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Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 173

"I will not be a fool..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:6

HOLDING FAST TO INTEGRITY

Paul was determined to hold fast to the sense of integrity as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. He would not compromise himself in any way!

“For though I might desire to boast,
I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth.
But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me
above what he sees me to be or hears from me.”
2 Corinthians 12:6

1. “For though I might desire to boast”

a) This was written as a conditional sentence.
b) This is the first part of the conditional sentence (the protasis).
c) He was not saying that he actually had a desire to boast.

2. “I will not be a fool”

a) This is the second part of the sentence (the apodosis).
b) The two parts need to be read and linked together.
c) If he were to yield to the desire to boast.
d) Then he would be a fool.
e) But he refused to be a fool!

3. “For I will speak the truth”

a) Speaking the truth must be the hallmark of a servant of Christ.
b) He would hold fast to the challenge of speaking the truth at all times.

4. “But I refrain”

a) Not from speaking the truth.
b) But some speaking for the Lord sometimes had certain dangers.
c) Paul was alert to this particular danger and that helped him to refrain from speaking too much about himself.

5. “Lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me”

a) If Paul were to elaborate on his experience of being transported to the third heaven.
i) Some might place him on a pedestal.
ii) Others might think of him as above all other apostles.
b) Some of the repercussions could be detrimental to spiritual well-being.
c) Paul did not want anyone to become distracted from following the Lord Jesus Christ.

This sense of integrity kept Paul from speaking more of special spiritual experiences!