Be Men

I Cor. 16:13-14

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that be done be done in love.

The admonition is to be men, to be mature. What does this mean? First it means to be watchful, to be alert. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation and Be sober-minded; be watchful; Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. From these verses it seems that watching has to do with the devil and temptation. It is a defensive move of protection that allows for growth. If temptation and sin rule the life then no growth will happen.

Secondly, it means to stand firm in the faith. This would be the offensive action of growth and maturity in Christ. Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Standing firm is continual, uninterrupted growth into the fullness of Christ which cannot be accomplished without watching and resisting the devil.

Thirdly, it means to act like men, not children. So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ and You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Men eat the meat, the solid food of the Word. Their lives are based in and centered on the Word. They devour it, meditate on it, memorize it, and live it!

Next, it means to be strong, to not wimp out but instead to endure to the end. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. This strength is not human in source or nature, but is found and sustained in the Lord, in His power and grace.

Finally, it means that love is the motivation for all that is done because love lasts and binds together. Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. With a motivation like this, human actions would be entirely different. This kind of love comes from a heart transformed and operating in the power of His strength and grace.

Father,
Help me to live this verse. Give me Your grace and strength to grow into maturity in Christ. 
In Jesus name,
Amen

Resurrection

I Cor. 15:57

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Contrast:

It is sown is perishable: It is raised is imperishable.
It is sown in dishonour; It is raised in glory.
It is sown in weakness; It is raised in power.
It is sown in a natural body; It is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 
The first man Adam became a living-being; The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
The first man was from the earth; The second man is from heaven.
We bore the image of the man of dust; We shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

We cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven unless the perishable puts on the imperishable. Jesus Christ in His resurrection has provided His children this transformation. My perishable will put on imperishability, and my mortality will put on immortality. When He comes, I will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Thanks be to God for giving me the victory through Jesus Christ. Because of His resurrection all of this is true for me, therefore, I need to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of he Lord.

Father,
Thank You for the resurrected Jesus who provided life for me and all those who believe in Him. What a great gift!
In Jesus name,
Amen

Order and Peace

I Cor. 14:33

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

When believers come together whether with a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue,  or an interpretation, it must be done for the purpose of edifying, of building up of one another. Seek all the gifts that God has given, but do them in an orderly manner and for the building up of one another. This includes women keeping silent in the churches. They must be in submission, and if they have questions, they are to ask their husbands at home. This does not mean that they are lesser or inferior just different in function in private as well as in public worship. God has given a specific order and purpose to keep His body from confusion and strife. For He is a God not of confusion but of peace.

Father,
Teach me to understand more fully body life, what it means to be part of the body of Christ, how to interact, and how to bring glory to Your name and Your purpose.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Thinking

I Cor. 14:20

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Paul admonished the Corinthians to be mature in what they desired. Apparently, many people were desiring spiritual gifts (tongues) that did not build up the body and that were not understandable. Instead of this, Paul urged the people to desire a gift (prophesy) that edified the body, one that could be used to teach the body. The principle is that what you desire should be edifying to the body of believers and also to the world. Everything that I do is observable and sends a message. So consequently, Paul wanted the believers to think, think about the message that their life choices, actions, and attitudes were sending.

In what other realms would childlike thinking manifest itself? Perhaps, in offenses, hanging onto hurts and enlisting others to be on your side thus creating dissension in the body. What about feeling isolated within the body, not feeling like you belong? Or what about indulging fleshly desires that are not necessrily bad things but take away from time that you spend with God? What about excusing bad attitudes and actions as character flaws instead of considering them sin? There are so many that the list would be unending. What an exhortation! I need to always be aware of my thinking. Is it childlike or mature? Am I listening to the Spirit or to self?

