QT 31 Dec 18, 2 Cor 7:2, See life differently

2 Corinthians 7:2 (ESV) — Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

NOTE: We are so quick to find fault that we never stop to think what really happened. We see people as enemies instead of broken children. We see actions as specifically attacking us when we might have just got caught up in some emotional crossfire. Yes, we deal with sinful creatures all around us, but we are also sinful creatures. We need to show grace to those who hurt us. We need to pray. We need to be kind and gentle. Harsh replies do no one any good. Rather than assuming the worst of those we encounter, we should assume the best. "BUT," we reply, "others do not do that to us!" So what? God is our judge, not others. We seek to please him by obeying him and by loving others as ourselves. We need to stop focusing on the fault of others, and start focusing on our own response.

PRAYER: Father, forgive us for your sin. Reveal to us when we harm others by our words or innuendo. Help us to act as Jesus showed us.

QT 30 Dec 18, Gen 6:6-8, Blinded by Satan

Genesis 6:6–8 (ESV) — 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

NOTE: God uses language to communicate to man and to describe himself to man. But sometimes the language is incomplete. This is an example. It appears that God changes his mind. But the bible says that God does not change his mind, he is immutable. Just as we saw before in the garden when God asks man, "where are you?" We know that God is spirit and he is everywhere. God is not missing in any knowledge and does not asks questions to gain information. Therefore the questions are for our benefit and not for God's benefit. This is another example. God is not unaware or caught off guard by man's sins. The language conveys our loss and is contrasted with Noah's gain. Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of God. Like Abraham, Noah found favor because he believed God. The story that follows makes that abundantly clear, Noah built an ark on dry ground because God told him too. In contrast, man disobeyed God's commands and their consciences by sinning against one another. One is saved by faith. The other group is judged by their evil. Every single one was considered evil. Even Noah sinned, but the one difference is that he truly believed God. He didn't play religion, or do works, or follow rules, or believe myths -- he truly believed in the one God. I think so many in our world will be amazed in the day of the Lord, that their religion did not save them. Their church attendance did not save them. Their life of good works did not save them. Because they missed out on the only thing that could save them, true belief in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Father, we are blinded by the god of this world. Not only can we not see correctly, we can't think correctly. Our minds are confused by feelings. Open our eyes, our true eyes, our spiritual eyes to see what we cannot see well.

QT 27 Dec 18, 2 Cor 5:20-21, The Gospel is there, you are forgiven, you need to believe

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

NOTE: This is our message. Jesus has taken all of our sins and nailed them to the cross. There is nothing you have done that has not been forgiven at the cross. Our job is to reconcile sinners to their savior. He wants you to become part of the family, to receive forgiveness, and a new life. There is nothing you have to do but believe. And there is no sin left but the sin of unbelief. That sin alone will send you to hell for eternity. To not believe in the only son of God is a sin because it is attested beyond any reasonable measure. To not believe is to choose hell over life, and for that choice, you will receive just what you believe. Oh world, open your eyes to our savior.

PRAYER: Lord, my world is becoming darker by the hours. The eyes of so many are blinded by sin and the deceits of Satan. They have willfully chosen not to believe. They are willfully choosing to sin against you. Have mercy. Show them your truth. Get their attention before it is too late.

QT 21 Dec 18, 2 Cor 5:1-5, Real life is yet to be experienced

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 (ESV) — 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

NOTE: We say these things, but we don't believe them. We live for this life and don't believe that heaven is better. I've seen and heard people say, "but I want to see my children grow up, or get married, or have kids …" We don't believe heaven is better. We don't groan for our new bodies. We don't believe God. I suppose we might blame God that he made the temporal life so wonderful (except for our addition of sin during the rebellion), that we don't want to believe. But God said, no one has given up parents, children, homes,…  for my sake will not receive a hundred times more in this life and the life to come. What does that mean? We do not know completely. But can believe the character of God that we will not miss out on anything when we go to be with our savior.

PRAYER: Father, help our unbelief. We want to trust but the world tugs at our heart. We struggle in a body that is diseased with sin. We are set free from our old nature, but the vestiges of that old nature tug at us making us do the things we don't want to do. Forgive us for our sin. Have mercy on us. Give us your strength and grace. Bring good out of the garbage we create and call life.

