INTEGRITY is a character trait we long to see both in ourselves and others, right? But would you agree integrity is rare, especially with consistency? I find it fascinating that the apostle Paul wrote this to his friends in the crazy city of Corinth, about 2000 years ago: “Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with INTEGRITY and GODLY SINCERITY. We have done so relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” (2 Cor. 1:12) Oh my! Can you make that statement about yourself and your relationships? In a world full of deceit, manipulation and irresponsibility have you found it difficult to trust people? Can people trust you?
In Paul’s day, the city of Corinth had a devious, suspicious, even dark reputation. Unethical, immoral, deceitful, unreliable were words which described almost everything about life and business in Corinth. Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth (Acts 18:11) so Paul understood the challenge it was for Corinthian Christians attempting to live God honoring lives in crazy Corinth as the Holy Spirit was doing His soul sanctifying work in those who had trusted Jesus Christ to redeem them from the strongholds of darkness, after all darkness was all they had known.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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