September 12-Be found Faithful

It’s Thursday. And for the life of me I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. This forth chapter is centered around faithfulness and trustworthiness. Something we all like to believe we are yet I know at times I fall woefully short. My ADD mind is my biggest enemy and when I try to concentrate on the things of God, it scampers hither and yon. When I’m trying to remember all the things I need to pray about, it’s everywhere. That’s why, if you ask me to pray about something, I do my very best to pray right then. I fear, l have to put that old man (my mind) down every morning! This proving faithful is a hard task. 


“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:2


The only person to whom Paul worries about being proven faithful is the Lord God. To Him and Him alone does Paul answer. 


Paul goes on to tell these believers that maybe they are stocking up their riches in the wrong kingdom: they already have all they could want and have become rich. He then uses a metaphor of the Roman general riding in triumph leading his army, at the end of the procession are the prisoners who are condemned to fight with beasts. The emperor Nero would even wrap the Christians in the skins of sheep or others animals when he would expose them to the wild beasts in the arena. Paul said that in contrast to the proud Corinthians (who are marching in like the Roman army), the apostles had been “put on display at the end of the procession like men condemned to die in the arena.” 


“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. 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! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 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.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:9-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬


The apostles exemplified Jesus. No matter how awful they were treated, they responded like Christ— showing God to the world. “What manner of men are these?”


Lord Jesus, we pray that we are not proud and arrogant as the Corinthian believers but rather, humble and ready to take the humiliating position if that is what you ask of us. And no matter Father if we are treated as the garbage of the world, held us always to respond in kindness and with blessings—teach us to be like Jesus. Mould us and make us, send us through the fire and through the floods, but we have been through the blood and we are ready to walk the steps you have for us Lord. We praise you for your great grace that covers us when we stumble and your precious love that helps us stand back up. You are amazing. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear friend,

Pam

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