March 30, 2020
1 Corinthians 4:14-17
 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.  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.  Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 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.
New International Version (NIV)
              “If someone needs to deliver a CD of the worship service to Delores, let me know. I’d be honored to do that during this time away from the facility.”  One of our new deacons who rides a motorcycle wanted to be sure that our sister who doesn’t have electronic access to our worship services would have a way to worship with us.  To be clear, my friend was a servant before he had the title of deacon.  He did the job long before he had the title.

                So did Paul.  Paul wore a lot of hats:  he was an apostle, a disciple, a preacher, a counselor, a missionary, a church planter and a pastor.  But he told the church in Corinth to regard him as a servant of Christ entrusted with the mysteries of God.  Paul gets accused of not being very humble.  But in this letter we hear his heart.  He served Christ and stewarded the mystery of the gospel well.

                Clearly, Paul was going through a hard time.  In the middle of this chapter Paul describes what the life of a servant of Christ is like.  He describes himself in a procession headed to the arena to die.  He feels like a spectacle.  He will die publicly but without his friends and family.  He is a fool for Christ, homeless, wearing rags, working hard.  He blessed those who cursed him, endured persecution and answered his slanderers with kindness. 

                It’s not that Paul sought pity or wanted people to feel badly about it.  He was their spiritual father having founded the church in Corinth.  What did he want them to do?  He wanted them to follow him as he followed Christ.  Paul wanted them to imitate him.  The final statement in verse 17 speaks volumes.  His way of life agreed with what he taught.  John Calvin once said that it would be better for the preacher to trip on the stairs up to the pulpit and break his neck than to preach one way and live another.  Paul practiced what he preached.  Do we?  Pray that for me.  Pray that for yourself.  Pray that for our church.
Pray with me:         
Father, thank you for the privilege of serving Christ by serving the church.  Today, when someone is unkind to us, help us to be kind in return.  Let us bless those who curse and be kind to those who slander.  Make us imitators of Christ as dearly loved children.  Let the light of Christ shine on us and through us so that when others see goodness in us they will glorify you our good and gracious God.  We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen. 
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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