My Dad has a phrase i have literally heard him say for years. "A good example of a bad example." The Apostle Paul and those who traveled with him lived in such a way they set a good example of a good example we should follow.
4. "For we spoke as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God not people. He examines the motives of our hearts." If you are saved you are called and approved by God to speak his word to others. Your purpose in life is to please God not people. It doesn't matter how many hits you get on you tube or likes on facebook if your goal is not to please God then what you're doing is futile. God examines your heart and the motives behind what you do.
5. "Never did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!" This verse talks about not using flattery and pretending to be someone's friend to get a result. Time for a personal story to illustrate this. A few years back i worked under this young lady who had the authority to tell me to do things and as an employee I was subject to doing them. One night she wanted me to do something. She started the conversation by saying. "Zac that's a really nice shirt you have on." Then before she took another breath she said. "Can you come take operator services calls." She later claimed i couldn't take a joke because i was upset by her use of flattery. I didn't take it as a joke. I didn't take it as a joke because compliments were something i rarely received and when it was done to get me to do something it hurt. If you compliment someone i feel you should mean it otherwise it'd the same as lying to them. Paul in these verses says he and those with him did not use flattery to teach the Good News about Christ's death, burial and resurrection. See flattery will make someone like you but if you use it to lead people to God you're not always going to get genuine life change but someone may never correctly believe in Jesus Christ savingly. It will be just a moment in time where they were talked into an emotional response.
6. "As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone." Praise from people is fleeting seek instead in God's word for what he says about you and me.
Live the Life by Michael W. Smith Michael W Smith - Live The Life (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
The Mission by Steve Green THE MISSION by STEVE GREEN with lyrics
Live like that by Sidewalk Prophets Sidewalk Prophets - Live Like That - Lyrics
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