What Paul means is that whatever good we do in preaching is done by God; when we preach it is God's work if it has power and accomplishes something among men.Therefore if I am a good preacher who does some good, it isn't necessary for me to boast, It's not my mind, my wisdom, my ability.
Martin Luther, 1483-1545, Sermons, The Twelfth Sunday After Trinity, 1531 (Luther's Works, edited and translated by John W. Doberstein, Muhlenberg Press, 1959, Vol. 51, p.224)
How do we base what we do on God's power rather than on own? How do we remember that this is so?
Do not mean to sound like a broken record, but perhaps our accomplishments should be measured by the fruit that is produced?
ReplyDeleteAnd how do we measure fruit? Many would see fruit in large church buildings and big congregations. What does real fruit look like?
DeleteFruit of the Spirit?
ReplyDeleteI would agree with that. It is the internals rather then the externals that matter.
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