Category: Good Life Journal

Journal 1 Cor 15 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you…

For I delivered to you as of first importance (what I also received):

• that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
• that he was buried;
• that he was raised on third day (in accordance with the Scriptures), and;
• that he appeared to:

o   Cephas (Peter);

o   The Twelve;

o   To 500 brothers;

o   James, and then;

o   To all the apostles;

o   Then to me as one untimely born.

By the Grace of God I am what I am…

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  (excerpted heavily and paraphrased from 1 Cor 15:1-11 and v58

Observation: Reminding the Corinth church of the Gospel: why?  Because it is in the facts and execution of the Gospel in which I stand, and endeavor to stand firm.

Analysis:  I really try to keep away from big, sweeping, 3^rd party declarations.  Using the royal “we” somehow doesn’t accurately tell me about what is going on in my heart—it lessens my confession—and, candidly, I use this format as a diary of sorts to read later tracking my progress in Christ.

I need to be reminded of the Gospel.  Every day.  All the time.  Not for others as much, but to make sure that I have “walking worthy of the Gospel” resounding in the empty space between my ears.

After all the stuff Paul had to review with the Corinthians, some of them could be shamed and acting that way.  Others could be rebellious and acting that way.  Others could be saying, “Now what do I do?”

Perhaps I could read it this way: Paul is finished up (sort of) and is now kicking their backsides in gear, telling them to buck up and get back into the saddle by this: “Now I would remind you of the Gospel….”

Every so often I need to draw myself up and REMEMBER.  Eastern religion and others call it centering.  I might call it “focusing; clearing the mental brush away; quiet the mechanism.”

Whatever I call it, however I do it, it is Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing: simplifying and recall the Gospel point by point thru building line upon line, precept upon precept so that I am not confused by a Gospel that is not growing in majesty in me.

Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the Gospel.  Beyond words grateful.  Help me grow in my communication for the face in the mirror and my brothers and sisters, and for the world around me.  Amen.

 

Scripture

 

Vs 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Vs 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

 

Vs 12 … since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

Vs 19 … in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Vs 20 … do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

 

Vs 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

Vs 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, ²⁵ the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

 

Observation

 

Paul is instructing a church in how to gather in a way that honors God.

This will lead to mature thinking among believers, new faith among nonbelievers, and humble worship by both.

 

Unfortunately, people in this church were trying to use their God given spiritual gifts to exalt themselves in a church service.

“Tongues”, a worship language between the person and God, would just build up the individual.

“Prophesy”, speaking truth of God directly and understandably, would build the whole body.

 

Both are important, and Paul shows a concern for both the individual and the body.

But Paul also expresses primary concern with honoring God, along with the “outsider”.

So, Paul shows how this all works together:

The individual believer (“mature thinking”)

The whole church (“built up”)

The outsider (“convicted”, “falling on his face”)

God (“worshipped”, “really among you”)

 

Application

 

Do I like something “showy”, “new”, … a “personal experience”?

This can like the “speaking a tongue” Paul talks about. The Corinthians wanted to “show off” their personal gift.

The gift God gave them, they were using to make themselves look “special” or attract attention to themselves.

 

The problem is that attention only made that person feel good.

God was actually undermined, and strangers from the faith were actually distracted from who God actually is.

 

During a gathering a believers, Paul would rather speak 5 intelligent, instructional words than “show off” his spiritual gifts.

What about me?

Do I recognize God as the giver of whatever gift I have?

Do I care about the proper use of those gifts?

Do I care about the other individuals who may encounter me using those gifts?

Do I care about building up the church or puffing up myself?

 

Do I want God to be worshipped … or me?

The proper use of any God given gift is paradoxical … and it’s the way the John the Baptist said …

“I must decrease, He must increase.”

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, that you are a giver of gifts

Help me see you

Help me Holy Spirit to use them maturely

Help others to see you in their use

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture:

 

[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

 

Observation:

 

Spiritual Gifts without love..

While Spiritual gifts are important and we need to use our gifts according to God’s will, if we don’t use our gifts with the love of Jesus Christ, what we do is meaningless and we are nothing.

