OUR FATHER WHO DEMONSTRATES THE QUALITY OF HIS SERVANTS

1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 9 says this;

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 

The Roman empire had a cultural celebration that occurred when a conquering general returned to Rome with his army. 

A triumphant parade marched through the city of Rome displaying the might of her military. The treasures pillaged from the conquered lands and the people who had been captured were shown to the people of Rome as they exulted in their victories.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, compared the condition of himself and the other apostles with the people who were in the church at the city of  Corinth.

While the Corinthian believers were honored and strong and wise, the apostles were dishonored  and weak and foolish.

Paul felt that the Lord had consigned all  the apostles to a life of hunger, danger and humiliation as a spectacle for the whole universe  to look upon along with their misfortunes like the captured prisoners who the Romans paraded through their city.

Having been given the high responsibilities of apostleship, these servants of the Lord were brought low before the eyes of men and angels as a demonstration of the quality of men they were because to the end, they responded with grace to those who slandered them, patiently endured persecution and blessed those who cursed them.

Amen.