2 Corinthians 1:12-14

For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, 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. For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;  just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:12-14

Remember WWJD? What would Jesus do?

Making peace is more than believing you have done nothing wrong. It includes an honest self-examination. Paul says he has conducted himself in holiness and godly sincerity. That's what Jesus would do. In this case,

By the time this Greek word εἰλικρινείᾳ became English it had been filtered through Latin and was always translated "sincere". An old tradition claims the word sincere derives from two Latin words: "sine" (without) and "cera" (wax). While apocryphal, the tradition is illustrative. Accordingly, dishonest sculptors in Rome or Greece would cover flaws in their work with wax to deceive the viewer; therefore, a sculpture "without wax" would mean honesty in its perfection. We have some evidence that Paul, at least, held to a similar understanding when he wrote "we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand". In other words, "we have been entirely open and honest".

So here is our question today: When we need to make peace with somebody and we do our self-reflection, can we say that our actions toward that person have been sincere? Have they been "without wax"? or, have there been hidden claims and actions that we have concealed...leading to misunderstanding?

We might need to  clear some of that up before we can make peace.

Live boldly out there today...