A Spectacle Unto the World

1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?


What do we have that we don't receive? Seriously. Think about it. The very air we breath is a gift from God. All that we have we receive in one way or another. Yes, there are a lot of things in life we wish we didn't have to receive such as the angst and all that Satan as prince of this world strives to overcome us with. God allows things to happen for reasons beyond our comprehension but in the end those who trust in Him no matter how they suffer now will have the reward of eternal life in love, with Him. But seriously, when we receive we can't take credit for it can we? We need to give the glory to the one we've received from. When we glory in ourselves as if we could do anything without the Creator, we fail to honor God. Part of learning to give up self is learning that we receive and need to glorify the Giver of all life, rather than patting ourselves on the back and thinking that we give life and have power over life.


1Co 4:8 Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
1Co 4:9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.


Wow. Doomed to death. A spectacle unto the world- unto both angels and men.


Read that again. A spectacle unto the world to both ANGELS and MEN.


We don't like to think of being a spectacle to unseen beings do we? I mean hidden cameras are a frightening thought because people would watch us live our lives and all the private things we do are revealed. There's something demeaning when we think of being watch at our most vulnerable moments and not necessarily because we are committing any sins, but just because we generally aren't raised in a society that promotes full revelation at all times. Yet we are a spectacle. No, we're not apostles, but we are all watched. God sees all. Paul was watched closely, all the apostles were watched closely as their faith so new in a world that hadn't known Christ was tested and tried in many ways. All but one apostle was killed for their faith. The apostles were a spectacle all they did was watched. As Christians our lives are watched too and yet many take this to mean they have to seem pious and perfect. As Christians we need to proclaim Christ's love first and foremost and sometimes love is revealed only after harsh times. That saying- Christians aren't perfect just forgiven is true, and yet it's not an excuse either. Our hearts need to be revealed and with Christ in us it is His love that is shown- not ours. Of ourselves we have nothing.


Paul goes on to say...


1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
1Co 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
1Co 4:13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
1Co 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.


WOW.

Being reviled- we bless
Being persecuted- we endure
Being defamed- we entreat


Reviled, persecuted, defamed. None of us wants any of that at all whatsoever, it's completely alien to our way of life. When people revile, persecute, or defame you in our society we try to get them in trouble for hurting us- we sue them, we tell on them, often people take them to court so they are punished for their vile ways of treating others. How often do we even consider blessing someone that reviles another? How often do people simply endure persecution, of defamation? It's ludicrous to our way of thinking. Turning the other cheek isn't promoted, not really.


There are many today that are being reviled, persecuted, and defamed for their Christian ways, for believing in Christ. And Christ's way is far above our so called civilized ways where self comes first and foremost.


May God help us, bless us, keep us in Him. As we are spectacles to the world, to men and angels, may they see Christ in us as we claim Christ's righteousness through the forgiveness He offers us and count on nothing of ourselves.


In the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever.

Amen