Father,
Reveal to me the childlike thinking that has rooted itself in my life. Help me to be mature in You and listening to Your Spirit.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Love

I Cor. 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

After reading these qualities, I seriously doubt that I would ever understand or be able to love like this. How impossible! Yet, the blessing comes in knowing that Jesus is the One who makes love possible. It is His love in me that can treat other people like this. As I think on these qualities, I see and get a glimpse of the real problem resident within me, that is selfishness. If I am taking care of myself, my needs, my wants, my desires, my pains, and my whatever, then I am not thinking about others, then I am not loving as Jesus would have me love. I am not responding to His love in me and to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He is directing and transforming my life.

Father,
I confess my loveless attitudes and actions. I ask that You convict me when I falter, lead me when I stumble, and empower me when I am weak.
In Jesus name,
Amen

One Body

I Cor. 12:12

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

What a family! And such belonging! In Christ I am never on the outside, but always part of His body. It doesn't matter whether I am a hand, foot, or an ear because every part of the body is essential. In Christ I have meaning. God has so crafted the body so that there is no division, but that all the members have the same care for one another. If I suffer, others suffer with me. If I rejoice, others rejoice with me. How great is this! What amazing love and grace!

Father,
Thank You for giving me such a glorious body and giving me a family like no other.
In Jesus name,
Amen

In Remembrance of Me

I Cor. 11:2-4

And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.  In the same way also He took the cup, after supper saying, This covenant is the new cup in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

Why did Jesus give thanks before He instituted the bread and the cup? Was it for an example for us, or was He giving thanks to the Father for the plan of reconciliation? Certainly, when I take the bread and the cup, I must always give thanks. Where would I be without this sacrifice? His body and blood are my body and blood. His body and blood are my entrance to the kingdom of God without which I would have no standing at all.

Paul established the precedent for communion. First, we do it to remember the gospel, His death, burial, and resurrection. We do it to keep Him constantly in the forefront of our thinking. Also we do it to proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. It is not a one time act, but must be done repeatedly, over and over until Jesus comes. That is how important His death was! It must never be far from my heart and mind.

Also there are serious consequences with communion. If it is taken unworthily, that person is guilty of the body and blood of Jesus. Each person needs to look closely at his or her heart condition. Sharing in the body and blood of Jesus demands discernment of thought, word, and deed. If we are careless, a sure discipline follows for the sake of our souls. Without it, condemnation is a surety.

So then, in conclusion, when we gather together, I need to be discerning. I need to do my eating and drinking at home so that the bread and the cup are sacred and meaningful and so that judgment is not a ready consequence. I need to examine my heart and my relationships with others. If there is a problem, I need to make it right immediately. Sharing in the Lord's death is serious. It cost Jesus His life, what does it cost me? What is my response? I am so thankful and grateful and I have a constant desire to value His act with my purity of thought, word, and deed. I do not want my careless living to desecrate His great gift to me.

Father,
Thank You for this great act of reconciliation. Thank You, Jesus for Your body and blood that saved my soul and removed the great gulf between me and God. Convict me mightily when I am careless in my attitudes and my holiness.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Divine Order

I Cor. 11:3

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband and the head of Christ is God.

God has ordained an order that even His Son must obey: God, Christ, Man, Woman.  Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman, for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of man. All things are from God. In the same way that the Son is not inferior to the Father, so woman is not inferior to man. A divine order does not necessarily mean inferiority; it means difference, difference in gifts, functions, and ministries. The important thing is to embrace the differences and glorify God through them. The problem comes with the voice of our culture which claims a women's position is inferior. When women buy into this, they seek to overpower men and claim the predominance. In this position, they are out of God's order and are glorifying themselves not Him. So for me, I have to keep my eyes and heart focused on God and His Word and not be influenced by culture. I have to trust God that His order for me is for my good.