 

Spiritual Gifts are partial..

Since we are not God, we are not omniscient and our gifts of knowledge, prophecy, and the others, are only partial. Mirrors were not so great when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Seeing in a mirror was really seeing a reflection in a polished piece of metal – not so clear. Just, as Paul says, our Spiritual gifts are only partial until we see God face to face.

 

Spiritual Gifts will no longer be needed..

Just as life on this earth is fleeting, so is the need of Spiritual gifts.  There will come a time when the gifts will pass away and we no longer need them. This isn’t something that happens as we mature in our Christian walk, it happens when we meet God face to face to live with him for eternity. Gifts of the Spirit are no longer needed or useful.

 

We will then have full knowledge of God. Not that we will know all, as God is omniscient, but we will know God as fully and deeply as he knows us.

 

Application:

 

We are blessed with the Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts that we are called to apply with love, to and for others. It matters far less what our gifts may be than how we use them. If we use our gifts in any way other than through the love of Christ then it means nothing. You aren’t just racking up judgement points.

 

Also know that, as refined as we may think we are in a Spiritual gifting sense, we are only partially complete. We are not fully refined. Until we meet the Lord face to face, the refinement or completeness of our Spiritual gifting is like looking into a blurry mirror with room for plenty of improvement.

 

While we will never really know the Lord fully until we are face to face, we can try to know him more and more. What are my Spiritual gifts? How does God want me to apply them? What is his will for me? How do I love like he loves? This is the journey..

 

Prayer:

 

Lord thank you for filling me with your Spirit. Thank you for the Spiritual gifts you have given to me through grace. Lord I don’t deserve it. Until you call me home and I meet you fact to face, show me your way and help me apply my gifts with humility, always showing your love. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Scripture: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” 1 Cor 12:1

Observation: This could be the most controversial subject (outside of God’s Sovereignty in Election and Man’s Sovereignty in free will) that I have encountered in my last 50 years.

Analysis: What is it about Spiritual Gifts that causes a smorgasbord attitude across the whole of modern Christendom?

First word that comes to mind is: Excesses.

It looks like Paul recognized the excess exercised by the Corinthians.  They were like kids with a new toy: everything around their life revolved around that new toy.  I recognize that this experience isn’t just about children.  I take on a new hobby and, boom, it is everywhere in my life.  I want to golf, and for months my clubs are in the trunk of my car.  I want to fish, and I have a rod and tackle box close at hand—until I tire of it.

Paul sees this and brings up mature perspective: Gifts are not toys or hobbies.  Gifts are tools and has purpose in the Body of Christ.

Unfortunately, the subject of Gifts has fallen into controversy—probably due to excessive, demonstrative practices (See what I can do?) or fear of demonstrative practices (That is so weird.  I cannot believe that is decent and in order).

In the first example, raucous, loud, etc. meetings ae celebrated as worship.  In the second, “where is the quiet, respectful and reflective environment needed to piously worship?”

I remind myself that the Gifts are tools for the health of the local church.  While they need to be employed, I candidly don’t know how just yet.  How can Gifts get maturely mainstreamed into local Church life?  Note: emphasis on the maturely and then mainstreamed.

Paul doesn’t get much into further detail other than what he has written.  He does encourage wanting Gifts: “But earnestly desire the higher gifts…” (1 Cor 12:31), and “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gives, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Cor 14:1) And without missing a beat, he adds, “But all things should be done DECENTLY and in ORDER.” (1 Cor 14:40)

Spiritual Giftings are functional.  According to the Word of God, they are a part of a healthy local Church.  Not everyone sees it that way, but Scripture is clear.

Now, how to do it?

Prayer: Father, Your Gifts to the Church…well, to a lot of folks, they are weird.  But, because they are Yours, testified to by Your Word, and for the Church, and to be earnestly pursued and desired, how then are they resisted or practiced so haphazardly?  Help me not to let the deposit in me atrophy through non-use.  AMEN.

 

Scripture: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various kinds of tongues.

