A Father's Heart

2 Corinthians 11. The problem Paul faced as he wrote these cantankerous Corinthians was how to convince them that he really loved and cared for them. If he reminded the people of the work he did among them, they would only reply, "Paul is bragging!" If he said nothing about his ministry there, the Judaizers would say, "See, we told you Paul didn't accomplish anything!" So what did Paul do? He used a beautiful image that was certain to reach their hearts. He compared himself to a "spiritual father" caring for his family. He had used that image earlier in his first letter: "You have ten thousand instructors, but not many fathers..." 1 Cor.4:14-21. They were his beloved spiritual children, and he wanted the best for them. So here in chapter eleven, we see the heart of a father in Paul. We see it in...
1. His Jealousy For Them 11:1-4
2. His Generosity Toward Them 11:5-11
3. His Anxiety About Them 11:12-28
Go back and read each section and see and feel Paul's heart for them. You may even want to read it in The Message to capture the emotion. Paul certainly proved his love for the church. Now the church had to prove its love for Paul. May we never take for granted the sacrifices that others have made so that we might enjoy the blessings of the Gospel today.