The pastor arrived for the 7 am Men's Breakfast Bible study a few minutes late. The guys gathered around the table and carried on their conversation while only briefly acknowledging their pastor. But one fellow looked over the pastor carefully. He noticed the bags under the pastor's eyes, the look of exhaustion on his face. He asked, "Are you all right?" The pastor shook his head and said, "We'll talk later."
After the Bible study broke up, the pastor and the fellow found a corner booth. The pastor said, "I shouldn't be talking to you but since you asked..." For the next half-hour, the pastor explained that he hadn't slept for more than a couple of hours each night. Some concerns for the flock he was shepherding was causing sleepless nights. Finances were not covering the budget. Petty disputes threatened to tear the church council apart. The "grapevine" was filled with gossip and half-truths. The pastor was doing his best to apply God's Word and instruction to each situation. But disobedient church members weren't showing much growth in the way of repentance and faith in God their Savior.
I've been reading through 1st Corinthians and it has caused me to wonder if that church had caused the apostle Paul if he suffered through many sleepless nights. We do know that many in the church were immature in the faith and did many unspiritual things. Because of Paul's concern for God's flock, chapters seven through twelve contain needed instruction and guidance. Paul writes pointedly - his desire is to bring about repentance and faith among the disobedient in Corinth.
As you read, note that Paul addresses issues which seem to stand front and center in the church today. Watch how Paul continually points to God's grace in Jesus as the motivation for setting aside our own wisdom and desires and, instead, to seek each day as God's forgiven people, dearly loved in the Lord.
