"And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches." vs28

Care for the churches is one of the biggest things that bothers true preachers. We love them because Christ first loved us, and we are born again. We care about their spiritual estate and take their burdens as our own. This is a privilege, but it hurts. It turns us to prayer and preaching. It leads us to deep humility, like a mother praying for her children. We are burdened but not discouraged, as there's always more hope than warfare.

Let this agony, dear saints, lead us to action. Paul wrote and sent men unto them. Do what you can.

"Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?"

Paul is indignant at the spiritual abuse in the churches! He's not a mild mannered preacher. He's hot with fire, burning up at injustice in the house of the living God. He doesn't want believers offended and turned from Christ. Better for someone to be cast into the sea, than for a little one to be offended. The fornicating pastor must pluck his eye out. The thieving church member must cut off his own hand.

Offenses will come but so will God's wrath. We ought to be angry, rather than indifferent. We ought to have MORE EMOTIONS than pity and compassion.

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Paul boasts in his weaknesses. He is not boasting in triumphs. He’s boasting about what hurt him, so that power could come upon him. The true minister glories in Christ, and when his back’s against the wall, he gets more strength. We have enough pampered men who can’t get their hands dirty. Give us lionhearted men who suffer cheerfully. Raise up, Oh God, a group of men who count suffering for the gospel an honor.

Many Christians are cozy, but when someone with zeal comes along, let us honor him. Let us see that his teaching and his life are fire-filled, then join him in the race. He’ll point to Christ and the Spirit. He’ll stir us to good works. Let’s not look upon him suspiciously, asking, “Who sent you,” when it is clear that he is of God. Let’s cast aside educational requirements and social status. Let’s look intently to the character of his life and GLORIFY GOD IN HIM.

"I am not lying "

A lying pastor is not a pastor. Paul is absolutely sincere. Our faults may be shameful, but we admit them. This is where repentance is found. It's at the foot of the cross, where we are justified; it's dealing honestly with God. Holiness towards men is the fruit of a right relationship with Christ; it evidences faith.

Let us be faithful, like Paul. Let us speak the truth consistently.

"Desiring to arrest me"

Finally, Paul stirred up a stink because he preached with power. His was a word of impact. Someone said the shame is that they no longer kill preachers in the West. There's no outrage at the preaching of Christ. We argue abortion and critical race theory, but at the preaching of His sovereign holiness, few tremble. Paul preached with enough impact that the city was on watch. He was a Christian that stood out, and Satan wanted him silenced. He said, "Paul I know."