The Devotional - 1020 - Footsteps in First Corinthians

The Devotional – 1020 – Footsteps in First Corinthians

I remember my first four years in the U.S. Navy, these were not good years from the military point of view, but for me “the wise guy”; these were the days. Away from home for the first time, calling my own shots and finding ways to make everyone like me. The PROBLEM, my ways were beyond likeable and like many of us who are past those formidable years of growing up, we carry this awful result into adult life, even into our new life in Christ, once we become saved by grace. The apostle Paul has much to say about this in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, thus it is encouraging to me to see that the excess baggage of the world can be purged from every saint… if we are willing.  

Comments and Challenges:

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

I am truly glad that the call of God to the apostle Paul was heard by him, even the way it was heard. His entry into the Kingdom of God was not easy. Branded a persecutor and enemy of Jesus Christ by the events that led to Stephen’s martyr; Acts 7:1 through Acts 8:1-3. Then on that road to Damascus as he threatened those believers with scorching words of murder and persecution, the LORD Jesus who loves the world, who died and rose again; in His Glorified Power, knocked Paul off his horse and struck him BLIND.

The man Saul is a witness to the power of God and at that very moment in time, he hears the LORD’s voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME.”? Now if this fails to get your attention there is little hope but Saul responses “Who are You LORD?” The text here in Acts 9:5 indicates that Saul already knew who he was confronted with and verse 9:6 shows that what he knew was now confirmed, so in fear and trembling Saul says; “LORD, what do You want me to do”?

God has a plan for everyone who RESPONSES to His call, God knew Saul carried in his biblical framework as a Pharisees the epistles to the Corinthians and all of the epistle to the other churches of the New Testament too. Even so; God has a plan for you and He knows you by your “worldly” name too; the name that goes beyond being likeable. Even in this condition of sin; God loves you and has a specific purpose for calling out of the world and into His WORD through faith in His Son the LORD Jesus Christ.

So… to the church of God in your neighborhood, to those of us who are “called saints” and sanctified in Christ; Grace to you and peace to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ. I say that because our churches today in the United States are in need of Spiritual repair. The apostle Paul as he begins this epistle will cover some sixty four sins that are coveted by these Corinthians. If the LORD wills we will look at these sins and note the condition of our churches and allow God to sanctify and restore His church along the way.