I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Corinthians 4:14-17 NIV)
Paul was writing to encourage his "children." He wanted to correct some wrong behaviour and in doing so he doesn't want to shame. This is a valuable lesson for us. Hundreds and thousands of kids in our communities need correction and guidance. This needs to be done with encouragement. They don't know any better, no one has taught them how to life in Christ. We are not in the shame and blame business, we are here to encourage and train.
Paul also points out their lack of fathers in the faith, and that he became their father in Christ. We live with a fatherless generation. Some kids have lost their father and mother, some fathers have run away, and other parents have neglected their daily responsibility. As children workers we need to realize that we may be the only "parent" in Christ they will ever have. We need to step up to the call and reach, connect, equip and release our kids.
Finally, Paul instructs the Corinthian church to imitate him. To help with this he sent Timothy who knows Paul's way of life. I have no doubt about this, our kids will copy us! The question to be asked is what example are you setting? Are you setting an example that demonstrates the way of life in Christ Jesus? As kids workers, we have been sent to show our kids that way.
Be someone worth imitating!
Paul was writing to encourage his "children." He wanted to correct some wrong behaviour and in doing so he doesn't want to shame. This is a valuable lesson for us. Hundreds and thousands of kids in our communities need correction and guidance. This needs to be done with encouragement. They don't know any better, no one has taught them how to life in Christ. We are not in the shame and blame business, we are here to encourage and train.
Paul also points out their lack of fathers in the faith, and that he became their father in Christ. We live with a fatherless generation. Some kids have lost their father and mother, some fathers have run away, and other parents have neglected their daily responsibility. As children workers we need to realize that we may be the only "parent" in Christ they will ever have. We need to step up to the call and reach, connect, equip and release our kids.
Finally, Paul instructs the Corinthian church to imitate him. To help with this he sent Timothy who knows Paul's way of life. I have no doubt about this, our kids will copy us! The question to be asked is what example are you setting? Are you setting an example that demonstrates the way of life in Christ Jesus? As kids workers, we have been sent to show our kids that way.
Be someone worth imitating!
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