Father,
Teach me Your order so that my thinking and my heart are receptive to what you have  me to do. Thank You for giving me Christ the head of my body.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Examples for Us

I Cor. 10:6

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

The Israelites were examples for believers in Paul's day and in our day. First, they were idolaters, sitting down to eat, drink, and then rising up to play.[Sounds remarkably like America!] Then they indulged in sexual immorality. [Hit the mark again!] As if those were not enough, they put Christ to the test and grumbled. [Ouch!] What were their consequences? Many died on the spot destroyed by the Destroyer while others were denied entrance to the promised land. So Paul admonished the people inn light of these tragic historical events, he warned them to take heed lest they fall. The same goes for me or any believer today. Take heed! Wake up! Look at your life! Paul ends with a great promise that I can cling to when temptations come my way. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. There is the key. Temptations will come, but what will I do when they are hunting me down? I will pray and ask for that way of escape! Therefore I will flee idolatry, immorality, putting Christ to the test, and grumbling!

Father,
Thank you for this great promise. Give me Your wisdom and strength to call out and ask You to open my eyes to the escape that I need.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Discipline

I Cor. 9:27

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Paul compared the Christian life to a race where all the runners run but only one gets the prize. His admonition was to run to obtain the prize. In order to do that I must train just like an athlete, that is having self-control in all things. An athlete limits himself to activities, food, and drink. He is very careful what he puts into his body because it will affect his body's output. His life is focused around his one and only goal: winning the prize. Not only that but he trains. In the place of the normal, easier activities of life, he puts intense training always building his strength and skill. The same goes for my life. I limit what I do and think about because it affects my mind and my spirit. It dulls my sensitivity to God and takes my time away from God. I must also train, spend time doing the things that will build me up in spirit and soul. Primarily, those activities would be prayer, Bible study and memorization, meditation, fellowship, godly music, listening to sermons and great preachers, and even gathering together with my local body. Those are the things that must fill my life. Anything that draws me closer to God and grows me in Christ must be part of my life-style. The things that I might not do any longer are not necessarily bad things, but they are things that don't necessarily help me run the race to win the prize. My prize is not a perishable ribbon, medal, or even money, but an imperishable crown, one that I will receive when Jesus calls me home with Him.

Father,

Give me Your grace and strength to run this race. Help me endure and keep my eyes focused on Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. Keep me connected to You at all times so that I hear Your voice and Your direction.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Love Builds Up

I Cor. 8:13

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Even though we know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is only one True God, this knowledge does not give us unlimited freedom (even though the food offered to idols would be of no consequence). It is food offered to a non-entity! However, not all possess this knowledge. To some eating food offered to idols is horrible, and is something to be avoided at all costs! And even more than that, if they saw another brother eating this same food, it would destroy them. Even though one brother's conscience is weak, and the other's conscience is not, an act of love reconciles the two. Paul says that sinning against a brother and wounding their conscience when it is weak is the same as sinning against Christ. How strong and how limiting! The conclusion is: if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. The law of love dictates our care and concern for our fellow brothers of Christ is of paramount importance even to the point of limiting our actions and choices. In humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Father,

Help me to think of others first and to love as You loved above all else. Make all my choices honoring to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Divided Interests

I Cor. 7:32-34
I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.

What to do about divided interests? Paul advocated singleness wherever and whenever possible not to add regulations, but to free them up for God. In v. 35 Paul says, I say this for your own benefit, not to lay restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. Is it possible to have undivided devotion to the Lord and be married and have a family? Certainly the demands are much greater as well as the time commitments, but how does the devotion to the Lord fit into the equation? Shouldn't it be possible? This passage makes me so very aware of the spiritual problems inherent within marriage and family. I know so many times I have been frustrated because there seemed to be so little time for God, and so many young mothers have talked to me about the little amount of time that they had for God. I think that since God's will and purpose for many of us included marriage and family, then we need to rely on I Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do (take care of husband, family, laundry, food preparation, and house) do all to the glory of God. Even the most menial task can be done for the glory of God. Where He has called and planted is where the heart needs to seek to find Him and glorify Him. The problem is that we often get consumed with those menial details, so instead we need to be on the offensive for God, to guard our time with Him just like we would guard our children. We would never neglect them, but yet we would neglect our time with God. We need to pray, seek God, be in His Word and glorify Him as our first priority exactly where He has put us!