Are you all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  Do all possess gifts of healing?  Do all speak with tongues?  Do all interpret?  But (however), earnestly desire the higher gifts, and I will show you a still more excellent way…

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give away all that I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude…” 1 Cor 12:27 through 13:1-4.

Observation: I have noticed that 1 Cor 13 has been plucked out and treated like a separate doctrine or something out of context; a nice interlude but not related to the sex and gift abuses in the previous chapters.

Analysis: I had to get a little into Chapter 12 just to get a run up into 13 and try not to take the chapter out of context.

That is what I have noticed over the years: The Love Chapter (titled in my Bible that way) is treated like something separate.  Tickles fancies, makes folks go “aww, that’s sweet.”

It doesn’t look like the way Paul meant it to be.

It appears that Paul has been addressing sin things (sexual immorality), conduct things (don’t tempt others to sin); pride things (don’t think you are something when you are not); spiritual gifts (they are not to make someone “special” and separate, but to serve the Body), and other stuff.

The better way, the more excellent way is love.  Can’t agree more (pretty dumb if I did disagree with the inspired Word of God).  Focusing on the conduct side of things (sin is still sin and needs to be dealt with appropriately), a careful reading of the Scriptures indicates that Love is not a replacement but is the motivation, the enhancement, the “oomph” in what is done.

Let’s say I am a preacher.  If I present a solid, biblical, edifying message every week, all good right?  If I am doing it to feed my ego and not the folks I am speaking to, not so good.  Missing: Love.

This is the overlay needed to whatever is done in the Name.  Love doesn’t replace functionalities; it drives the functionalities.  Makes a difference to a guy like me who has a significant charismatic component in my life and theology.

Chapter 13 reminds me what the characteristics of Love are.  I would not want to diminish that.  However, I want to have it pounded into me that no matter what I do, if love is not driving what I am doing, I need to go to the Cross for some attitude adjustment.

Love governs my heart; my mind is governed by the Word of God.  I cannot mix up the two.

Prayer: Woo boy.  Lord God, I am driven to my knees once again.  Help me keep your Word and your Love fully intertwined in execution, and fully separate in consideration.  They are not equal but cannot exist without each other.  They come together in You and I want to be like you.  AMEN

Scripture 

1 Kings 3:6,9 – And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you.  And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given to him a son to sit on his throne this day.  Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

Observation

God appears to Solomon in a dream and tells Solomon to ask what God can give to him.  This is an amazing part of Old Testament scripture.  Solomon choose for God to give him wisdom so he could discern between good and evil to govern the people of Israel well.  Solomon ask for wisdom was motivated by the steadfast love God had shown to David and now to him as king.

 

Application

Solomon had the opportunity to ask God for anything he could have wanted.  He didn’t choose riches, things of material value or even health. If God appeared to me, what would I choose? Solomon chose for God to give him wisdom because he understood the steadfast love of the Lord was by the grace of God.  Some 3000 years later, by the grace of God, we have the greatest gift of love God has ever given in Jesus.  God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to pay for our sins so we can have an everlasting relationship with Him. Once we realize our greatest need has been met by the grace of God through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, wisdom from God is right up there on our list of necessities.  My own wisdom is limited and I need the wisdom of God that comes from his word and Spirit to give me the discernment to make decisions to follow His path not mine.

Prayer

Father,

Thank you for your grace and steadfast love in sending Jesus so we can know you and make you known.  Let me fear you, seek wisdom in your word, prayer to follow and bring you glory.

Scripture: “Now these things (what happened to the people of Israel) took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

Do not be idolaters as some them were; as it is written, “the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and 23,000(!!) fell in a single day.

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents; nor grumble as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of ages has come.

Therefore, let anyone who think that he stands take heed (of the above) lest he falls.  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 endure it.”       1 Cor 10:6-13

Observation: What is the function of testing?  What is the function of temptation?  The answer is surprisingly reasonable if I think about it with a Gospel mindset.

Analysis: The folks in Moses’ time were surprisingly…. well, the word stupid comes to mind.  Not willing to be overly critical, though, let me offer that they were “limited in their reasoning and self-discipline.”

