SATURDAY, 27 APRIL 2024
TEXT:
1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-21
1:
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those
entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
2:
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
3:
I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do
not even judge myself.
4:
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who
judges me.
5:
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives
of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
6:
Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos
for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do
not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a
follower of one of us over against the other.
7:
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not
receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8:
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and
that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also
might reign with you!
9:
For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the
procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a
spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.
10:
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you
are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
11:
To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally
treated, we are homeless.
12:
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are
persecuted, we endure it;
13:
when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth,
the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.
14:
I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.
15:
Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers,
for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16:
Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17:
For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful
in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees
with what I teach everywhere in every church.
18:
Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19:
But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find
out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
20:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21:
What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I
come in love and with a gentle spirit?
(New International Version Holy
Bible)
TOPIC:
MINISTERS OF GOD'S MYSTERIES
Our
God has so much in store for creation that mere men cannot understand except
those who surrender their lives unto His service.
It
is to such people that God reveals His plans and the purposes of His creation.
These are the ministers of His mysteries which include Paul, other apostles and
servants and stewards of Christ.
Looking
at our society today, how do believers and ministers see themselves in terms of
the grace to serve Christ?
Some
overrate themselves and expect to be venerated as people with access to some
special 'mysteries revealed to them. But Paul wasn't expecting anyone or group
to commend him because he had nothing to be proud of.
QUESTION:
As believers, do we expect people to commend us for the mysteries of God's
plans revealed through us?
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I ask that You keep me alive and aware that You are the only judge
to whom I shall give account of my stewardship on the last day, in Jesus name.
Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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