“For you are our glory and joy“
For you are our glory and joy
The word “you” is emphatic in Greek. “You and especially you are our glory and joy.”
The word “glory” means estimation, repute. It is Paul’s honor to introduce his converts to the Lord Jesus Christ. When he sees the Lord, he will know that his team’s glory will be people in heaven because of their witness. This is a legitimate pride because it is based on what God did through them.
“Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written:
‘To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand’” (Romans 15:17-21).
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Paul stakes his entire reputation in eternity on winning those without Christ.
Principle:
Our reputation in eternity will be based, in part, on winning people to Christ.
Application:
God values winning people to Christ.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things! “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world’” (Acts 26:14-18).
Do you have a part in the building of Christ’s Kingdom? Will people point to you that you had a part in bringing them into the Kingdom?
