry among them. But he will tell them later in this section of this letter that he is guided by the Spirit, and that the “Amen” spoke through him. It is not him, but the Spirit who is being the benefit to them through him. This again, should be our position in our ministry among others, that is it not through our worldly planning and abilities that we are a benefit to others, but it is the Spirit working through us. We also should note that we are not the only one who the Spirit works through, but that he is in all believers and desires to do the same work through them, that is to be a benefit to others. We have been told to build each other up until we reach the unity in the Spirit. This certainly requires humility, rather then boasting. This humility demands listening to the Spirit and not planning as people of the world do. Many make their plans to be a benefit to themselves, to secure their life, their future. We, on the other hand, should not plan in that manner, but to live in step with the Spirit so that He leads us to places so that he can benefit others through us. Our plan is to stay in step with the Spirit and so that His plans become our plans. Then our plans will not be yes and no but always yes. It comes down to whose plans do we follow?