The reference above recounts that the Israelites maybe got bored about something, so they sat down and started flipping through the magazine collection taken from Egypt.  Getting hungry, some decided to have a block party of potluck.  Others thought is was a BYOB potluck, so they brought libations.  One thing led to another, lubricated by alcohol, and started playing with each other, maybe coed mud wrestling.  This led to that, and that led to something else, and 23,000 died in a single day.

Others grumbled and complained.  Their reward?  A strong bite of the local rattlesnake or whatever the Destroyer was.

Point is, Israel is an example for us…in a lot of way what NOT to do.  But not just not doing, but not having ungodly attitude along with the “not doing.”

Testing is not the function of God trying to see where I am or am not measuring up?  God doesn’t need to “test” me for that.  I intrinsically and categorically fail to meet his holiness standard and always deserve his justified Wrath.  Temptation is in the same category.

No, testing is given to show ME where I don’t measure up.  His test, so I can grade my own paper.

If I think that I am good, I am standing strong, then God is faithful…for what?  To show me where I am weak.

I am DEPENDENT on God always.  First time I think I can be strong independently from His Grace, trying to walk on water cures that thinking fast.

Prayer:  Father, keep my head on straight.  Independence is among the descriptions of the most heinous sins.  I declare and humbly submit my dependent self to you, my Creator and Savior.  AMEN.

Scripture: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

• To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
• To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
• To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
• To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.  I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?  So, run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.  They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an IMPERISHABLE.  So, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air, but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”  1 Cor 9:19-27

Observation: “I do it for the sake of the Gospel.”  Focus on this point.

Analysis: Does the Bible instruct me to be a chameleon?  Be one guy here, another guy there?

I think the answer is “not really” although, I acknowledge I don’t know all the time what to do.

I recognize two things from this Chapter:

1. Paul talks about a pretty mature mindset in being “this” or “that” in the function of presenting the Gospel, and;
2. It all starts somewhere, specifically in self-discipline.

I am very much an advocate of the “line upon line, precept upon precept” approach to maturity.  Didn’t used to be, I jumped in wherever my fancy said to.  However, I found that to be effective I needed to be 2 things:

1. Be open to whatever the Spirit directs and do the best I could, and;
2. Develop and/or find a process to steadily grow in Christ.

So, do I jump into weird and questionable situations?  No, sure don’t.  But, there is an example that I want to emulate: Paul at Mars Hill (Acts 17:22): “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious…what therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you…”

I am no where close to that kind of ability outside of direct intervention of the Holy Spirit.

That’s why I continue to read and study.

Prayer: “Line upon line, precept upon precept”: Lord God, you give the process plainly.  I wonder why I don’t pay attention, preferring to flit here and there, according to the whims of my mind.  You use even the undisciplined part of me to conform me to the image of the Son.  What could you do with me if I would just put my nose to the grindstone a little more often?  AMEN

Scripture: “Now, concerning food offered to idols:

We know that all of us possess “knowledge.”  This “knowledge” puff up, but love builds up…Therefore…we know that an idol has no real existence and that there is no God but one….yet for us there is one God (the Father), from who are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Food (or stuff) will not commend us to God…. take care that (practicing) this right of your does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”  (heavily excerpted from 1 Cor 8:1-9)

Observation: Through the last number of chapters, Paul seems to be laying down principles of the Christian walk for the Crazy Corinthians.  Chapter 8 looks like a case study in conduct restraint for so-called “mature” Christians.

Analysis: I shall know the Truth and the Truth will set me free!!

This verse from John 8:32 springs to mind…and is so far off what Paul is trying to say it isn’t funny.

I often encounter temptations to not modify my behavior around folks.  It isn’t that I am not supposed to be “me” (who would recognize me if I laid off corny jokes and bad puns), it is that exercising my “freedom” in Christ at the detriment of my brother that causes puzzle.

And that Is what I think Paul is trying to say.  It is the principle of “Yes, I am my brother’s keeper.”

What the scripture here is saying about idols is certainly to be acknowledged: Idols are things, they are not the Living God.