QT 18 Dec 18, 2 Cor 4:1-2, True faith is based on God's word not on what we want God to be

2 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

NOTE: A true Christian -- one who has experienced the life transforming impact of the Holy Spirit entering the heart upon belief -- understands these verses. Christianity is so different from religion. There are many charlatans who pranced about sharing a partial Christian message, claiming to be Christians, and claiming to do the work of God. But they are false prophets, of which there are many who take the name of Christ but do not really believe what Christ has said. They have picked and chosen what they want to believe from the bible and are left with an idol of their own making because they cannot accept the full teaching of the whole bible. They are fools, but not for Jesus' sake, but rather for their own rebellion. From the beginning, Satan has encouraged men to reject God by choosing to be their own gods. They may even consider themselves "believers" but they are not.

PRAYER: Lord, open the eyes of these pew-sitters to see that they believe in themselves and not the God of the bible. Break through their stubborn darkened hearts. As Paul continues, 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) — In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

QT 17 Dec 18, 2 Cor 3:7-8, We need new hearts not efforts

2 Corinthians 3:7–8 (ESV) — 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

NOTE: The ten commandments is pictured as the ministry of death. Why do we give it such attention? The ministry of the Spirit is so much greater. Yes, the ten commandments are good rules to live life, but there is something far greater for living life, the Holy Spirit. Because we need changed hearts, not just changed behavior. In fact if we have really been changed in heart, our lives will reflect the indwelling spirit, and so our behavior will change too.

PRAYER: Father, I really felt your Holy Spirit at work on Sunday. Please continue that work in our body. Change us, mold us, renew us in the likeness of Jesus.

QT 13 Dec 18, 2 Cor 3:3, It's not the ten commandments, it's a changed heart that the world needs to see

2 Corinthians 3:3 (ESV) — And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

NOTE: The tablets of stone are a reference to the ten commandments. Paul dismisses the importance of them here, rather he emphasizes the changed human heart. What God has done in your heart is of far more importance than the ten commandments and can have so much more impact than the ten commandments on changing the world around you.  Our goal is not to follow the ten commandments, our goal is to follow a changed heart, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that expresses love and seeks an ever deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what we also want to see happen in the people to whom we minister -- changed lives caused by a change in heart. That is the letter we all want to write.

PRAYER: Father forgive me for my attention at times to rules. My focus needs to be on Jesus, who is supreme in all things. My life needs to witness a love for you and for my neighbor. That type of witness is what the world needs to see.

QT 11 Dec 18, 2 Cor 2:10-11, A design of Satan is that you never forgive certain people

2 Corinthians 2:10–11 (ESV) — 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

NOTE: What is one of Satan's designs that is referred to in this passage? Design means a mental perception or an evil purpose. I think the particular design is to get believers in the church to not forgive. To keep them so angry that they do not even want to consider forgiveness as an option. The idea is that the sin is so great, it can never be forgiven. But that thought is antithetical to the very death of Jesus who forgave us of every sin we have ever or will ever commit. He paid the full price. There is no sin too great that Jesus' death could not pay. So when we refuse to forgive another, we devalue what Jesus did for us. We are told to forgive as he forgave us. No sin is too great or too hurtful. We need to forgive and we need to ask God to remove our anger and we need to ask God to help us love the person who hurt us so badly.

PRAYER: Father, this is very hard. I can't think of anyone I hate or have not forgiven, but there are certainly people I do not like and I do not enjoy being around. Forgive me Lord for such a terrible attitude toward others. I can think of one person in particular who I can never say anything nice. Give me a love for that person and a tender heart. Help me to show love to the person. Help me to not talk about that person behind their back.

QT 10 Dec 18, 2 Cor 2:1-4, Conflict is a difficult spiritual area

2 Corinthians 2:1–4 (ESV) — 1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

NOTE: This is a tough situation for Paul. He is trying very hard to be positive. He knows that there is disagreement. He loves them and desires them to experience the true life of obedience and joy in Christ. He was debating visiting or just sending a note. His real desire was to visit. Obviously, God led him to write a letter. And it appears that the congregation accepted his reprimand well. I'm sure that was very encouraging.

We face many similar situations today. But letters can be cruel especially when written in haste. Or when tagged with some spiritual authority, like "I prayed about this and felt God wanted me to send it." Certainly we should pray and wait, but not mention it to the person. We are not prophets in the OT sense. We can be wrong. A better approach is to humbly suggest changes in another person's life. His or her obedience is an issue between them and God. If it outright sin and blatant, that is an issue for the elders and can be brought to them.

PRAYER: Lord, we are such a dirty smelly group of sheep. Help us to love each other first and foremost, because if we truly love we will only say the things that are helpful and not hurtful.

