1 Corinthians 4:11-13 - Fightin" the Flesh

 

When Cowboys Get in Trouble - CM Russell

1 Corinthians 4:11-13

NKJV

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.  And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

 

NLT

Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.  We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

 

If we think about how poorly the apostles were treated by those that proclaimed Christ, we really have to examine ourselves today.  Are we all that different?  Are we treating our under-shepherds any better?  If I believe that what my pastor is bringing on Sunday, is from God…then why don’t I do what I am called to do?  If our pastors are plugged into God, then most likely they are talking directly to us with their message.  I know my pastor is always preaching directly to me….and I know that’s from God.  So, why do I struggle with pursuing my call?

 

I believe it’s because I am still capable of sin.  I am still in this flesh body, that is at constant war with the Spirit.  I am not condemned by my sin because Jesus is my savior and He paid that price already, but I’m still capable.  We have all the tools we need to fight our flesh, but it takes effort and perseverance to get beyond our flesh.  So let’s lean into that today.

 

Fightin’ the flesh,

cej 

1 Corinthians 4:10 - Who do you love?

 

1 Corinthians 4:10

NKJV

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 

 

NLT

Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.

 

Bibleref.net:  Paul is comparing the spiritual lifestyles of those in Corinth with that of the apostles of Jesus. He wants them to see what it has cost those who minister to them to serve Christ in this way. Maybe more than that, however, Paul also wants them to question whom they are truly serving as they continue to lead lives marked by wealth and power.

 

George Thorogood covered a Bo Diddley song where he asked the question “who do you love?” I believe this is probably a good question for us as believers too.  Yesterday was about putting down that old carcass, our old selves, and picking up the power of the grace we’ve received.  It’s hard to put down something if we don’t know who we love or why you should love them.  Let’s start with the obvious, love Jesus.  Because He first loved us (1 John 4:19); while we were sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8); and He has great plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).  These are some of the obvious things to me.

 

More subtle, is the fact that God created this world out of love; and every breath we take is a picture of that love.  Think about the miracles that we see every day, and we don’t see them as miracles.  God’s love is in the details, clear down to what holds our cells together.  So if we can learn to appreciate the small details of God’s love, then the big ones will blow our socks off.

 

So the question is, do we love God enough to put Him before all the other things we struggle with?  Are we going to accept the power of the Holy Spirit and put down our old carcass (sins); or are we going to say “Jesus, your death wasn’t enough”

 

Talkin’ to me today,

cej