One Agenda

2 Corinthians 1:12

“…that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

“Is that a shadow, Da-da?” Paxton chimed. “No Pax, thats a reflection,” Jamie responded. “A shadow is dark, a reflection is light,” he explained.

In 2 Corinthians 1:12, Paul addresses the Corinthians. The Corinthians had been complaining about his conduct, and questioning his integrity. His answer to them was: “In holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially towards you.”

Paul’s use of the phrase, “In Godly sincerity” in Greek means “in the light of God.” It denotes a sort of transparency. Paul is essentially saying that he has been completely transparent with them, and that his only desire is to do one thing, God’s work, in God’s light. To reflect Christ to them.

Paul only cared what the light of God had to say about his character. He tried to operate as a reflection of Christ. He let the opinions of others fall by the wayside, and stayed true to what God wanted him to do. He had only one agenda and that agenda was to show Christ in his life. When Christ reflects through you, your blemishes will show. When you appear transparent to others, you won’t be perfect. Yet, because of “the grace of God,” God will pour himself out through you, and his light will shine through to others.

Recently, Jamie said God gave him an image as he was operating his excavator. He needed to screen the material to create one pile of clean sand.  He sifted the material through his excavator bucket, and would place it in a pile. As he scooped all the material into a pile, the rocks, and stones would fall away, and the clean material – the sand – stayed. What Jamie felt God was saying to him was: If you stay true to me, operating with one agenda, all the other things fall by the wayside. The truth of the matter is: Other peoples’ opinions don’t matter. The important thing is to focus and conduct yourself in, “holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God” (2 Corinthians 1:12). Let your goal be a single agenda – completely transparent, sifted like sand toward one purpose.