With a Rod or Love and Meekness 1 Corinthians 4:21

Paul the apostle declared “the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power”, in chapter four and verse twenty-one of First Corinthians, Paul told the church members in Corinth, “I will come to you shortly” where we read:

What will you? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

The verse begins, “What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod,...” Paul began with the words, “What will you” which means “What would you have in mind, intend, determine or purpose”? “shall I come” or “should Paul make his appearance, come forth, arise or find a place of influence” “unto you” which refers to “the Corinthian church members” “with a rod” or “with a staff, walking stick, twig or branch”. Paul wanted to know whether the church members desired for him to make his appearance among them with a “correcting staff”.

The verse continues, “... or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” Paul added the words, “or in love” which means “with affection, good will, benevolence and unmerited brotherly love”, “and in the spirit” or “with the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides” “of meekness” which means “gentleness, mildness and humility”. Paul gave the people within the church of Corinth the choice of whether he should visit them with “a rod” or “love” and “meekness”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we discover the authority he had over the church in Corinth. He was their “father” in the faith, and he was able to discipline them if necessary. His desire was to come to them in “love and meekness”, but if he needed, he would bring his “rod of correction”. Jesus Christ loves everyone, and should he need to bring correction to His beloved through His messengers, He will.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Paul tell the church members, “there is fornication among you” them, 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.