QT 6 Dec 18, 2 Cor 1:8-11, The New Covenant does not promise health and wealth

2 Corinthians 1:8–11 (ESV) — 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

NOTE: A strong spiritual life is no guarantee against pain, suffering, and troubles. Paul's life was very difficult -- and not just for him, but also for his traveling companions. The health and wealth gospel is a lie from the pit of hell. The New Covenant (NC) does not promise physical blessings (the Old Covenant did in fact promise physical blessings), but the NC promises spiritual blessing. There will be times of physical blessings (for which we should thank God), but our reward is in heaven and from it we await our savior, Jesus Christ. He will rescue us from the coming wrath and tribulation that will occur in the day of the Lord. He will transform our body to be like his body without the temptations to sin.

In Genesis I noticed that Adam and Eve never considered sinning against God until approached by Satan. It did not enter their mind until Satan mentioned it. I wonder if that is part of the secret that in the millennial kingdom we will not only have a new body but our ears will be deaf to Satan.

PRAYER: Father, life can be very hard at times. Have mercy on us. May we not forget to thank you when times are good, and may we not forget you when times are bad as well. Protect us from the evil one. Provide for us our daily needs.

QT 3 Dec 18, 1 Cor 16:13, The world is intent upon destroying itself by disobedience to God's word

1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) — Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

NOTE: I suppose the above statement would fall under the category of "toxic masculinity." The problem is that it is not toxic and it is what our world needs today. It is impossible to make this argument in today's society as it will be interpreted as misogyny. And yet it is quite the opposite. It is a love for women and a desire for them to experience the life God planned for them, with a loving husband who protects and nourishes them. Children should be a joy, not a burden. Everything is so far from God's original intention. But whatever culture says, Christian men can stand firm and be strong. We can because we are men. And we will not shrink back at this important point in history.

PRAYER: Father, give me the strength to follow through. I do want to be strong. I do want to stand up to what is right. I do want to say what needs to be said and not play the spiritually correct song. Father, have mercy on us. Have mercy on my employer. Have mercy on my country. Have mercy on this world. We running into a pit at full steam, all the time mistakenly thinking that are eyes are wide open. We are so blinded and so foolish. Have mercy.

QT 29 Nov 18, 1 Cor 16:5-6, Planning versus scheming

1 Corinthians 16:5–6 (ESV) — 5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go.

NOTE: There is a principle here that has been repeated throughout the letter -- God has given us minds to use. We see it here. Paul makes plans. He is not completely sure of everything that will happens but he has a plan. He also allows God to intervene and change those plans (seen in other passages of scripture), but there is nothing wrong with planning. I think that planning becomes evil (or sin) when it turns to scheming. The words plan and scheme are not that much different. My point here is that when a scheme is secret, crafty, or devious, then it becomes wrong. We don't need to scheme to achieve our desires. We need to plan openly, and act openly and in integrity. And one last difference between godly planning and evil scheming is that we give our plans to God. We bathe them in prayer asking for his will, and we tell God that we are willing to change plans according to his will. There is no single path, in terms of details, that we must follow. God allows for a lot of variation. But there is a path, and there is a will of God. The path and his will is revealed in the scriptures for all. The variations are subject to our mind and the leading of the Spirit where applicable.

PRAYER: God lead me. Help me to plan and not to scheme. Help me to see when I am scheming. I confess the sin of scheming to you. I don't want to step beyond what I should do. Help me to see the difference.

QT 27 Nov 18, 1 Cor 15: 51-53 & 58, The whole world must know about the only name that saves, JESUS

1 Corinthians 15:51–53 (ESV) — 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) — Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

NOTE: I believe, though I could be wrong, that the last trumpet would have been understood as the "Great Tekiah" in the first century church. It is the long blast, the 100th blast, that occurs at the end of the blowing of the trumpets during the Jewish feast of trumpets. I believe it is also the rapture, because the dead are raised and the living are also changed. We will get new bodies, spiritual bodies, imperishable, and immortal. Therefore, Paul argues, your work is not in vain. History is moving to this point and our work brings that day closer. We are called to be a witness to the nations, and when the gospel has gone out into all the world, then that day will come. We are close. Satan would like to prevent this as well. The current politically correct teaching is that we should not introduce new religious ideas to indigenous cultures. That is the world view of the devil. The world must know of Jesus for his is the only name under heaven by which men can be saved.

PRAYER: Lord, hasten the day of your coming. May we be at work witnessing to your transforming love.

QT 26 Nov 18, 1 Cor 15:46-49, Our new bodies will bear the image of Jesus, not Adam

1 Corinthians 15:46–49 (ESV) — 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

NOTE: Paul argues that the natural precedes the spiritual. I don't know if he meant that as a principle or if he meant it as a truth in this case. If it is a principle, then all spiritual beings would first be natural. In this case he applies it directly to Adam, made of dust, and natural. The second man is Jesus, raised from the dead, and spiritual. We bear Adam's image now, sinners. We will bear Jesus' image soon, creature holiness. We won't struggle with issues of sin. We will not desire sin. We will desire what is good only. Why does the natural have to precede the spiritual? I don't know. But God has directed it in that order.

