Note for 2024/05/06

‭1 Corinthians 4:1-21 KJV‬

[1] Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. [3] But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. [4] For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. [5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. [6] And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. [7] For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? [8] Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. [9] For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. [10] We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. [11] Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; [12] and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: [13] being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. [14] I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. [15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. [16] Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. [17] For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. [18] Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. [19] But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. [20] For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. [21] What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.4.1-21.KJV

Once more we are on this topic of who we are following. Would you believe me if I tell you that is a bigger deal than what you may think at first? Because, who man follows shapes him into the person he becomes. When we follow in our father's footsteps, it means that we might be doing the same job that he has done or maybe a hobby or a stance in some charity or political thing. It means, we do something that our father has done. It is the following in “some way.” Now, if I have to follow someone, it would be Jesus Christ, right? To follow Paul, as he states here, that too can I still do, for he followed Christ and his words are recorded for us here in the Word of GOD. And, what he wrote is confirmed in me by the Spirit.

As far as it goes to follow a man, I am highly suspicious of mankind. I test in the Spirit, that which comes from man. I trust GOD, because I know man gets things wrong.

Today, for me, this chapter is specifically hard to write about. It is a complex matter. For how do you love your neighbor, how do you submit to church authority, how do you measure who to listen to, without testing it? It is written that we should test all things and keep what is good. Is that then not a form of judgment? Paul says here he does not even judge himself. And yet, is Paul not outspoken about what is right and what is wrong to say or do?

Now this might be confusing to some, and please, don't be too hard on yourself. The Lord reveals as He pleases to each. To judge does not always mean to condemn another, and man has come to use "judge" and "condemn" in the same way. When Paul says here he does not judge himself or others, it is because it is the Spirit in us that confirms things to us. When we have subjected ourselves to the Lord, He determines all things for us, not?

Friends, this is where things get a little complex to explain. For even in anger man judges. In a break of a second, just before acting out, man judges the situation. And if found justified, he acts. So, say someone has come against you, harmed you or someone you love; while your heart may be set on revenge, the Word of GOD says that we must love our enemy. Christ himself said that. We remember that we are transgressions before the Lord too, and that the Lord forgave us. So we pray, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Then we remember to whom vengeance belongs. But, that is because the Word of GOD is in us.

What of those that do not have the Word of GOD? How do they respond to these matters? What if they only know of an "eye for and eye," but never learned about compassion and mercy? Do they refrain from acting then? So, it is not us that judge, but the Word of GOD we have in us, but outwardly it still appears as if it is us. Yes we make a choice at the moment, sure! But the choice is whether we listen to ourselves or to the Word of GOD. Thou shalt not kill. And what did Christ have to say on this matter at the sermon on the mount?

But, what of those that do not have the Word of GOD in their frame of reference? What if they stand in some other word to live by? So! Who you follow, really becomes important then.

If we walk in carnal ways, we will give in to things of this world. We will live by the trends and statistics of this world. And while I may be bringing the Word to recall to determine my way forward, another may be recalling something he saw on YouTube or in one of his favorite TV shows. He might even recall what his earthly father did in a similar situation and that might not be righteous at all. In the absence of the Word of GOD, something else takes the place of that in you. Something outside the will of GOD even. Can you now understand why we should have compassion and patience with those who do not know the Word of GOD? Maybe now you will understand why Christ prayed, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

In our time, there are many "teachers" that impact human decision making. Remember, even as children; 5 days a week for schooling in the ways of the world; and an hour on Sunday for the Lord, if that. So, what is man full of? We do mathematics before we consider God's will in the matter.

How then do you expect your neighbor to think as you do, when you have been educated in the Word of GOD? They can't. They do not have it in them. They are coping with what they have, enslaved in a system full of lies and deceit. Were you not once lost too without the Word of GOD in you? So, when you are struck on the cheek, turn the other cheek and do not lay that charge against the other. Forgive, as Christ has forgiven you. And when you bring the Word of GOD, come in love and not by force. Remember, the Word of GOD may be new to the one you are speaking to.

Lastly, we have grown up in a world of judging others. If not for us, then against us. But how would you reach the lost if only speaking to the converted? How would you assist those in dire need of Salvation? Go in love, with compassion for their situation. Love covers a multitude of sin, as even as our sin is covered by the Love of GOD in Jesus Christ.

Eat then, from the Word of GOD. Eat yourself to the full, be filled with it. Do not let another source determine how you walk.

Shalom

Daily Verse

(YouVersion)

‭1 John 4:11 KJV‬

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.4.11.KJV

Expanded for Context

Now, it is probably best that the entire book of 1 John be read, but here is just a little larger extract from the chapter.

‭1 John 4:11-15 KJV‬

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. [12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. [13] Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. [15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.4.11-15.KJV

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