Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Set – Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4
Go! – Joshua 3-6; 1 Corinthians 4
1 Corinthians 4:1-13
1Rather than power brokers, think of us as servants of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, caretakers of the mysteries of God. 2 Because we are in this particular role, it is especially important that we are people of fidelity and integrity. 3 It makes little difference to me how you or any human court passes judgment on me. I even resist the temptation to compare myself to the ever-changing human standard. 4 Although I am not aware of any flaw that might exclude me from this divine service, that’s not the reason I stand acquitted—the only supreme judge, our Lord, will examine me in the proper time. 5 So resist the temptation to act as judges before all the evidence is in. When the Lord comes, He will draw our buried motives, thoughts, and deeds (even things we don’t know or admit to ourselves) out of the dark shadows of our hearts into His light. When this happens, the voice of God will speak to each of us the only praise that will ever matter.6 Right now, brothers and sisters, the best thing I can do for you is to apply these principles to the situation with Apollos and me. Maybe we can show you the meaning of the saying, “not beyond the things written.” If you learn that, perhaps none of you will swell with pride because you fall into the seductive trap of pitting one against the other. 7 Is there any reason to consider yourselves better than others? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If you received it as a gift, why do you boast like it is something you achieved on your own?
8 Now let’s see if I have it straight. You suppose that you already have all you need. You already are rich and prosperous. And without us you’ve already begun to reign like kings. To be honest, I wish you did reign so that we could reign with you 9 because it seems to me that God has put His emissaries at the end of the line, like convicts in their final walk to certain death. We have become a spectacle to the rest of the world—to all people and heaven’s messengers. 10 We are nothing but fools for the cause of the Anointed One while you are wise in Him. Am I right? We are feeble and tired while you are mighty and full of life. You are well respected by others while we’re treated as contemptuous creatures by pretty much everyone everywhere. 11 Up to this very minute, we are famished, we are thirsty, and our clothes are shabby, practically rotted to pieces. We are homeless, hapless wanderers. 12 But still we labor, working with our hands to meet our needs because, despite all of this, when a fist is raised against us, we respond with a blessing; when we face violence and persecution, we stay on mission; and 13 when others choose taunts and slander against us, we speak words of encouragement and reconciliation. We’re treated as the scum of the earth—and I am not talking in the past tense; I mean today! We’re the scraps of society, nothing more than the foulest human rubbish.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
How do you get to the place Paul found himself as he wrote these words? “…when a fist is raised against us, we respond with a blessing; when we face violence and persecution, we stay on mission; and when other choose taunts and slander against us, we speak words of encouragement and reconciliation.”
I talked about turning the other cheek when someone strikes you, but is it possible to do so? Shouldn’t revenge come in there somewhere? Doesn’t vengeance play any part in the life of a follower? Look at what is happening to Christians around the world, can’t we defend ourselves?
Paul learned that he doesn’t have the power it takes to overcome the evil of the world. Were he to try to stop the violence, persecution, and slander aimed at him, it would only multiply. Paul never had the strength to stand against his enemies. He didn’t stand a chance against them. But I did. And I still do. When Paul was left for dead, I revived him. When Paul faced the critics in the arena, I gave him the words to say to counter their arguments. When Paul stood before kings, I spoke through him with just the right information so they were astounded with his knowledge.
Paul leaned on Me for his strength, wisdom, words, protection. He knew I would sty with him in whatever predicament he found himself. I promised never to leave him or forsake him. I’ll do the same for you. The promises I make to My children don’t differ much. I’m just and fair. Though life might not be fair, I am. So you can rest assured that I will stay with you whatever happens to you. I will remain with you in the happiest and the darkest of days. I will let you tap into the greatest power source available to get you through your troubles. Me.
You will astound your enemies because of Me. You will paralyze the greatest armies because of Me. Others will think you have some secret weapon. Me. Miracles will happen around you. You will be deemed different, odd, peculiar, strange, weird. You’ll be unlike the average person. You should, you’ll have God inside you directing you’re life. Just give Me all of you and you can experience what Paul experienced. Confident calm in the midst of the fiercest storms. Because I am in control of it all.
Learn of Me. Know Me. Invite Me into your life. You’ll never need to fear again.
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