The Devotional - 1028 - Foot Steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

The Devotional – 1028 – Foot steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

If tending a garden is anything like tending to one’s responsibilities in life under the sun then there shall be a lot of wood, hay and stubble in the warehouses behind the Bema Seat where Christ will judge all believers for the work they have accomplished in the church they have as a home church. Our churches are a picture of our spiritual prosperity. Today with just a quick overview I believe we can see that most churches represent prosperity, but it is the secular gold, silver and precious stone of temporal entertainment and not the Spiritual edification of growing in eternal Faith, Hope and Love of which the greatest of these gifts is Love. 1 Cor 13:13.

Comments and Challenges:

1 Corinthians 3:5-17

Someone planted the garden of Faith, Hope and Love (The Gospel) seed in our heart at one point and we responded. Then we found a home church and someone began watering that seed so that you and I could began our growth in the sanctification process of 1 Cor 3:7. So there is one who brings the message and one who builds on the message; but it is God who gives the increase of Spiritual Wisdom. Thus we could say as some might (I will just sit back and enjoy the ride) as they may see this as just hopping on the Bible Bus on its way to eternity and I will just sit here in this comfortable seat; but wait just moment.

The reward for those who plant and sow is discussed by Paul in verses 8 through 10, then in the last sentence of verse 10 there is a shifting of responsibility from church leadership to those who are sitting under the authority of that leadership. The foundation is laid which is Christ who is the Chief Cornerstone and the teaching of the apostles and messengers are a part of that foundation, Eph 2:19-22.

What is interesting is that for you and me who stand by faith on this foundation is that while we know this we seem to easily forget that this foundation is a “habitation” or “dwelling place” for us “the foundation belongs to God” we are to abide in Him in the Spirit, Eph 2:22. So my comment for us is this; “What should our dwelling place in the Spirit of God resemble at the Bema Seat where it will be judged by the LORD Jesus Himself?

When standing there someday at this Seat of Judgment each of us will not have to say much since the work we have accomplished will be in the care of our SOUL and very visible to the LORD. This Living Temple we will take back to God. If we have defiled our soul (destroyed it) or rendered wood, hay and stubble as work, that part of who we are will be burned up and of course you know the end result – that portion of our soul will suffer loss. This is what the Holy Scripture and each of us should take care of our soul.

So which temple are we; I know that I love God and I love putting the good things of God in my soul; but I also know that there were and are and will be days where I will seek to store up a bit more wood, hay and stubble. And the question that comes to mind is why? The only answer in found in the truth that the Holy Bible does not lie. We sometimes seek to be wise in this age, that is to use the wisdom of the world which is base and sinful rather than using the Wisdom of God. We will cover that on another day when it arrives.