PRAYER: Thank you for the promise of a spiritual existence in a new body made possible because of Jesus' obedience and his death on the cross for me. Adam failed despite all the advantages he had. But we will have advantages in our spiritual body that Adam never knew. Lord, I don't understand it all, but I believe. I look forward to my new body and to the millennial kingdom.

QT 20 Nov 18, 1 Cor 15:14-20, The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important fact in history

1 Corinthians 15:14–20 (ESV) — 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

NOTE: Paul, an eyewitness to the resurrected Christ and a man who lived during the time of Jesus. A man who knew most of the other eyewitnesses, spells out the argument quite forcibly. Why, if the gospel was not true, would Paul be preaching the resurrected Jesus? Even a God-fearing man would be in danger of hell in so misleading people. An atheist certainly wouldn't waste his life, his time, and his body (to the beatings and deprivations) to preach something that he knew to be untrue. There is no gain. There might be gain today for televangelists to preach something they don't believe, but these first century eyewitnesses, especially the apostles, all faced painful deaths for their message. Why? Because it is a fact! Jesus has been risen from the dead, the firstfruits of many others.

PRAYER: Father, the historical accounts are such a strong argument. We don't need to defend it. But we can plant the seeds in others. There were over 500 eyewitnesses, many who gave their lives because of what they saw. Second generation martyrs are meaningless, but first generation, now that is hard to dismiss. Give us the boldness to respectfully share facts. It requires tremendous faith to ignore facts. Let us be the ones planting the facts.

QT 19 Nov 18, 1 Cor 15:1-8, The resurrection is a matter of historical fact

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (ESV) — 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

NOTE: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact attested to by many eyewitnesses, and was written down during the time that the eyewitnesses lived so that it could be refuted. This is one of the strongest arguments of our faith which Peter also emphasizes in his first letter, the eyewitnesses. Unlike Islam which has no eyewitnesses to its only miracle, the flight in the night from Medina to Jerusalem, Christianity is historically based, attested to, and consequently historical fact. Disbelief is a choice of faith for the evidence is strongly against any other view. The logical or scientific view is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The illogical and emotional view is that the events did not happen. Good luck with that on judgment day.

PRAYER: Father, give us boldness to share with others their weak position. That their unbelief is a belief of faith. The evidence against Christianity is not there. Rather we choose to not believe because we don't want to accept you as our Lord, period, dot.

QT 15 Nov 18, 1 Cor 14:33-35, Roles are very important to God

1 Corinthians 14:33 –35 (ESV) — 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

NOTE: The issue is not a women's ability but rather the role God has given to men. It appears that the church was self-taught. All the men could share a prophecy, a hymn, a word of encouragement. In the case of prophecy, others would evaluate what was said, probably the elders. I think the issue is fairly practical. If women were allowed to speak in the church, they might dominate the discussion to the point that the men withdrew from their God appointed role to lead. In order to emphasize that role, Paul and the other churches did not allow the women to teach or lead the worship experience. It was never an issue of ability but of roles. We may disagree with God on this point, but that would be pretty foolish since we are quite deficient from God in our intelligence or wisdom.

PRAYER: God you have created us with purpose. You have defined roles in the two major spiritual platforms, the home and the church. Beyond that you have given us great freedom. Women ran businesses and owned homes in the early church. Some of the meetings took place in their homes. But when it came to the spiritual role, it is a role given to men that we have failed at far too often. Forgive us and help us to see the importance of the role you have given to us.

QT 13 Nov 18, 1 Cor 14:20, Science is not opposed to Faith

1 Corinthians 14:20 (ESV) — Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

NOTE: Science is not at odds with the bible, faith, or Christians. Certain scientists who seek to prove an agenda may be, but not science itself. Science is the discovery of God's creation. When understood, it amplifies our faith and encourages our trust in God. Science uses the mind which God has given us to discover truth. Science is good. Faith is good. Our mind is good to use.

PRAYER: Lord, let us not shrink back from discussions of science. Nor should we shrink back from your word. Again and again, science has been proving the bible correct. Keep our minds focused on discovering truth.

