Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 9:1-7

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don't we have the right to food and drink? Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?

Paul told the church at that time that he was an apostle of Christ. The church at that time did not take Paul as seriously as Peter. Have you ever thought that even Paul would be despised by people? It is indeed hard to imagine! In fact, it is not only Paul. The Bible is full of people who are being used by God who were initially despised by others. An example was King David. When Samuel went to his father's house to anoint one of his sons as king, David's father got all his sons back, but forgot about his youngest son David who was tending to the sheep. When David went to visit his brothers in the battlefield while the Israelites were fighting the Philistines, his brothers saw him and asked what he was doing there. David was not regarded highly when he first came before King Saul, and Goliath totally despised him. Even Jesus was despised by people. At the thought of this, my heart is very much comforted. When we face setbacks in life, and when others despise us, may the Lord help us not to be depressed, and may we continue to serve Him. Everyone who serves God would have been through being despised, but the important thing is that the Lord is with us.

Paul continued to describe his apostleship. Firstly he said he has seen the Lord on the road to Damascus. A light fell on him and struck him to the ground. The Lord personally spoke to him and he came to the Lord at that time. In fact, the work done by Paul in the Corinthian church is to lead people to Christ. The fruit of his work proved his apostleship. Hence Paul said here, "even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord." However, Paul did not abuse his authority and did not require the church to provide for his living. May the Lord help us, when we lead others or serve God, to follow the Paul's example of humility, and be a life example others who follow us.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you that although we have experienced at times being despised like Paul was, you have encouraged us to not lose heart. May you help us follow the example of Paul's humility, so we can be a role model for others. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!