Rights as an apostle
Day 593, Friday, Mar. 27
1 Corinthians 9:1-18
Paul’s belief in sacrificing one’s own rights in love isn’t just something he preaches; it’s something he practices. As an apostle, Paul says, he has a right to be supported financially in his work. He has the right to have a believing wife to travel with him. His decisions to forgo financial support and marriage are his to make but not for others to demand.
In verse 3 he alludes to opponents of his ministry: “This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.” We have seen these opponents mentioned before and will come across them again. While he doesn’t explain their complaints in detail, it seems that they turn his unwillingness to take pay into a criticism.
“If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Friday meditation

Psalms 103:19-22
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.

Prayer focus
Let us give freely, Lord, not demanding our due but generously giving of what you have given us.