1 Corinthians 4:6-8 You have become kings!
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 4, 2020 1 Corinthians 4:6-8
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
(Understanding the Text) Paul is saying that he is using Apollos and himself as examples in his basic principles that he has been expounding. I think Paul chose Apollos rather than Peter to focus on because he felt that in the people’s thoughts, the two men were more equally balanced since Peter, as one of the twelve, might be thought of in a different category by the people. Also, the majority of the people may have been arguing about Paul and Apollos. The irony here is that Paul and Apollos were co-workers who respected each other and personally agreed about the way the work should be done. They both focused on working with Gentiles. Paul had the advantage of being an apostle, but Apollos had the better delivery and polish. They were both equal in being scholars of the scriptures. They were friends.
Paul says that neither he nor Apollos went beyond what God had given in the scriptures. Both he and Apollos were servants rather than Masters and acknowledged their need of a Savior, the Messiah. While being confident leaders, they were still humble.
Then Paul tells the Corinthians that they should follow the example of the very leaders that they claimed to follow. He accuses them of having become puffed up and proud and boastful. He tells them that this very attitude denies the message that they received from their teachers. The Corinthians act as if they have nothing left to learn and are now the teachers themselves. However, the people are not displaying the humility that their first teachers displayed. These argumentative believers have become know-it-alls, critiquing everyone around them and declaring the value of each others’ opinions as if they were rulers who could pronounce judgment on people. Paul is accusing them of being worldly kings, and says that he wished that they were truly reigning as kings in the kingdom of heaven because then he and their fellow Christians would be reigning with them rather than under them.
(Revelation of God) Paul is showing the difference between worldly authority and heavenly authority. Worldly authority seeks to place others below so that you can rise above them. Heavenly authority acknowledges your own power while lifting up others to stand with you in authority. Christians have been having a hard time with this message from the beginning. During the Dark Ages, they lorded it over each other. During the colonial times of the United States, the religious leaders made a difference in position, and even today, I see the same snooty attitude among Christians. Rather than lifting each other up, they look down their noses at people who they view as belonging to another group, and they are blind to the problems caused by their attitudes.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to be careful not to follow the example of looking down my nose at my fellow believers. I need to look upon them with love and mercy. I do not know how to communicate this message to them though. How can I show them that they should stop judging their fellow Christians and start loving and pitying them? They don’t think it’s important when really this is the heart of the message You gave us. You said to love You and to love each other. Everything else comes from that.