The Devotional - 1043 - Foot Steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

The Devotional – 1043 – Foot steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

The last breath of the volunteer has long ago dissipated in the vastness of the world around us. No one desires to work or provide a service without being compensated in some way. It seems we say thank you and instead of your welcome, the volunteers hand is out to receive something. Even a stipend is required for the expense of travel or clothing; someone should have to pay and someone should receive a payment. 

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Now it is easy to be misleading when writing and I know that unconsciously I am guilty of that in that I simply write and do not think about how the reader perceives what I say. Simply put, “if I understand it, you should too!” I know “bah humbug” to that. I am seeking to be better at this, but I think that one could write a lifetime and not be understood at all, thus I should be content with what is understood by you who read. Yes I am content and yes again… thank you for reading.

The apostle Paul and Barnabas are not seeking a pay raise in this section of 1 Corinthians, and if I were to say anything at all about this, it is that the apostle was quite capable of maintaining a good income for himself and Barnabas; remember he was a “Tentmaker” by trade and from scripture we could determine he was a very capable tentmaker who could easily have been in high demand; even like some good construction workers today.

The gospel includes the whole counsel of God, and Paul speaking to the elders at Ephesus says that he did not shun or avoid teaching the whole counsel of God to them (Acts 20:27) and then in Philippi he says that he knew how to live humbly (without) and that he knew how to live in prosperity (with plenty) Philippians 4:12. So what is the reason for the apostles’ critical words here in 1 Corinthians 9? Well more of his reasoning is developed in the remaining verses of the chapter, but here in today’s section we see at least this one thing.

In verse 16-18, we read a few convincing words that effects everyone who ministers in the Living Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, FOR NECESSITY is laid upon me, yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel”. For if I do this willingly I have a reward, but if against my will, I (yet or still) have been entrusted with a stewardship (responsibility). The reward that the apostle seeks is not material therefore it is always without charge.

Now this may set up strange in one’s mind with “How does that work” since it is necessary that our preachers and teachers of the Word of God are to be compensated? The question is as old as time itself and all of us shun the thought of what could be said when compensating those preachers and teachers who deserve a wallet with something in it. (Not all do)!

Those of us who sit under the ministry of a church leader ought to be looking for SPIRITUAL edification, such as found in Philippians 4:1-9 and those who provide this SPIRITUAL benefit should prosper from the SPIRITUAL results, Philippians 4:10-20, there is more to say on this so we will look at this on the next day. The LORD will prosper those accordingly.

The Devotional - A thanksgiving

The Devotional – A Thanksgiving

Psalm 117 – Praise the LORD, all you nations, extol him, all you peoples. For great is His LOVE toward us, and the FAITHFULNESS of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. (NIV)

Imagine if God were to have this question!

Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain? He has asked that question; Psalm 2:1 (NIV)

Why?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One. Psalm 2:2 (NIV)

Still and at this PRESENT time in History (His Story) of I LOVE YOU, rings loud and clear!

The heavens declare the glory of God;

The skies proclaim the work of His hands

Day after day they pour forth speech;

Night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where

Their voice is not heard, their words (go)

To the ends of the world. In the heavens

He has pitched a tent for the sun.

Which is like a bridegroom coming forth

From his pavilion, like a champion (who is)

Rejoicing to run his course. It (the sun) rises

From one end of the heavens and makes it’s

Circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from

It’s heat.

The LAW of the LORD is perfect, reviving

The soul. The STATUTES of the LORD are

TRUSTWORTHY, making wise the simple.

The PRECEPTS of the LORD are right, giving

JOY to the heart.

The COMMANDS of the LORD are radiant,

Giving LIGHT to the eyes. The FEAR of the

LORD, (reverence and trust) is enduring

Forever, (and) the ORDINANCES of the LORD

Are sure and all together, (these statements) are

RIGHTEOUS

The small poem above was written by King David, the words comprise all of God’s revealed TRUTH AND LOVE He has for Creation. You and I are His Creation - Psalm 19:1-9. O give thanks to the LORD – do not wait until tomorrow; since when does tomorrow come?  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The devotional - 1042 - Foot Steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

The Devotional – 1042 – Foot steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

It is not easy to cause a brother or sister in the LORD to stumble, it is worse than that! For many of us it is a selfish expression of our character. The setting of a trap to catch someone off-guard is what some may call a practical joke. There is however nothing practical about verbal or intentional stumbling blocks in the way people conduct life. If we care to monitor our actions we can be reminded of this and save relationships. In the world where Christ is absent from the multitude, the souls we work or relate with are precious in the eyes of the LORD. If you look you find many observers, folks watching the actions of others around them. If you are the practical joker or the razor tongued one, you no doubt stand out like a caution light at a busy intersection. You may like that position; but notice this, you are often standing alone like the caution light with more than an arm’s length distance between you and the next person who is waiting for an opportunity to get past you. 

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sometimes I have trouble with the comments and challenges that race through my mind; like “woe, don’t say it that way and expose to the crowd that you are subject of what is being challenged”. Say it anyway but tap dance through those tough and personal parts. Make it look like you are the observer and not one identified as the sluggard or evil steward. After writing all these years I can safely say that the pen in one’s hand is a very mighty tool, it is an extension of the tongue. The apostle James says that the tongue is a fire capable of igniting a total forest with one spark – James 3:5.

Being a stumbling block to others is like the looming storm threat here on the east coast that is blocking the morning sun, stumbling blocks overtake and disrupt our personal resolve that God has for us – Psalm 40:5 and Psalm 139:17-18. There are all sorts of idolatry, the most common we think of are the statues in the yard or in the home. Churches are good with placing idolatrous statues in strategic places too. For the saint of God we see and avoid the obvious, but there are other idolatries that are physically unseen; these do the major damage. 

Food for example is seen and eaten, yet someone may be offended by us in what we eat and stumble; to the one who stumbles in this there is recovery. Conversation can be heard, but the understanding of what enters the heart of someone is not heard and can be a stumbling offense and in this it is hard to recover. The actions of people is observable and can be a stumbling block for some, recovery from someone’s actions is hard, but not impossible.

Now the apostle’s warning to the Corinthians has to do with food offered to idols during any pagan worship service in the city of Corinth. The city was full of the religious and immoral conduct and these men and woman of the church were saved out of these sinful conditions – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. The question then, are we any different than they, no, NO! We are not, even if saved at an early age of life we still own a piece of – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 if you look intently at these verses you will see a mirror image of one or several sins anchored within yourself looking back. 

Now do not pretend to be naïve about this since it is these vary things that present opportunity in the lives of others to cause stumbling. The sixty-four plus sins of the Corinthian church run like a rabid animal through the churches of Jesus Christ… it this were not true there would be no need for the many epistles of Paul to encourage the church to remain holy and set apart for the gospel of grace. I think I will close up writing at this point and pick it up again after “Thanksgiving Day” tomorrow I wish have something to say about the giving of Thanks.