The Holy Martyr Hyacinth.
Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients.
1 Corinthians 4:5-8; Matthew 13:44-54.
Read 1 Corinthians 4:5-8
Years after Ravensbrück, Corrie ten Boom found herself facing one of the guards who had helped make that place a hell for her and her sister. He did not recognize her. She recognized him. He came forward after she had spoken, held out his hand, and asked for forgiveness.
She could not move. Everything in her wanted to keep him condemned. Then, almost against herself, she prayed for help, reached out, and took his hand. She later said something broke open in her at the moment their hands made contact. The man she thought was chained was not the only prisoner. She had been chained too, seated on the judgment seat, holding the gavel.
That is the freedom Paul is pressing on the Corinthians.
They had turned the church into a courtroom. They ranked preachers, chosen sides, and passed judgments. Paul refuses the game. He and Apollos are merely stewards, servants entrusted with the mysteries of God. A steward’s is faithfulness and only the Master can judge that.
Paul names three courts: there is the court of public opinion, self-opinion, and God’s opinion. The first two cannot be trusted. Even Paul says that a clear conscience does not prove him innocent. The Lord sees what is hidden, and his verdict comes “when the Lord comes,” not before.
Imagine the release when we stop trying to be our own judge, and we stop pretending to be everyone else’s. Corrie’s story shows it plainly: freedom begins when the gavel goes back to God.
Then Paul exposes pride: “What do you have that you did not receive?” Everything is gift: faith, wisdom, leaders, strength, even the grace to forgive. Forget that, and comparison and judgments take over. That was Corinth’s sickness. It is still ours today.
So lay down the gavel. Live as a steward. Hold your gifts lightly. Give God the verdict and then you will know relief.