1 Corinthians 4:13, Being Defamed

1 Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

The apostles were maligned, wrongly accused, framed and suffer shame and yet they continued to bear it and were willing to suffer it. God was with them. They understood the gospel mission. They were willing to go through all suffering that the gospel might be advanced.

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians while he was in prison in Rome. He wrote,  Philippians 1:12-14 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. He requested the church in Philippi to support him in prayer that God’s grace may abide and strengthen him not to give up but to persevere amidst imprisonment.

In the book “A Distant Grief” is recorded this testimony – The president of Uganda was surrounded by ten soldiers with machine guns. They were there to execute him. They asked him for his last word before they finished him off. He paused and said, “I am already dead and my life is hid in Christ but you are dying in your sin I would like to pray for all of you.” Upon hearing that, the soldiers lowered their guns one by one and everyone asked him to pray for them. Where did he get the courage and the calmness at gun-point to say those loving words? How is it that he can be more concerned for the souls of his adversaries than his own life? Dear friends, except a

Dear friends, except a man live in Christ and for Christ. He cannot do that, it is impossible to display such divine Christ-like disposition. Under this most trying of circumstances, Christ was magnified through this President.

This was the life Christ lived and the apostles followed. It shall be no less for His servants today. May God’s kingdom be advanced by the determined resolve of His people. Amen.