Having a rib-fest is great.  Gather around one and all.  Oh, and I got a great deal on the ribs from the Idol Shack.  While I am ok with it, maaayyybe not everyone would be ok.  Meat from the Idol sacrifice table not ringing the bell?  Then substitute beer or wine and maybe the picture becomes clearer.

I think the point of Chapter 8 is that I am responsible on how my actions affect others.  I noticed that there are no hard and fast rules (which leads to man-fear religion) but a call to action to CONSIDER how my actions may cause someone to stumble.

No rules but one: Draw near to God.  Listen to His whisper.  Act according to what I hear.  Be faithful, not fearful of man.

Prayer:  Lord, so many times I want to draw a rule or a nifty worded instruction; something I can put on a plaque and wrap my head around it over and over again.  You provide that.

Then there are the other times where the “instruction” isn’t so straightforward: Do it this way today, do it that way tomorrow.  I am remembering the circumcision issue with Timothy in Acts.

The point is to LISTEN to You.  Read the Word, your whisper will not lead me away from your Word.  But it takes a lot of reading to gain wisdom and insight.  Help me, O Lord. AMEN.

1 Cor 7

 

Scripture

 

7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

 

 

14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

 

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.

 

 

35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

 

Observation

 

Paul has a deep concern for the people of this church.

He wants them to live right and to be free of unnecessary burdens they may put on themselves or feel from other church members.

Paul ultimately wants everyone, regardless of relationship status or station in life, to recognize the primacy of God and the true gospel in their life and lifestyle.

 

Application

 

What stands out to me first is even with the authority of Paul, he is very humble in his delivering.

He recognizes and tells them that they each have their own gifting from God.

 

I need to remember this.

 

Also, in delivering these truths and ways of God to the people, he is letting them know these are not to be burdens … burdens in the sense that they create worry and relationship strife.

Paul doesn’t want to make it harder for people to live according to God, but to be for everyone’s benefit…. “to promote good order”.

 

Again, I need to remember not to treat the truth and “good order” of God as a burden to people.

 

What also stands out to me is how utterly reasonable Paul’s recommendations are.

Want to be single? Stay single.

Want to get married? Get married.

Your spouse wants to stay with you? Then you stay with them.

Your non-Christian spouse wants to leave you? Let them leave.

Your spouse dies and you want to remarry? That’s ok.

We are called to a gospel of peace.

 

Again, these are not burdens, they are strikingly good and beneficial … and oh by the way … the ways of God.

 

Ultimately though, Paul reminds us though, the marriage should remind us of a picture of the gospel.

 

I am not my own. We are made Holy by another.

In that way it is a dying to self.

And nothing, nothing, not even our spouse should divide us from a secure devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Prayer

 

Thank you for the gift of marriage.

Help me see You clearly in it.

Help me lean on You to lead me in my marriage.

Help me keep devoted to You.

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture:

[8] But you yourselves wrong and defraud – even your own brothers!
[9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [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.

Observation:

Paul is saying to Christinas that, not only should you not wrong and defraud unbelievers, but it is shocking you do that to your own brothers in Christ. He is like.. Really, you are doing this? You are rejecting the will of God by continually doing such things without repentance, which then questions your true salvation and whether you will spend eternity with God.

Further Paul reminds them that even those who may be following God’s will, came from the same filth he was describing. From the same sinful idolaters, adulterers, drunkards, and swindlers.  But in spite of their sin, God chose them individually. They have been washed clean of their sins and set apart from others.

Application:

Am I in that group who wrong and degrade others, including my own Christian brothers by cheating them, by lying to them, or by wronging them in some other way? I pray not, and with the strength living in me, I will not be.

God’s power is brought to us in our weakness, not in our strength. He chose us in our sin and knows our hearts. When I handed my life over to the Lord, I was cleansed and set apart. I have the strength of the Holy Spirit living in me. That is a wonderful feeling. Not in my own strength, but in God’s strength, I can fight off my sinful nature. And in his strength I can fend off the enemy when I’m tempted with sins of commission as well as sins of omission.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for choosing me. I was broken and sinful and didn’t deserve your grace and mercy. Sanctify me. Lead me with your Spirit to follow your will. Help me to glorify your holy name in all I do. In Jesus mighty name I pray, amen.

