A Spectacle

Hello everyone,

How are you? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. We thank God for His goodness, His faithfulness and His lovingkindness.

Primary Text

“You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world – to people and angels alike.” 1 Corinthians 4v8-9 (NLT)

The apostle Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians. He contrasts the experience of the apostles to what their own thought process is. For the apostles on the other hand, it seems like they have been put on display by God, like prisoners of war, a spectacle to the entire world – to people and angels alike. A person or item on display is usually subjected to different kinds of negative and postive commentary. The viewing that Paul talks about though is not one of a royal procession where the queen waves at the people, but he said, they are like prisoners of war, those condemned to die. He continues in verse 10 that “We are [looked upon as] fools on account of Christ and for His sake, …” (1 Corinthians 4v10, AMP). I don’t know if you feel as though you are put on display and being ridiculed for your faith in Christ. Wherever you are right now, remember beloved, “For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]” (2 Corinthians 4v17, AMP). It is well. At the end of the day, may we all be able to say like the apostle Paul – “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4v7-8, NIV).

Supplementary Text

“I am as a wonder unto many; but Thou art my strong refuge.” Psalm 71v7 (KJV)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. We pray for those who are being persecuted for the sake of the gospel, that You will strengthen them, and that You will strengthen the body of Christ generally and be glorified in and through it, in Jesus name we pray, amen.