“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. I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.”
“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! ... We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world… I am not writing this to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.” What harsh and costly words. They could have a real impact if you let them.
I am once again reminded of what it means to be blessed when I read these words. God’s blessing is so much more than gaining wisdom, strength and honor. We can be foolish, weak and dishonored and still be blessed by God. The typical human wouldn’t view being considered “the scum of the earth” or “the garbage of the world” as a blessing, but if we want to bring God’s blessing to the world they are necessary.
Paul didn’t write these verses to shame the new believers; he wrote them to warn them and to align their thoughts and attitudes with God’s thoughts and attitudes. The question to ask is this: will we take the warning or will we continue to live life by our own standards? Will we share the blessing or hoard it? How we respond is solely up to us.
Dear Lord,
Teach us to become humble servants willing to lay down our lives for You. Teach us to count the costs of discipleship and then live according to them. Teach us to be more like Your son who was willing to lay down His life for us.
Amen, let it be so
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