Father,
Help me to be faithful to you standing firm in the faith. Show me how to keep You my first priority.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Stay as You Are

I Cor. 7:6

But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

We are not all the same; in fact God does not desire cookie-cutter disciples. Some are married and some are unmarried or widows. The overriding principle is to stay pure. In your marriage be pure, and in your singleness, be pure. But what else was concerning to new believers was the marriage of someone saved to someone unsaved. What to do now? Paul said to stay together if at all possible because the saved spouse has a great opportunity to show the power of new life to the unsaved spouse and the children. Another problem that new believers felt keenly was circumcision. Some at the point of salvation were uncircumcised or even vice versa. Should they seek to be circumcised now, or should they seek to remove the signs of circumcision (how, I don't know.)? Paul answered simply no on both counts. How you are at the point of salvation is where that person should stay. He even went so far as to say that if you were a slave, don't be concerned about it. His point was in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. These practical issues were and still are a concern to believers, but God deals in the matter of the heart. If the heart is changed and sin ceases to control that person, then that is what salvation is all about. Certainly, repentance is a change of direction, but the direction is for the most part of the heart. If the heart is transformed, then other things will fall in place. But are there situations where there should be an outward change as well? Definitely God will purify the heart and change the life, but God has a purpose and a mission for each new believer in his or her own particular circumstances.

Father,
Help me to serve You with a pure heart in the exact relationships and situations that You have given me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

And Such Were Some of You

I Cor. 6:11
And such were some of you, But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And such were some of you... who were these such? But notice first that the operative word is were not are. Believers are not to be like the such any more! In the verses preceding it says that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. The unrighteous are those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. What a list, a list that is followed by And such were some of you. Before Christ, I was not inheriting the kingdom of God and my life was characterized by horrible behavior, but since Christ, I am washed, washed clean of sin that controlled my thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. I am sanctified, sanctified to live in newness of life in the power of the Spirit of God who indwells me and controls me. I am justified, justified and declared righteous by the blood of Jesus so that God now views me through the righteousness of Jesus. My life has drastically changed and all because of the blood of Jesus and the indwelling Spirit of God. Praise God!

But what is the problem? Why is Paul writing to these people about these issues? He begins by asking some very pointed questions: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her?  Just like the person who is joined to the Lord  becomes one spirit with him. Because of all this, Flee from sexual immorality! The problem was that this group of people had somehow forgotten what they had been saved from and were dabbling back in these blackened acts and thoughts. Paul told them pointedly why this was wrong! It must not go on! If you can't fight it, then flee. Run with all that you have! Don't drag Christ into the muck that you are wallowing in. The sexually immoral person sins against his own body, and since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and since Christ indwells this same body, he is forcing the Spirit and the Son into these horrendous desecrating situations. In conclusion, Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Instead of indulging in degrading sin, glorify God in your body!

Father,
Thank You for revealing the heinousness of sin and showing me how it affects the Spirit and the Son. Help me not to indulge in any sin, thoughts or attitudes, but to live totally for Jesus.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth

I Cor. 5:8

Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Paul wrote to the church about a serious sexual immorality issue. Sadly, the church had done nothing at all about it, but had acted like everything was fine. It was like their bread (body) was leavened with sin and not unleavened with sincerity and truth. Ignoring sin does not eliminate sin! Paul spoke out strongly saying that when they were assembled they were to confront and deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit might be saved. Wow! So very harsh! And a far cry from what the church was previously doing. Paul continued his instruction to them saying that they should not associate with sexually immoral people, with greedy, swindlers, idolaters, and especially those who bear the name of brother and are guilty of these same things. He concluded by saying God will judge those outside the church, but inside, the church should examine itself. Purge the evil from among you.