Scripture: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans—for a man has his has his father’s wife.

And you are arrogant!”  1 Cor 5:1-2a

Observation:  Stiff rebuke.  And this is the local church, not referencing outside the church.  I wonder why they were arrogant…

Analysis: My personal mission statement can reveal a lot about my convictions.

What do I cherish?  What am I concerned about?  What hurt in my past do I want to minister to others about so that they can avoid what I went through?  What need in X’s life needs “fixing?”

Why are these questions pertinent to me?  I think they can reveal some personal importance over what the Bible says are important.  Stretching the point a tad, it can reveal idolatry.

Arrogance can be established through making excuses for bad conduct, bad fruit.  I forget that the “goal of my instruction” shouldn’t be good behavior or good morals but change in conduct (fruit) through Jesus Christ.

The difficulty I had here is not linking this chapter to the previous 4, especially chapter 3.  Thinking about it I started to fall into the trap of taking chapter 5 out of context from everything previously written.  It isn’t about this sexual situation (although it is) but applying “arrogance” to a variety of subjects.

What should I do, then?  I have religious “hobby horses” that I ride often, if not constantly.  I am riding one now…

I am reminded that: 1) Rome wasn’t built in a day…but that it was built; 2) there is a biblically mandated foundation to learn and apply before anything can (or should) be built upon it.

When I overlook the sin of others (like what Paul is referencing), perhaps I am arrogantly trying to overlook my own sin in the guise of “understanding and forgiveness” but without the light of acknowledging, confessing, asking for forgiveness, and repenting.  All of these I might want to require of others but I don’t require them of myself first.

If I don’t go through the confession/repentance sequence often (which I have many instances available every stinking day), why should I require it from others?  Answer: I shouldn’t… and I should.

If I am cultivating a “holier than thou” attitude, it is pure arrogance that I am exhibiting.  I forget that I am a sinner deserving nothing but the complete and full wrath of God.  I forget that I am a person saved from that wrath only by the Atoning work of the Son.

Perhaps there is this kind of immoral conduct within the local church.  It needs to be addressed.  It should not be addressed by me until I have MY attitude well under the lordship of Jesus.

Prayer:  Love tackling these Lord (not!).  So many things that need squaring off in my life.  Yet, as you open doors of information and/or prophetic discernment, I trust You will provide the Grace necessary to redemptivly handle any sort of situation—shucks, I want my life changed first, make my life a prayer to you…AMEN

Scripture

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Observation-

Paul is telling the church at Corinth how believers should be regarded.  We are to be servants of Christ and live from that perspective.  We are not be concerned of the world and how it will judge.  A steward by definition is someone who manages servants and keeps accounts.  A steward to the Gospel is what we are called to be.  As with a household steward, a steward to God has to have trust in Him and be rooted in faith.

Application –

Jesus tells us that he came to serve not to be served.  As followers of Christ, we should look to the ultimate example of service that Jesus displayed for us.  Paul succinctly tells us we are to be Christ centered in our actions, not concerned with the world, and thereby others will think about us thusly.  If we were to write a job description for ourselves as believers it should read:  servant of Christ and faithful steward of God.  I must have faith and trust in the love of Christ.  In response to His love, I should serve in love with a servant’s heart.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your overwhelming love for us.  Let the power of the Holy Spirit work in me to follow   Jesus and be a faithful servant to glorify the King.

Scripture: “For when one says, “I follow Paul”, and another. “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

What then is Apollos?  What is Paul? (they are) Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God (who) gives the growth…

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it.  Let each one take care how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other that that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones…(or) wood, hay, or straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done…” excerpts from 1 Cor 3:4-13

Observation: How effective is my “ministry”, my witness, my leadership within the home, my function within the local Church?  The Word of God lays it out bluntly…

Analysis: I think God does this stuff on purpose.

