SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. [1 Corinthians 4:3-4] The leaders in the church at Corinth were speaking against Paul, accusing him of taking advantage of them, of abusing his position. Paul challenges the believers not to judge him unfairly, and then assures them that God is the only true and fair judge. He does not pretend to be without fault, but he knows that the only fair Judge is the Lord.
So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. [Matthew 10:26] One day we will all stand before the Lord. He will open our hearts, He will look at our motives and our actions, He will discern what our deepest desire and intent was. He will judge us fairly, in truth, in love. Though our secrets will be exposed with the surgeon’s scalpel, it will be with healing grace. Jesus urges us to not fear the accusations of our worldly peers, but to be concerned only about serving the true Judge. This is what Paul is saying too. He cares very little about the Corinthians think, because He cares very much about what the Lord thinks. He fears the Lord, not the Corinthians. And he knows that the Lord is good and right and fair.
Who is falsely accusing me? Who is criticizing me or judging me unfairly? I can’t say at this time that anyone is treating me like this. But if I think about it, I realize that I am still too often concerned about what people think of me, rather than what the Lord thinks. Which judge am I serving? Which audience am I performing for? Whose “well done” am I striving for?
There is only one true, fair and gracious Judge. I choose to serve Him!
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to serve You, my audience of One!