Tuesday 26 April 2022

Psalm 113

Background

As we start to read Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, it's his companion Sosthenes that I want to focus on. He is important enough to be ranked with Paul, and obscure enough that we know almost nothing else about him.

There is a Sosthenes mentioned in Acts 18:12-17 who was the head of the synagogue in Corinth and was attacked by a mob when the Roman governor refused to prosecute Paul for what he considered to be an internal Jewish matter. Did this Sosthenes become a follower of Jesus and a companion of Paul? It's possible, but overall scholars are ambivalent. We can’t be sure about almost anything to do with Sosthenes, which is why I’m drawn to him.

Throughout Christian history there are records of great people, and in the way of keeping records back in the day those recorded were usually male and leaders. They could well have been great followers of Jesus, as were so many others. But almost all followers of Jesus are unknown to later generations. Our stories aren’t recorded and passed on. And I don’t think we are bothered. We live out our lives as followers of Jesus seeking to make a difference in the world around us for God, not for ourselves.  We don’t look for recognition and it's most likely we won't get any in this life. But, as followers of Jesus, we have an assurance of God’s presence in this life and for all eternity. Being remembered in the pages of a book or on a plinth is one thing. Being known as a child of God for all eternity is something very different. So let’s give a cheer for Sosthenes and all the rest of us today.

 To Ponder:

• Who do you most remember as an influence on your life and why?
• What do you want your earthly legacy to be?

Prayer

Gracious God, help me to be happy to be known for nothing in this life except to be a child of God.