Of course, He does!!  What a silly statement.  What I am thinking about is just about the time I am getting comfortable in Him, Jesus tosses a curve ball and says “Try to hit this…”  The analogy may get lost in the translation; I am referencing growth in Him, or in a single word, maturity.

Every person is a theologian.  Some are good, some are bad.  Some are growing, some are stagnant.

It is from this that all base their work.

I wonder often how strong is my work?  How lasting?  What legacy am I leaving in Christ?  Will it be said, like it was said of David (Acts 13:36) that I “served the purpose of God in (my) generation?”  Am I building my work on a firm foundation and will it stand, or will it burn down even though I am being saved?

This isn’t just pastor stuff; I get released from the implications because I am not a pastor.  This is the call of God to EVERY believer.

I might like to hear and read John Piper.  Ok, I would recommend Piper to anybody.  I would also recommend about a dozen other guys (some of them dead).  I would not recommend other guys by virtue of not being on my “recommended” list—it would be wrong of me to blacklist because of my opinion alone.

But I don’t “follow” Piper.  He plants or waters.  Other guys do as well.  The harvest, the growth is God’s alone.

My assignment, if I want to call it that, is to seek God daily so that I am EFFECTIVELY equipped for the work of ministry.  Not just willing alone.  Not just able alone.  But to be effective.

Starts with the mirror, then the spouse, then the family, then the small group (join one! It is the Grace given practice field) then the community.

Wives: Want a godly husband?  Along with prayer, humbly ask for clarification about the Scriptures; any scripture, any doctrine.  Put him on the spot (even if you already know the answer).

Husbands: You are warned to grow.

Prayer: Father, how wonderful you are.  I do not want my ministry to my wife to stagnate but to increase.  How do I contribute to your work?  By your Word.  Remembering and putting into practice Heb 3, 1 Thes 5, Ro 12, 1 Cor 14, Eph 5, 2 Cor 7, 1 Tim 3, and others.  It is at the foot of the Cross I find life, O God. It is embracing your Word I find life, O God.  AMEN

Scripture: “And I, when I came to you brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

For I DECIDED to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:1-2

Observation:  A firm word is uttered by Paul.  “I DECIDED.”  He made a choice to limit his words.  Do I?

Analysis: Answer: sometimes.

It depends on the situation and my own attitude for the day.  Sometimes (a lot of times) I run off at the mouth, demonstrating that I know a lot of stuff.  Give me a subject and I will try to bend an ear off for an hour or so.  Ask my wife, we go to the emergency room often to get her ear reattached.

Earlier in my Walk, I looked at everything that was current in Christianity and tried to absorb the knowledge, if not the practice.  It made me full of eclectic knowledge…and was useless for just about everything church related.

At some point I concluded that this haphazard, follow the current wind approach wasn’t working—no, not quite—it DOESN’T work.  All it did was made me a windbag, full of hot air.

Paul gives me a clue, a direction: “I decided to know nothing, but Christ crucified.”  He didn’t describe any of the “eye-candy” of the time like: “I decided to know nothing, but the love of Christ”, or, “I decided to know nothing but the Spirit of Christ”, or prosperity, charisma, or church polity, etc. etc.

What did I find?  That in Christ crucified, exemplified in the Cross, all of these “subjects” fit in a certain way.  Like an artificial Christmas tree where I put the branches in the proper hole on the trunk, everything has a place, a proper place, and the tree (the Cross) is beautiful.  I use the metaphor of the Jewel to likewise represent the Gospel.

The purpose of today’s post for me is to remember the crux of the Faith: The Cross; the crucified Son; the Atonement for my sin and the sin of the world.

I may offend some folks along the way…Ok, the Word says that message of the Cross is foolishness and an offense to some…can’t be helped, I suppose.  It is an intrinsic by-product.

I decide daily to lay down my life, including my thoughts, to the foot of the Cross, in order to take my thoughts captive and to renew my mind.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, big subject, small and ineffective words.  What I wrote above is peanuts to the power of the Cross.  Please make this attitude grow and become effective for you.  AMEN.