How strong! Why does it seem so strong? Perhaps it is because sin is so accepted now. The attitude is one of not wanting to offend anyone and tolerance. Originally, tolerance was a concept that referred to racial issues, but now it has been applied to a whole host of sinful behaviors. God's way is not tolerance when it refers to His body, the church. The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ indwell the believer's physical bod. Can they have anything to do with rampant sin? I need to hate sin in the same way that Paul did. I need to see it as an issue that is damaging some one's soul and spirit. Speaking out could save that person, give them a much needed wake-up call.

Father,
Help me not to tolerant sin in any form, but to speak out for You and to value and praise Your Son and Spirit who live within me.
In His name,
Amen

Trustworthy Steward

I Cor. 4:2

Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Paul said he was a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God. And he put special emphasis on the fact that he was trustworthy to do as God had called him. Not only was he entrusted with a message that meant salvation for others, but most importantly, he was accountable to God. He knew that God would bring everything to light, the things that were hidden and ultimately would disclose the purposes of the heart. Because of this simple fact, his ministry had to be true. It could not be done for human praise or out of human strength. To prove what he said, he admitted he was a fool for Christ's sake. He willingly became weak, held in disrepute, hungry, thirsty, buffeted, homeless, all the while working to support himself. When he was reviled, he blessed in return; when persecuted, he endured; when slandered, he entreated. He willingly became the scum of the world. What a ministry! Why did he write all this to the Corinthian church? He wanted to convince them of his true motives and that he felt toward them like a father. And thus as a father, he wanted them to follow his example and not the example of others who were arrogant or whose motives were suspect. Finally he reminded them that the gospel was not in talk but in power, in the power of the Spirit not of the world.

Father,
Help me to be aware of my motives constantly. Make my service to You as You would have it be. Take my mind and spirit off this world and put it only on You.
In Jesus name,
Amen

God's Temple

I Cor. 3:16-17

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

If God's Spirit dwells within me, and He does, then He is all the wisdom and insight that I need. Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God because the thoughts and insights of the wise are futile. Without God in the thinking, any so-called wisdom is skewed. In fact, God uses the wisdom of the world to catch them in their craftiness. In their hopes of becoming smarter than God, that is if they even acknowledge a God, they fall into the snare of folly and futility. But for the believer, his wisdom is from God, from His Spirit dwelling and living within. How would this temple be destroyed? Definitely by the wisdom of the world or by claiming pride in intellect or achievement, but also by trying to infiltrate the ways of God with the ways of the world. This was the problem in the Corinthian church. They were claiming man's allegiance and prominence, but God only wants to be the recipient of all boasting. Let Him who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Father,
Thank You for the indwelling Spirit and for the gift of the only wisdom that matters for eternity. Show me how to cherish and grow in Your temple.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Spirit

I Cor. 2:11-12

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

So preaching, teaching, and sharing the gospel are not given or received in words of wisdom of this world, but the are given and received in words taught by the Spirit. We don't need to change the message to make it more palatable to the world. Instead we need to rely on the Spirit of God to empower and teach the meaning of the words. In fact, the natural person finds the things of the Spirit folly, and so consequently, he refuses to accept them. But when the Spirit draws a person to the Father, He makes the words clear, understandable, and powerful.

For the believer, the Spirit is resident within. He is there to teach and guide us every moment of the day or night. Not only that but Jesus Christ is resident within us as well. He is there to give us His mind. Certainly, we can understand the things freely given us by God. What resources we have! So what is my recourse when I am confused or uncertain? I need merely to pray and ask the Spirit to enlighten my understanding so that I can understand the things that God desires me not only to understand but to possess, to make my own and to transform my life.

Father,
Thank You for changing my mind and my Spirit. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit and Your Son. Teach me constantly the things that You have freely given me to understand.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Boast in the Lord

I Cor. 1:28-31

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

God chose to operate in a way contrary to how the world operates for  a very specific reason. He does not want man to boast in His presence by trying to claim any credit for the great and glorious work that He had done in salvation and sanctification. God truly understands the heart of man. Boasting is in his nature. He constantly wants to best others even in insignificant things and then use those achievements as a means to boast, to take pride in what he has done. But God says no pride, no boasting in anything having to do with the human realm. If I boast, it must be in Jesus Christ who became to me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Without Jesus I would be lost, undone, and doomed. Certainly, I must boast in Him!

