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Inspiration
© Matthew 2535 Inc.
On this page we will try to update occasionally Bible passages that have personally inspired us in what we do.
1
Corinthians 4 Apostles of Christ 1So
then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted
with the secret things of God. 2Now
it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
3I care
very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not
even judge myself. 4My
conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who
judges me. 5Therefore
judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will
bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of
men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
6Now,
brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your
benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go
beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over
against another. 7For
who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not
receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8Already
you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become
kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so
that we might be kings with you! 9For
it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the
procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a
spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
10We are fools
for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong!
You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To
this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally
treated, we are homeless. 12We
work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are
persecuted, we endure it; 13when
we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the
scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
14I am
not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.
15Even though
you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for
in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16Therefore I
urge you to imitate me. 17For
this reason I am sending 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.
18Some
of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19But I will
come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not
only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
20For the
kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21What do
you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle
spirit?
