IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:14a

First, not your possessions, but you (11-18). Paul finished his "boasting" and reminded the church in Corinth about true apostleship. In Paul's time among them God demonstrated his presence with many signs. But Paul demonstrated his apostleship by not being a burden to them. Rather, he bore their burdens so that they could be born again. He became a spiritual father for them, and those Paul sent walked in his footsteps. Paul did not serve them in order to benefit at their expense. His apostleship was that he poured out his love and his life for them.

Second, for your strengthening (19-21). Paul reminded the Corinthian church that he worked for their strengthening. The church in Corinth had a history of sin among them, and Paul's first letter to them was a forceful rebuke. But it was not written to tear them down, but to strengthen them by bringing them to repentance. On his third visit he was afraid of finding a lack of true repentance among them, and committed himself to humbly serve them and bear them in love.

Prayer: Lord, help me to humbly serve others for their strengthening. Teach me to love.

One Word: Serve others in love