August 8th

August 8th

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. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don't have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash—right up to the present moment. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭9-13‬ NLT)

The hardships of the Apostles jumped out at me today. We are supposed to be striving to be more like the apostles were, fully sold out for Christ. They followed in the footsteps of Christ, and they faced many hardships. But the thing that stood out to me the most was a lot of what Paul lists here are choices. (We have no home, we work hard, we bless those who curse us, we are patient to our abusers, we appeal gently when evil things are said about us.) the Apostles chose to be who they were, and they were better for it. They had character. These things that Paul listed are by no means easy, and sometimes downright demeaning, but Christ did not call us to a life of comfort, but of righteousness. I am so far from this description. Something to strive towards. I would rather look like a fool and be sold out for Christ, than look wise to the world and leave Christ behind.

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