Tag: Devotion

William MacDonald said well, “The apostle exhorts the Christians to submit to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labours.”

The household of Stephanas, the earliest converts in Achaia, addicted themselves to serve the people of God. The word “ministry” means “service”. Their service toward the people of God permeated the spirit of God’s love in the hearts of many. The church gained its strength for outreach because of the zeal and love of these founding members of the church there.

Charity is the outworking of God’s love in the believer’s life. When we come to the faith, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. It enables us to love God and love our fellow men. This love is unconditional and sacrificial. It is supernaturally given by God in the hearts of His people.

The church is Corinth is exhorted to be watchful, for their soul’s sake, for their spiritual well-being. They are exhorted to stand fast, to keep up in building themselves up spiritually. The spiritual enemies are lurking at the doors – the flesh, the world, and the devil. Three commands here – watch, stand fast and becoming strong. Build these spiritual habits!

The Apostle Paul has also requested that Apollos be sent to visit and minister to the church in Corinth. Observed William MacDonald, “Apollos did not feel that this was God’s will for him at the time, but he indicated that he would go to Corinth when he had the opportunity.”

The Apostle Paul is speaking with foresight and seeks to calibrate with the church of Corinth concerning how God’s servant, Timothy, is to be treated. “To despise” is as treating someone as of no account despise, disdain, make light of, making someone as of no account disregard, reject, despise. As such, he sought to ensure that God’s work progress unhindered and God’s servant be accorded due respect and honour for the work’s sake.

The Apostle Paul has planned to send Timothy to serve in the church in Corinth. He gives his recommendation that the church would receive him hospitably as they would have received him, to allay his fears. He is able to do the work of ministering to their spiritual needs. Timothy was trained by the Apostle Paul with God’s help and therefore was able to stand in the gap when the Apostle Paul, was in prison and could not visit them.

The great ripe harvest field for souls is emphasized here. There is much work to be done or there is much work yet undone requiring prayer, haste, sowing, and reaping.

Our lives are in the sovereign hand of God. He orders it according to His good pleasure. The Apostle Paul as a servant waiting upon his Master Jesus Christ. He sought to visit the church in Corinth. He commits his plans that the Lord may approve of them and directs or re-directs as He deems fit if the Lord permits.

There was a collection that the Corinthian church has raised for the support of the saints in Jerusalem. The church in Corinth will appoint someone who will be entrusted with this task of bringing the funds raised to Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul shall be making the journey to Jerusalem. This appointed person will go together with the Apostle Paul carrying the collection.