Father,
Thank You for choosing me to be Your child. For giving me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,  and redemption is in Jesus Christ. What a great and glorious gift!
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Power of the Cross

I Cor. 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

There was a problem with unity in the Corinthian church. People were taking sides and quarreling over which preacher they liked or who had baptized them. They were creating dissension over an appeal that had nothing to do with the message but instead with popularity and prestige. To reveal the problem, Paul simply asked a question. Was Christ divided, or were Paul or Apollos crucified for you? Obviously, the answer to both questions was no. Hopefully, the people would see the logic behind his simple question. Then Paul stated his reason for preaching the gospel as God had called him. It was not to be with man's words of eloquence, words that could create dissension, words that would empty the cross of its power. God chose preaching as a means to spread the gospel, a means that the world deemed foolish, and He chose that preaching to be based only on Jesus, His cross, and His gospel. It was never to be a popularity contest [gimmicks, contests, mega cathedrals, prosperity and worldly splendor], but a means of salvation. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Sadly, as in the Corinthians's day men still are using the church as a means to gain prestige, position, power, and prosperity. I wonder does all this still rob the cross of its power?

Father,
Help me to share Your gospel and the power of the cross simply so that its power can draw people to salvation.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Power of Fear

Mk. 16:5

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus. Arriving early on Sunday morning, they wondered how they would get in. Who would roll the stone away? Looking up, their question was answered, and in a way that they least expected it. Unafraid, they went into the tomb, and there saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe. Now they were alarmed! Did they realize this young man was an heavenly messenger? Or did they think that he was responsible for the missing body of Jesus? But, before they really had time to process, he spoke to them, Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you. Jesus did all as He said He would. Why were they so afraid? Why did they shift into inaction? The passage tells of their fear and astonishment, and most of all of their silence. The resurrection was earth shattering, not something that they would have witnessed on a daily basis. Thankfully, their silence was short-lived, and these women who loved Jesus and who witnessed His crucifixion, burial, the empty tomb, and the message of the resurrection would speak out. Matthew relays the next step in their journey, So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Fear can either be crippling or the motivation for hurried action. In the case of these women, it did both!

Father,
Give me Your strength to use my fear as a means to speak out for you. Let it move me to action and not silence the words that mean so much to me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Especially in Death

Mk. 15:34
And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Especially in death, Jesus was recognizable as the Son of God. At the sixth hour, darkness covered the land until the ninth hour. Who else but the Son of God would affect the normal course of nature?  Then He cried out to His Father, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Such agony! Could it be that as the centurion heard this cry, he felt the emotion of a father-son relationship, or perhaps it was the absence of His cursing those who had placed Him on this cross?  Then Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last. His task was done. The penalty was paid. Could it be that the centurion saw that Jesus was not clinging to life like any other person would be? Or did he see that Jesus willingly gave up His life? Whatever he saw, He knew Jesus was the Son of God. He was one of many who would recognize Jesus as the Son of God. But would he recognize Jesus as His savior too?

Father,
Thank You for offering Your Son to reconcile me to Yourself. Thank You, Jesus, for being the perfect innocent sacrifice that could pay this penalty, and thank You for being my savior.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Crowd

Mk. 15:11

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

The crowds are so easily swayed. Perhaps this was the same crowd that had been following Jesus, eating of the bread of His miracles and being healed. As long as it was to their benefit, Jesus was good! But on this day at the feast, Pilate's tradition was to release one prisoner. So the crowd began asking for Pilate to follow through with what he had done in the past. After having questioned Jesus and finding no wrong in him, he perceived that the priests brought charges against Jesus out of envy. So as a means to get out of his predicament, he asked the crowd if they wanted the King of the Jews  released. What would the crowd say? But quickly and with great fervor, the priests persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas. Pilate then cried out to the crowd, Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews? And the crowd in a blood-thirsty frenzy cried out, Crucify Him. Pilate tried once more, asking, Why, what evil has He done? But the crowd would not relent; in fact, they shouted all the more. The priests had won the day! Pilate's hands were tied! He released Barabbas, a known murderer, and delivered the innocent Jesus to be crucified.