QT 12 Nov 18, 1 Cor 14:19, Use your mind

1 Corinthians 14:19 (ESV) — 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

NOTE: Tongues is an inferior gift in comparison to using your mind. Our mind is our greatest gift and it is given to worship God too. We are certainly not missing out if we do not speak in tongues. But we are missing out if we are not using our mind and spending time in prayer. Both (mind and prayer) are extremely important and are mentioned throughout the New Testament. Whereas, I believe, tongues is barely mentioned at all, and almost entirely in this letter and that because it was being misused and misunderstood. Spirituality is not defined by spiritual gifts, but rather by the impact on the body in the use of your gifts and abilities. God cares for his body, not for our status in it.

PRAYER: God forgive me for my sin of pride. It is not how people perceive me that is important, but is the impact for good and love that I can have in the life of another. Help me to build up and not to tear down. Help me to love and support. Help me to be Jesus in the life of another.

QT 8 Nov 18, 1 Cor 14:13, Prophecy is also consoling the hurting

1 Corinthians 14:3 (ESV) — 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

NOTE: So here is a definition of prophesy. I tend to think of prophesy as exposing sin or bad behavior in another's life. That does fit under upbuilding. But the prophet is also good at consoling. The person is empathetic and understands another's hurts. He does not just attack, but he wants to see growth. And when appropriate, he encourages people. He tells them good things when he sees good things.

PRAYER: We do all need the gift of prophecy, not just challenging people to live godly lives but consoling them when they are hurting. God give us a love for others. Help us to really care. Not about ourselves or how we are perceived, but to really care and love others.

QT 5 Nov 18, 1 Cor 13:3, Actions without love don't really add value

1 Corinthians 13:3 (ESV) — If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

NOTE: It is not about what you do, but what is the reason for what you do. Love is certainly shown in action. But action can be motivated by reasons other than love. A person can serve to be seen. A person can give away great sums of money out of pride, not because they actually care. We need to love first. We need to be the person who is stricken in our soul out of compassion, empathy, and love for the other person. Actions are nice, but a person without love is like an unpainted wall -- no one is moved by it. Unloving people are not enjoyable. You do not like being with them. They are critical of everything. No one does anything right and they really don't care what you think of their expressing an opinion. They don't care who they hurt. The camouflage their criticism in appeals for excellence or other spiritual terms, but really they are critics who don't care about the people who are really the targets of the criticism.

PRAYER: Father, we all are guilty at one time or another of unloving criticism, and unloving actions. Forgive us. Open my own eyes to when I speak without thinking and caring for the person I am speaking to. I don't want to be seen that way. I want to be known as a person who cares, and who loves others.

QT 2 Nov 18, 1 Cor 12:29-31, Clearly, the gift of tongues is not universal

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 (ESV) — 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

NOTE: This is pretty clear, not everyone has all the gifts. Not everyone speaks in tongues. Not everyone can heal. In the verse that follows, it says to earnestly desire the higher gifts, which is not tongues, but apostles (missionary work), prophets (evangelists), and teachers. Those are the things we should desire, not tongues. Why do we desire the lesser gifts. Of course, all gifts are important, and we need to honor those with lesser gifts. But there is a distinction in terms of the gifts we should desire. They are all important, but some have a greater impact in the world.

PRAYER: Father, help me to exercise my gift more and more under the power of the Holy Spirit and less and less under my own power. I don't want to rest on my logic or my mind. I need the mind of Christ to share the truths of Christ. Speak through me. Teach me so I can teach others.

QT 1 Nov 18, 1 Cor 12:26, Living counter culture

1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV) — If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

NOTE: One of the things I most appreciate about our Intentional Discipleship Groups (IDG), is that if one person cannot make it, then we don't meet. We are intentional. We are committed to each other. Fellowship and bible study are not optional activities. If we decide not to go, then no one gathers. I think this is great because this is the way the body of Christ is supposed to work. We are not individuals but we are members of one body. This goes against the culture and direction of society which is so unbiblical in its view of community. I love what we do. We are building biblical communities. We are changing from spoiled rich Americans, into loving sacrificial Christians.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for leading us in the direction we are heading. How I pray the effort will continue to grow. How I pray that we will see massive changes in the lives of the people involved. We want to be new creations exhibiting your glory for the whole world to see.

QT 31 Oct 18, 1 Cor 7:12, Gifts are given for the common good

1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV) — To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

NOTE: Our spiritual gift is not for us. It does not exalt us. It does not make us important. It is not about us at all. Our spiritual gift (or gifts) are for the benefit of the body, the common good. God is the one glorified. The church grows. And our job is to serve. I think, even in this area, we seek to benefit from spirituals given to strengthen the body. They don't make us more spiritual, they do give us reason to serve.

