Be Followers of Paul 1 Corinthians 4:16

As Paul the apostle continued to instruct the church members in Corinth, he told them, “though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers”. He wrote, “in Christ Jesus” he had ”begotten” them “through the gospel”. In chapter four and verse sixteen of First Corinthians, Paul tells the church members in Corinth to “be followers of me” where we read:

Wherefore I beseech you, be followers of me.

The verse begins, “Wherefore I beseech you, ...” Paul began with the word, “Wherefore” which means “therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “I beseech you” or “Paul called, summoned, admonished, exhorted, begged and strove to appease by entreaty”. Paul “begged” for what he is about to write.

The verse continues, “... be followers of me.”. Paul added the words, “be followers” which means “be imitators” “of me” which refers to “Paul himself”. Paul desired for the Corinthian church members to “imitate” his ways, actions and attitudes.

When we think through these words from Paul, we admire his boldness to ask for the church members to “imitate” him, and yet, as he “followed” after the ways of Jesus Christ, this was exactly what they were to do. Paul suffered for sharing the “gospel of Jesus Christ” and continued to “bless” God. People “abused” Paul for spreading the “good news” from God, and he continued to deliver it to whoever would hear. Paul was as a “spiritual” “father” to the Corinthian church members, and because he was, he wanted them to “follow after” him. May all who read these words “imitate” Paul the apostle in our relationship with Jesus Christ to the extent that others will desire to “follow” us as they continue in their relationship with God.

Next time Paul shares how “for this cause have I sent unto you Timothy”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.