“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. ”
Two
Questions:
1. Are there people in your life you could say you have “begotten through the
gospel”?
2. Are you walking with God to the degree you can encourage
others to imitate you?
Paul sees the Corinthians as his children in the faith. He has
earned the right to speak by accurately sharing the Word. There is a hint of
annoyance in his comment about the 10,000 teachers because the truth he
preached was being polluted by others with ulterior motives.
I think God may have that same annoyance at my insistence
on new ways to worship…new ways to interpret scripture…new music…new pithy ways
to preach… I may have 10,000 teachers but the Holy scripture is what birthed
me. I need to cling to that…I need to meditate on the unvarnished, unenhanced,
accurate Word of God…and use it to reach others.
Adding creativity is fine, but the core of my faith is
walking through scripture daily. As Darrell Royal said I need to “dance with
the one that brung me”.
Secondly Paul has earned credibility with the Corinthians based
on his conduct. His walk matches his
talk…. It may seem humble if I am hesitant to say “live as I live” - but it is
not so much humility, as it is disobedience.
So, do I continue excusing my defiance – or do I change it?
Do I continue to explain my sin, or do I put the bar back were Jesus set it,
and strive to reflect Christ?
Constantly using “humble brags” to rationalize my failures
gets old. Talking one way and walking
another leads to my actions speaking so loudly that people cannot hear my words.
We have been commanded to make disciples…. It is time to invest
in people by accurately sharing scripture …it is also time to start living in a
way that allows us to say, “do what we do” … not “do what we say.”
“Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming
thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”
- A. W. Tozer
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