PRAYER: Father forgive us for the abuse of the gifts. It is not about us, it is about the body. We exercise our gifts for the common good. And if we are not doing that, we are abusing the spiritual gift you gave us.

QT 30 Oct 18, 1 Cor 11:28-30, Communion is a serious sacrament with physical ramifications

1 Corinthians 11:28–30 (ESV) —

28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

NOTE: One of the central tenets of the New Covenant is that the blessings and judgments are primarily spiritual or experienced in the next life. There are some exceptions, but in comparison to the Old Covenant which was primarily physical, temporal, and near-term in its blessings and judgments (Deut 29), the New Covenant is clearly different. In this passage we have an example of one of the exceptions. There is physical judgment, to include illness and death, for those who do not take the communion table seriously. And what does that mean? Two things are emphasized in the passage. One, a failure to examine our life and confess sin. Two, confusing the table with a time to gorge at the expense of others.

PRAYER: Father forgive us for our sinful actions around the table of communion. It is a time of great significance and memory. We need to be reminded of the cleansing we have in Jesus and the need to daily cleanse ourselves from the dirt of this world. Clean me. Clean my mind to serve you.

QT 29 Oct 18,1 Cor 11:22, Think of others in all things

1 Corinthians 11:22 (ESV) — What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

NOTE: The verse is in reference to sharing the Lord's supper at church, something of a pot luck. The challenging The challenging thing to me is it appears each person brings his meal and doesn't share. So, some bring a lot to eat because they are wealthy while the poor bring little. Consequently, the poor are ashamed of the little that they can bring and are humiliated. This can happen today but in a different setting. Some can afford to go out and eat at fancy expensive restaurants. Others cannot (they are probably the better off). But by sharing your story of where you eat, you can humiliate those who can't afford that option. It is another example of not thinking of others but only yourself. Jesus thought of others ahead of himself. It is not about me. It is about God first, and other people (not me), second.

NOTE: Lord, forgive us of our pride and selfishness. Help us to see it. Open our eyes to our imperfections, our ingratitude, our snootiness, and our lack of true compassion. Help us to live like Jesus did.

QT 25 Oct 18, 1 Cor 11:11-16, We are fighting God when we choose feeling over facts

1 Corinthians 11:11–16 (ESV) — Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

NOTE: There is clearly a cultural background to these verses. And the implication is not that we should embrace culture, in many cases, we should do quite the opposite as our Babylonian culture is doing all it can to deny God's existence. But in regards to cultural norms that emphasize propriety, yes, we are to accept those norms. Most often those norms do have some reference back to God's commands. Constable has a good discussion on the earlier verses where he argues that Paul is emphasizing "origin." Sexual differences are also based on origin. Today, we are disputing origin and replacing it with feeling. We say it does not matter how you were born, it is what you choose that determines your sex or sexual preference. That is not true and is completely opposed to the word of God. We are born, created by God with sex at our origin. There is difference in the sexes because of origin. God had a special purpose for men and a special purpose for woman. Disagreement with the latter statement does not change the fact of it, rather it puts you in opposition to God on the issue. We don't choose our sex or God's plan for our life. He gives tremendous freedom, but there are boundaries that he has established. Again, disagreement does not put you in opposition to me, but to God, the creator of the entire universe.

PRAYER: Father, we are a badly deceived people, both in and outside of the church. We have bought the lies of the Father of lies, and we even enjoy the lies since they allow us to live as we choose. The lies allow us to be our own gods. Forgive us. Open up our mind once again to truth. Have mercy upon us.

QT 23 Oct 18, 1 Cor 1:11, What are we really living for?

1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV) — Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

NOTE: We all should be saying the same thing. No, it does not mean we are perfect. But it does mean that we are fully sold out on knowing Christ, living like Christ, and telling others of Christ. Paul and others lived a life of sacrificial love. They truly put Christ first in all that they did. Those are examples we can live and we should live. It is true that we live in a narcissist society, dripping with self-love, and me-first attitudes, but that only means that a life lived for God and others should stand out even more.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for allowing the things of the world to deflect my eyes from you. Give me a love for people. Help me to see people as my mission, not my own betterment. Help me to love and care for them as I should. Have mercy on me.

QT 22 Oct 18, 1 Cor 10:21, We cannot have two maste

1 Corinthians 10:21 (ESV) — You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

NOTE: You cannot play the game on both sides. Jesus said something that is quite similar, you cannot serve God and mammon (money). Who is going to be your Lord and Master? You cannot serve God and self. We need to surrender ourselves to the Lord and do what he asks us to do, not what is comfortable for us to do. We need to sacrifice for others. We need to lay down our lives, because that is the example that Jesus gave us. It is now wonder we have little impact in the world when we live two different lives, a secular life during the week, and a spiritual life during church. It is wrong. We need to be one person, fully committed to one set of ideals.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for trying to live two lives. I am your servant and you own me. I must not shrink back in my love and devotion and words. But I must also do it in gentleness. Let me see opportunities today to live that one life.