Father,
Help me to always stand for right and not follow the crowd who can be so easily swayed. The one reassuring thing is that You sovereign will was done, and no matter the crowd, Your will will always be done.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Watch and Pray

Mk. 14:36

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to Gethsemane. It was on this night that Jesus' burden was overwhelming. Speaking to His disciples, He said, My soul is sorrowful, even to death, Remain here and watch. After he finished praying, He came back to the disciples who were now sleeping! How could they be sleeping on this night!! How could they not realize the deep sorrow He was enduring!  He asked them simply, Can you not watch with me one hour? Only one hour, and sleep overtook them! Then in His warning to them to watch and pray, He revealed the great problem in all mankind. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I am sure that the disciples wanted to watch with Jesus, but their flesh overtook them. What a struggle between the spirit and the flesh! Jesus warned them of this struggle with the simple words, Watch and pray. How powerful is prayer that it can overcome the weaknesses of the flesh! Sadly, the flesh cannot be conquered by disciplined flesh or greater resolve. It is still flesh! It must be conquered through the Spirit because it is there that Jesus conquered death and sin including the flesh. Watch and pray!!

Father,
Teach me more about watching and praying. Help me to rely on Your grace and power to fight the flesh and its desires.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Pride

Mk. 14:30-31

And Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times. But he said emphatically, If I must die with you, I will not deny you. And they all said the same thing.

Jesus and the disciples had just finished the Passover dinner and had shared the body and the cup. But how much of those moments did they really understand? Did they have an inkling of the intensity of what was to come? After singing a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives where Jesus told them flat out that they would all fall away. What an affront to their human pride! In fact, Peter was so sure that even if everyone else would fall away, he would not!

Even though Peter had told Jesus that he knew he was the Son of God, he still doubted what He had said. Hadn't he seen Jesus do mighty things, supernatural things? Yet, in this instance, he didn't believe what He said. Often the most important insight and understanding comes through personal tragedy. For Peter, it was definitely so. He had to come to the end of himself before Jesus could be what He should be in Peter's life.

Jesus reassured him that he would indeed deny Him, and that his denial would be announced by a rooster. Still he refused to believe. Pride is so blinding! But also, Peter had never been in a situation like this before, a situation so drastically different from the solitude of the fishing boat. What would any person do in times like this? When it comes to survival, what decision would I make? Hopefully, God's grace would be my all and give me the strength and power to hold fast.

Peter's story also shows the wonderful forgiveness and restoration that Jesus makes possible. Peter did deny, but his life was not over. His weakness did not determine the course of his life negatively because Jesus is all about forgiveness and repentance. Certainly, Peter was a changed man. He went out in the power of the Spirit and spread the name of Jesus to many. And no doubt the grace of God became a reality in his life! His story also shows the weakness of human resolve. In my strength, I will fall and blunder. But in the power of God, I can be strong and stand.

Father,
Give me Your grace and strength to withstand any attack by Satan. Help to love and obey Jesus implicitly no matter the cost. Teach me to recognize and crucify my flesh and rely only on Your grace.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Fig Tree

Mk. 13:31

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Jesus said to learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branches become tender and put out leaves, it is obvious that it is summer. So also when these things (signs of the end times) take place, the time is ripe. He is near at the very gates. So be ready. Pay attention. Know what the word has said because one thing is 100 % true, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.What is said in God's word is uttered by the very God who put all things in place, who established time and its passing, and who established events and conditions. His will will be done. What He has said will come to pass.

