"Conversation: Your Loud Lifestyle"
2 Corinthians 1:12 – "For our rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with
fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the
world, and more abundantly to you-ward."
Reminder: In the King James Version of the Bible, whenever the word
"conversation" appears, it never carries the verbal connotation that
we have given it: a transaction of words or for one’s mouth to utter words.
Instead, although each meaning deals with communication, each instance has a
different meaning—-all of which are non-verbal.
This week we see how our conversation is our "loud lifestyle."
What do we mean by loud lifestyle? Well, here’s an example. Let’s say you have
a friend who is always going out to clubs or late night parties. That person’s
conversation ("lifestyle") is a loud, boisterous one that’s not
pleasing to the Father.
In this week’s tidbit text, Paul is addressing the church of Corinth. In the
11th verse he petitions the church in Corinth to pray for him and
for those with him. Paul feels he can ask the church for prayer because he has
always been straightforward with them. Now, whenever you ask someone for
something, it always helps to know that you are in a position to ask. In other
words, you wouldn’t ask someone to borrow money if you hadn’t repaid them for a
previous loan. Well, in the 12th verse Paul lets the church know
this: "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience."
In other words, Paul is saying, "I am overjoyed that my conscience is
clear regarding my dealings with you. I have been nothing but on the up and
up." That’s saying a lot, especially for a man who used to persecute
Christians.
So what made Paul’s conscience so clear? What made him go from persecutor to
prayer requestor? It’s simple — a new conversation (lifestyle.) Paul
attributes his new conversation to the following:
• Simplicity (uncomplicated
life)
• Godly Sincerity (unadulterated and pure godliness, devout holiness)
• Forsaking Fleshly Wisdom (not lowering himself to the ungodly methods of
fleshly, carnal men)
• The Grace of God (unmerited favor of God and merciful kindness)
Paul then tells the church that through these four elements, "we have
had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." In
other words, "Look fellows, I’ve been out there, way out there, where no
man –not even Captain Kirk– has gone before!! I’ve slain a few Christians in
my day, but I tell you the life I used to have with the world ain’t nothing
compared to the abundant life God has given me with you."
Without a doubt we can all say that Paul’s conversation was truly, truly
loud. It was loud when he wasn’t with the Lord, and it was surely loud when he
was spreading the good news. Our conversation should be just like Paul’s
(during the latter portion of his life, of course). By not doing the things we
used to do, our conversation is a loyal one to God. By serving him through the
gifts of our time, talent and money, we express our love to the Father. And by
committing our lives to the Savior, our conversation makes a lasting impression
on the world.
Also let’s make our conversation like the one Jesus had. Remember when He
was on the cross with one thief to His left and one to His right? Well, one of
the thieves hurled insults at Jesus and said, "Aren’t you the Christ? Save
yourself and us!" But the other thief rebuked (corrected) him and said,
"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But
this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:39-41). You see, Jesus’
conversation was soooooo loud that He didn’t have to say anything; his loud
lifestyle did all the talking for him. So let’s not only make our conversation
loyal, loving and lasting… Let’s make it all these things—- amplified. In
other words, make it LOUD!!!!!!!
