With the Father's Heart
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 (NASB)
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. 21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
SUMMARY
Paul admonishes the church of Corinth to be imitators of him, as he followed (imitated) the example of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). He also addresses these in this church as his beloved children whom he fathered. He told them that he will send Timothy to remind them of the ways of Christ and to be cautious about becoming arrogant with their words, because God’s kingdom does not consist in words but in power.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Paul clearly had a heart of a father toward the Corinthians that he bore through the gospel. Why does Paul tell them to be imitators of himself? We can learn from 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, that he became as “nothing” — foolish, weak, dishonorable, hungry, thirsty, poor, homeless, reviled, persecuted and slandered — for Christ’s sake. In contrast, the Corinthians were, filled, rich, prudent, strong and distinguished and yet arrogant in their attitude.
Paul’s attitude of fathering and modesty was incredibly different from the Corinthians’ attitude of arrogance in words/attitude and self-sufficiency. If truly they were to imitate Paul, who imitated Christ, that meant that they would suffer for Christ... because Christ Himself endured suffering.
It’s difficult to imagine suffering for our faith these days in comparison to the early church. But one day, we may have to take a stand for the gospel and make a personal proclamation of who Jesus is in our lives. There are countless martyrs and believers who are already suffering, persecuted and put to death for their faith all around the world. I am like the Corinthian, proud, full of head knowledge and self confidence, not knowing how to die to myself that Christ may live and work through me... that it’s not about what I gain on this earth but what I let go so I can be filled completely with Him.
APPLICATION
QT has helped me to stay sane and focused despite our many limitation due to COVID. But as I facilitate meetings or teach my children, I find myself having an attitude of an instructor rather than having a “father’s heart” that Paul had. Instead of nurturing a relationship in the process, I sought more to get the lessons taught and done, “Ok, what’s the next duty now,” as if these tasks were on a check list to mark off on my calendar. I want to and pray to have the joy of growing together, the sharing of sufferings and sorrows and seeing Christ evident in each member as we endure and persevere through the challenges that come our way.
I will pray more intentionally for the persecuted Christians and be thankful that I have, at least for now, the freedom to worship. I also want to change my attitude of arrogance (as the Corinthians) with an attitude of trust, because everything I have has come from His gracious hands.
PRAYER
Father, many around me are suffering. Grant me a heart like Yours, Father, that I may know their pain and love them. I want to emulate You — Your heart for the lost and broken and ultimately share in Your suffering. Prepare my heart steadily so when these things unfold, I will respond with solid faith. Help my faith not to be shallow. Remove arrogance and replace it with a heart totally dependent on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Please share your personal meditations on this Scripture passage with the HolyWave community in the comments section below. (We reserve the right to moderate comments.)