QT 18 Oct 18, 1 Cor 9:21, The law of Christ

1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV) — 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.

NOTE: We are not under the OT law, that law has been nailed to the cross. It has been nullified. The letters written on tablets of stone do not have any authority over the NT believer. But we are under a law, the law of Christ. It is the law spoken by Jesus. It is a law not of the letter but of the heart and is best summarized by two phrases-- loving God and loving others. All real laws revolve around those two items. There is no requirement for ceremony or dietary restrictions, although gluttony would suggest a sin against others, since the food we eat in excess could be eaten by others who are truly hunger. The bottom line, the law of Christ compels us and directs us. The OT law has no claim upon us, only the law of Christ.

PRAYER: Father, for someone reason, we as a people want to be under a law. I don't know if it feeds our pride or our sense of earning your pleasure. But you love us completely. We can never earn your favor. We have your favor in abundance as your children. Help us to live in that knowledge.

QT 16 Oct 18, 1 Cor 9:13, Do we really believe ministers are important?

1 Corinthians 9:13 (ESV) — Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

NOTE: Evidently, the Corinthians were taking offense that they should pay Paul's wages. I imagined the gossip went something like this: "Well, he is single. He can pay for himself. He doesn't need much since he is by himself. We should not have to support him. We have families to support. He should give of himself because that is what God him too. …" Ugly, terrible, and selfish is how I would describe those comments. We are so greedy. And we don't recognize the importance of the job. We only care if the minister is making more than we are making. And of course, a minister should never make more than a congregant. What ridiculous hypocritical nonsense! We will be judge by God for such effrontery.

PRAYER: Father, forgive us for our ugly, greedy, selfish, coveting behavior. Thank you so much for those who have given their lives for the gospel. They do so much for us and suffer so much for us. Have mercy on them and on us for our ugly attitudes.

QT 15 Oct 18, I Cor 8:8,13, Is it really that important?

1 Corinthians 8:8, 13 (ESV) — 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. … 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

NOTE: We are free, but our freedom can hurt others. Therefore, the overriding interest is not our rights or our freedom, but the other's rights and his freedom (or lack thereof). This calls for an unselfish attitude. Rather than defending myself, especially when I'm right, I may need to give it up. Is it really that big of a deal? Must I always defend inconsequential things? What does it really matter? Paul at the beginning of the book say that he really doesn't care who judges him, it is God's judgment that he cares about. I need to be less prickly and more cuddly.

PRAYER: Father, free us from our pride that is always looking to exalt self. Forgive us. Forgive me for the stupid things that I let bother me.

QT 11 Oct 18, 1 Cor 7:30b-31, Living for what matters

1 Corinthians 7:30b –31 (ESV) — … and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

NOTE: This suggestion for an attitude toward this life was written almost 2000 years ago, and so it would be even more true to today as we are closer to this world passing away than at any time in history. We have to buy goods. We have to deal with the world. But we do not have to live for goods or the world. They are not our gods or goals or what provides purpose and meaning to life. Knowing God, loving God, and serving people through ministry is our purpose and gives our lives true meaning and value. All else is garbage. It is easy to say, but it is hard to live in a world consumed by materialism.

PRAYER: Father, protect your children from the sin that so easily entangles. Protect us from settling for garbage when we can enjoy your presence and the joy of service. Open our eyes to what truly matters in life.

QT 9 Oct 18, 1 Cor 7:17, What is my lot?

1 Corinthians 7:17 (ESV) — Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

NOTE: I think we all want something another has attained. It is covetous and also discontentment. There is nothing wrong for wanting to achieve a dream, but not everyone's dream is the same. It is a very good thing in God's eyes to lead a godly life, to love your wife, to raise up your children, to serve people (in the community and church), to give freely, and to do have done what God called you to do. Or said more simple, love God and love your neighbor. There is no shame in leading the life the Lord has assigned. Of course, the question then becomes, "how do I know?" I think we know deep down in our hearts, but we don't want to face the fact because our flesh wants something else. Not a very good answer, but it is my answer after 40 plus years of walking with God.

