Today’s Reading: Judges 6; Judges 7; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 14
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:36-38
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
Observation: Paul is mocking those Corinthian believers who don't want to listen to Paul. They are just "too spiritual" and "too enlightened." They are way beyond Paul! Paul challenges them in verse 36: "Are you the originators of God's word? Did you get it before anybody else? Does it all stop with you? Is God restricted to you?" As far as these psuedo-spiritual, self righteous, and inflated spiritualists were concerned, it was all about them. But Paul puts the kibosh on that. In verse 37, he states an eternal principle: to have authority, one must be under authority. If a person does not recognize and respect the authority that God has ordained (i.e. the Bible, the Church and it's God-given leaders), then that person is not to be recognized or respected. That person is a phony -- do not listen to such a person.
Application: True spiritual authority is not independent. It does not stand alone.* It is connected to and submitted to authority -- the authority of the Word and the authority of the Church. Those who claim to have authority but refuse to submit to authority are to be ignored as false. It takes great faith to recognize that God will work through the flawed human leadership of the Church and even greater faith to submit to it when I think it is in error. But it takes no faith at all to fly solo, relying only on my own mind and interpretations.
Bottom line: Submit to God and demonstrate true faith by staying submitted to your leaders. This is where true spiritual authority is forged and honed.
Prayer: Lord, keep me submitted to the authorities you have placed in my life, that is your Word and my leaders and elders. May I be a man who functions in true submission and true spiritual authority.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
*In some cases in the Bible, prophets of God did have a solitary role, but their ministries were based on God's word and consistent with the traditions of their past.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Title: Love Suffers / Topic: Love
Today’s Reading: Judges 4; Judges 5; Psalm 39; Psalm 41; 1 Corinthians 13
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails...
Observation: Paul is schooling the Corinthians about true spirituality. They have been thinking that they were really awesome because of all their spiritual gifts, but Paul put them in their place. Here he describes love. Every time I read verse 4, I remember the King James Version rendering, "Love suffers long and is kind." Love suffers. That is the truth about true love. Love is willing to suffer. It is willing to take a blow and not strike back. I especially like the phrase in verse five, "it keeps no record of wrongs" -- isn't that great.
Application: Just think what the church would be like if Christians lived out the truth of love in this passage. Wow! It would be such a great testimony of Jesus -- something that isn't true much today.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a man who truly loves. May I be willing to suffer long and stay sweet. Work your character into my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails...
Observation: Paul is schooling the Corinthians about true spirituality. They have been thinking that they were really awesome because of all their spiritual gifts, but Paul put them in their place. Here he describes love. Every time I read verse 4, I remember the King James Version rendering, "Love suffers long and is kind." Love suffers. That is the truth about true love. Love is willing to suffer. It is willing to take a blow and not strike back. I especially like the phrase in verse five, "it keeps no record of wrongs" -- isn't that great.
Application: Just think what the church would be like if Christians lived out the truth of love in this passage. Wow! It would be such a great testimony of Jesus -- something that isn't true much today.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a man who truly loves. May I be willing to suffer long and stay sweet. Work your character into my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Title: Don't Assume / Topic: Humble Walk
Today’s Reading: Joshua 21; Joshua 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
Observation: These verses give a great lesson about presumption. Here's a breakdown of the basic points:
Prayer: Lord, keep me humble. I want to avoid the pride and arrogance that can so easily trip me up. May I always remember that I must take up my cross daily, or as Paul said, "die daily," if I am to stay in right relationship with you. May I put no confidence in "the arm of flesh," that is, my own strength and abilities, but may I always walk by faith in you. Bring strength and victory to my life as I walk in your strength and victory.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
Observation: These verses give a great lesson about presumption. Here's a breakdown of the basic points:
Verses 1-4 ...our forefathers were all:Application: Here's the message: Just because you are part of a group in which God is moving and have witnessed and participated in some amazing spiritual experiences, don't assume you are OK. Each of us has a personal responsibility to live principled lives with purity and honor. If we compromise and fall into sin, no spiritual experience can negate or neutralize the consequences of the sin and the judgment we deserve.
1) under the cloud
2) passed through the sea.
3) baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
4) ate the same spiritual food (manna)
5) and drank the same spiritual drink (water from the spiritual rock)
Verse 5: "Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert."
Verses 6-10 ...these are examples to keep us from:
1) setting our hearts on evil things
2) idolatry
3) sexual immorality
4) testing the Lord (i.e. doubtful and faithless questioning)
5) grumbling
Verses 11-12 "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us ...so be careful!"
Prayer: Lord, keep me humble. I want to avoid the pride and arrogance that can so easily trip me up. May I always remember that I must take up my cross daily, or as Paul said, "die daily," if I am to stay in right relationship with you. May I put no confidence in "the arm of flesh," that is, my own strength and abilities, but may I always walk by faith in you. Bring strength and victory to my life as I walk in your strength and victory.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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