Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said,
“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God, who will often thwart our plans and frustrate our expectations. But we must also be ready to face misunderstanding from others when we follow His call.”
That quote beautifully captures the experience of the apostle Paul in today’s passage. Paul loved the Corinthian church deeply—he had poured into them, written to them, prayed over them, and even wept for them. But in the middle of that love and labor came a painful reality: his motives were misunderstood, his words were questioned, and his character was under scrutiny.
Paul’s change of travel plans sparked suspicions that he was unreliable or even manipulative. But as we read his words, it becomes clear that this was not a man ducking accountability. This was a leader with a clear conscience and a sincere heart, doing his best to lead faithfully under the lordship of Christ.
Paul originally intended to make a longer visit to Corinth, as noted in 1 Corinthians 16:5–7, but circumstances shifted. His follow-up plan was to make two shorter visits on the way to and from Macedonia (2 Corinthians 1:15–16), but even that didn’t unfold as expected. Instead, Paul made one difficult and painful visit, followed by a tearful letter written out of love and deep concern.
The Corinthians didn’t see the behind-the-scenes reasoning. They saw inconsistency—and some accused Paul of being fickle or deceptive. “When he says yes, does he really mean no?” they asked. But Paul makes it clear: his yes was sincere, and his conscience was clear. He had not made decisions based on worldly wisdom, but had submitted his steps to God’s will from the beginning.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
Paul’s explanation reminds us of an important truth: even our godliest plans are subject to divine interruption. When we submit to God’s will, we might disappoint people. We might even be misunderstood. But obedience to God sometimes comes at the cost of being misunderstood by people.
Paul states plainly that his conduct was marked by integrity and godly sincerity (v. 12). Integrity means wholeness—being the same person in public and private. Godly sincerity means he had no hidden agendas, no self-serving motives. He wasn’t manipulating people to gain status or favor. He was leading from a place of love and obedience.
That kind of leadership may not always be appreciated in the moment—but it will stand the test of time.
Paul shifts the focus from his own reliability to God’s. He says, “My message is not ‘Yes and No.’ It is a firm ‘Yes’—just like God’s promises in Christ.” (vv. 18–20) He’s saying, “You can question my itinerary, but don’t question God’s faithfulness.”
Every promise God has made finds its fulfillment in Christ—and that includes His promise to build and sustain His Church. Paul roots his own consistency in the unwavering nature of Christ Himself. As believers, we don’t need to be perfect—we just need to be aligned with the One who is.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:20
And because God’s promises are Yes in Christ, Paul writes, “So through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” God has sealed us, anointed us, and given us His Spirit as a deposit—guaranteeing what is still to come (vv. 21–22). That’s where we stand firm—not in our circumstances, not in public opinion, but in Christ.
Paul also addresses the deeper issue of authority. Some were questioning, “Who does Paul think he is?” After all, he had corrected them. He had written tough letters. He had brought discipline. But Paul reminds them that his authority is not self-appointed—it’s God-given. And even then, he uses it to serve, not control.
“We don’t lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy.” – 2 Corinthians 1:24
In the Kingdom of God, leadership is always servant-hearted. It’s never about power—it’s about responsibility. Paul is not wielding authority to elevate himself; he’s shouldering the weight of love for a hurting church.
Sometimes that means hard conversations. Other times it means being misunderstood. But the goal is always restoration, not retaliation.
Paul closes this section with one of the most heartfelt admissions in all his letters:
“I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.” – 2 Corinthians 2:4
What kind of leader writes with tears? What kind of pastor grieves over those who misunderstand him? One who loves deeply. Paul’s love wasn’t a tactic—it was the real thing.
Ministry—whether full-time or in everyday faithfulness—can come with a heavy cost. Plans shift. Motives get questioned. Your sincerity may be doubted, and your authority may be challenged. That’s why Paul’s example matters so much.
Here’s what we can learn:
We don’t follow Christ for comfort or applause. We follow Him because He said “Yes” to us—and now we say “Amen” back to Him with our lives.
Copyright © All Rights Reserved 1993-2022 Champions Community Church. Created by Doxology Creative and Hitrefresh.co
