August 8
1 Corinthians 4:1-21
What propels you forward in your faithfulness to Christ? What motivates you to obey God and stay focused on him? Generally, we are either going to be motivated by a desire to please God or to please people. We will either want to live as a response to God’s grace or because we want to impress people.
Paul was a model of living before an audience and judge of one, and someone who did what the Father said. How closely does this align with your life? Paul was not only an example, but called the church to follow in his footsteps. He knew everyone would stand before Christ one day, so he wanted to finish well. Shockingly, being a servant of Jesus filled his life with short-term difficulty. He became a spectacle in the eyes of the world: dishonored, starved, mistreated, homeless, cursed, slandered, and persecuted. Not exactly the outcome we want, but long-term what awaits is glory and to hear well done, good and faithful servant. So often, the Gospel is sold as “come to Jesus and all your problems will go away.” That is not quite how it works. Paul came to Jesus and his problems intensified, yet he never turned back. The momentary troubles are nothing compared to the eternal glory that awaits. So even when it is hard to follow Jesus (and when is it not?), we need to push forward and imitate Paul, who is imitating Jesus. Then we will experience the abundant, though often difficult, life of Christ.
Father God, help me to follow you no matter where it leads. Help me to be a faithful servant who makes you known to the world. Amen.
Where do you see the pursuit of comfort and ease keeping you from being a faithful, obedient servant of Jesus?
What propels you forward in your faithfulness to Christ? What motivates you to obey God and stay focused on him? Generally, we are either going to be motivated by a desire to please God or to please people. We will either want to live as a response to God’s grace or because we want to impress people.
Paul was a model of living before an audience and judge of one, and someone who did what the Father said. How closely does this align with your life? Paul was not only an example, but called the church to follow in his footsteps. He knew everyone would stand before Christ one day, so he wanted to finish well. Shockingly, being a servant of Jesus filled his life with short-term difficulty. He became a spectacle in the eyes of the world: dishonored, starved, mistreated, homeless, cursed, slandered, and persecuted. Not exactly the outcome we want, but long-term what awaits is glory and to hear well done, good and faithful servant. So often, the Gospel is sold as “come to Jesus and all your problems will go away.” That is not quite how it works. Paul came to Jesus and his problems intensified, yet he never turned back. The momentary troubles are nothing compared to the eternal glory that awaits. So even when it is hard to follow Jesus (and when is it not?), we need to push forward and imitate Paul, who is imitating Jesus. Then we will experience the abundant, though often difficult, life of Christ.
Father God, help me to follow you no matter where it leads. Help me to be a faithful servant who makes you known to the world. Amen.
Where do you see the pursuit of comfort and ease keeping you from being a faithful, obedient servant of Jesus?
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