Father,
Make me ready for your return. Give me Your grace and strength to endure whatever You have willed for my life.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Signs of the End

Mk. 13
Jesus said...

• Many will come in my name and will lead people astray.
• Wars and rumors of wars will abound.
• Earthquakes and famines will be in various places.
• Persecution will come.
• The gospel must be proclaimed to all nations.
• When questioned at trial, the Holy Spirit will give the words to say.
• Families members will turn against each other.
• Believers will be hated by all for Jesus' name's sake.
• When the abomination of desolation stands where he shouldn't be, flee.
• In these days tribulation like never before will come.
• God will shorten the days for the elect's sake.
• False Christ's and prophet's will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead the elect astray.
• All nature will be altered and the Son of Mn will come in the clouds in great glory and power.
• He will send out His angels to gather the elect from all over the earth.
• Concerning this hour, no one knows, not the angels or the Son, only the Father.

The overall warning is Be on Guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come...lest He come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all, stay awake!

What a warning and what a horrible time before the Lord comes back! I pray that if I am still here and God wills that I should endure this that I will be strong in His power and might.

Father,
It sounds so scary, but I know that your hand and power are greater than any horrible thing. Give me Your grace to withstand every day. Help me to rely on Your Holy Spirit even now in every decision.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Giving

Mk. 12:44

For they contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury watching people give. There He saw many rich people putting in large sums of money, but a poor widow came and put in just a penny. Jesus seized this incident as an opportunity to teach his disciples an important principle, that is giving out of pverty as opposed to giving our of abundance. Obviously, his view of  giving was drastically different from the world's view. As the world would see it, having rich men giving large sums would be the way to go simply because the amount of money would be great. Much could be accomplished! But Jesus didn't value the outward action as much as he valued the heart response. Seeing the poor widow's heart, made her gift all the more precious. She was alone, no husband and sadly lacking in resources. According to the world's estimation, she should guard what she had or go on some form of assistance, but that was not her modus operandi. She gave her penny! Doesn't sound like much, but it was her all! Certainly, the rich had given vast sums, but only from their surplus. It did not impact their standard of living at all. The widow gave out of her poverty; in fact, she gave what was necessary for her survival. What a heart! Who really gives out of their poverty? As I remember my poverty years, I know I clung desperately to the little resources I had. My heart was not so much into giving. Sadly, I missed the joy that this widow had by her giving. What a lesson! God delights in the heart that is ready and willing to give its all!

Father,
Give me a giving heart. Help me not to cling to what You have blessed me with, but to use it as You would lead me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Vineyard

Mk. 12:6-7

He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, They will respect my son. But those tenants said to one another, This is the heir, Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.

Jesus spoke yet another parable, one that involved a vineyard. When the season came round,  the owner sent a servant to the vineyard to gather fruit, but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty handed. Again he sent another servant, and this time they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. Yet again, he sent another servant, but this time they killed the servant. And so with many others, they either beat them or killed them. Finally, the owner sent his son thinking that he would be respected. Sadly, the tenants realizing that he was the heir, killed him so that the inheritance would be theirs. What would the owner do? He would come and destry the tenants and give the vineyard to others.

What a picture of Israel entrusted with the vineyard (kingdom) as God's chosen people. When He sent them the prophets as His messengers, they either beat them or killed them, and finally when He sent His son, they did indeed kill Him. What hard hearts toward the God who loved them and gave them so much! God did give the vineyard to others. He opened the way for Gentiles to share in the inheritance with the Son, to be children of God. Truly, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Jesus is my cornerstorne, and I am His. I am one of His brethren, a child of God, and a joint heir with Jesus Christ.

Father,
Thank You so much for offering salvation to others, others that included me! Give me grace and strength to listen to what the Spirit has to teach me so that I will not be an unprofitable tenant.
In Jesus name,
Amen