Tag: Devotion

The Apostle Paul proved the veracity of God’s promises when he by faith obeyed the will of his Master Jesus Christ to fulfil the Great Commission. It resulted in the salvation of many souls and the establishment of local churches in these places. Corinth was one such city.

Acts 18:9-10 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

The Apostle Paul’s ministry of the word in Corinth was effectual. Souls were saved. And the clear preaching of the truth that salvation comes by Jesus Christ, the Son of God was plainly and clearly expounded. This is the good news that brought hope and joy and peace to the people in Corinth. It was an undeniable miracle that souls were converted and lives were transformed.

Indeed, the infant church was established, nurtured by the hands of God’s servant for a prolonged period of time. The gospel work continues in the other local churches established in the other cities of Macedonia like Philippi. There was also the church of Ephesus in which the Apostle Paul spent prolonged periods of spiritual nurturing. But the plan to visit Corinth did not come to pass when the Lord led him otherwise.

They would receive him knowing that he would be there by God’s appointment. He sets his heart to convey God’s truth and His love to God’s people. Life for the Apostle Paul in all his ministering was a journey in the will of God and there will come a time when he can minister no more.

William MacDonald said insightfully, “The assembly in Corinth had acknowledged Paul in part, that is, some of the believers had acknowledged him but not all. The loyal ones understood these two facts — that they would be proud of him and that he would be proud of them in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

The Apostle Paul acknowledged the gospel work in his lifetime was done through the ardent prayers of the saints who supported his ministry. He relied on their prayers. He simply presented his prayer request to them and their prayers were answered by God making possible the exploits of the gospel mission.

The Apostle Paul observed insightfully, “Here Paul generously assumes that the Corinthian Christians had been praying for him while he was going through this time of deep testing. Actually, many of the believers had become critical of the great apostle, and there could have been a serious question whether they were remembering him before the throne of grace at all.”

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God”. When a man realises that he cannot order his life and surrenders himself to God through Jesus Christ, he is translated from the kingdom of death to the kingdom of heaven. This was the Apostle Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus when he met the resurrected Christ through a bright light. He was blinded for three days. This Pharisee of Pharisees was struck with the reality of his utter vulnerability.

The Apostle Paul speaks of the danger and the risk that he encountered in the work of the gospel. Many instances, he faced imminent danger to his very life and yet he learned that even in the most dangerous place according to God’s will is but the safest place. He learned to trust God to direct him to accomplish His will for his life. Clearly, it was a life of leaning on the everlasting arms of God’s care and protection.