I Corinthians 4:9 says, “…for we are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men.” A sincere but somewhat uneducated pastor said to his congregation, “My spectacles help me see better and we as spectacles help the world see Jesus better when they look through us.” His point was a valid and meaningful one, but it had nothing to do with the passage in question. Here, spectacle means a “show” or perhaps “demonstration”. Looking foolish to the world, Paul and his companion were wise in Christ. It is possible to make a good point if our faith is sincere even when we misunderstand the scripture. While we should always strive for clear understanding, if our hearts are right, God might even use our mistakes for good purpose. We are not perfect and may make many mistakes, but we can acknowledge our insufficiency and depend on God’s strength and wisdom. The work of God’s kingdom is not just up to us. In the history of the faith, God has made use of many imperfect men and women. Our halting words and clumsy actions may still be used by God to accomplish divine purpose. The kingdom of God does not rest on our skill and talent but on the power of God. Jesus knew this. He knew that the source of the power to heal, to help, to teach and preach, to serve and enable came not from within ourselves, but from God. Someone has written, “The ‘Acts of the Apostles’ should have been called the ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles’.” It was true then, and I am sure it is still true.