PRAYER: Lord, speak to our hearts. Show us the lot assigned to us. Give us contentment in doing your will in our lives

QT 8 Oct 18, 1 Cor 7:15, Despite the statistics, the breaking of unions is increasing

1 Corinthians 7:15 (ESV) — 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.

NOTE: Verses on divorce, marriage, and remarriage are very controversial. Here Paul says that the believer is free (not enslaved) if the unbeliever leaves the union. Previously, he has said if unmarried cannot exercise self-control, they can marry. Even Jesus said that the Law allow divorce due to the hardness of people's heart, basically sin. There will be divorce, but it is not God's design, desire, or standard. We live in a day and age where divorce is rampant. And yes, statistically people are getting divorced less, but that is because they are having unions outside of marriage, and then separating from those unions. Which technically is the same thing as divorce. And it probably occurs more often too. We are a sinful society.

PRAYER: Father, my country is tearing itself apart in sin and deception. Please open our eyes to our sin. Please heal my nation. Please bring justice.

QT 5 Oct 18, 1 Cor 7:7, What really is a spiritual gift?

1 Corinthians 7:7 (ESV) — 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.

NOTE: in context, Paul is comparing his singleness with other's desire to be married. What is interesting is that he calls it a gift of God. And he mentions, as is also mentioned in Romans that there are different kinds of gifts. None of the "gift" passages in scripture list the same number and group of gifts. I believe God intentionally left that topic open. I've seen a list of 21 gifts, where individuals have accumulated the gifts from the various passages on spiritual gifts. I'm not sure I've seen anyone add this gift, celibacy, to that list of 21 spiritual gifts. The important point, is that God gives spiritual gifts and they are not the same. And potentially, they may not even be in the list of all spiritual gifts mentioned. What we need to do is to search for the things that God has given us a special ability to do, and then use it for his glory. Who is to say that it is not a natural talent but rather a spiritual gift? And why is it that natural talents cannot also be spiritual gifts? Yes, they came before a person received the Holy Spirit, but God determines our gifts. And as a believer, everything we have is God-given. If God takes a natural talent and increases it by adding spiritual power, how can I say that he cannot do that. The important thing is that in all things, God gets the glory, not me.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the gifts you have given me. Thank you for the opportunities to exercise them. May they always be for your glory and not for mine. Everything I have is what you have given me.

QT 4 Oct 18, 1 Cor 6:19-20, We are actual temples of the living God

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV) — 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

NOTE: I do know, but do I live it? Do we really consider that the Holy Spirit is residing in our body at all times? Do we meditate on what it means to be a temple? In our case, our temple is where God resides. In the OT, God's name resided in the temple. If I really believed that, it would affect my decisions. I would want the temple to be pure and holy at all times. I would want my life to reflect God's name in a good way to everyone I meet. And I certainly desire that, although I do fall short at times.

PRAYER: Father I want to glorify you with my body and my life. I want my life to reflect your name in a good way to those around me. Remind throughout the day today that I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. Everything I do, is done with you.

QT 1 Oct 18, 1 Cor 5:1-2, God's standard is holiness

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 (ESV) — 1 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 father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

NOTE: In today's age, this incident would be uncomfortable to some, but hardly the issue that Paul makes it out to be. But this world is not our standard of morality. God is our standard, and disobedience to his command is still sin, especially willful disobedience. We are required in cases of know willful disobedience to first warn a person, then bring another along (preferably an elder), and then it is brought to the whole church. The punishment is to be sent out from the church and the protection of the church. I've seen this done once. It was not a pretty situation. And it did mean a lot to the person in sin. He did not change his sin, but his tears and emotion were quite real.

PRAYER: Father, protect our body from sin. Expose sin where it is needed. Protect us from Satan's traps. We want to live holy lives before you.

QT 28 Sep 18, 1 Cor 4:9, God's "greats" are men of humility

1 Corinthians 4:9 (ESV) — For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

NOTE: What a contrast! The pride of the Corinthians and the humility of the Apostles. God will exalt the humble and will bring down the proud. Who do you want to mimic, the apostles or the carnal Christians exhibited by many of the Corinthians? When we stop and calmly consider our behavior, we--well I realize how ugly my pride really is. It is sad to think that I need to build myself up. I don't. Because, what does it really matter? Is my goal to please others (really myself) or do I seek to please God?

PRAYER: Lord, I want to please you. I don't want to build myself up in the front of others. I want to be a humble servant.

QT 27 Sep 18, 1 Cor 4:7, God will do what he needs to do

1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) — For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

NOTE: I have been immeasurably blessed by God. I am where I never could have guessed I could be. I'm doing things I would not have thought possible. My life is multiplied into many others. And when I think back to the person I was before Christ, I know for a fact, that person could not have come this far. It was God who changed me and blessed me. That is who I am. And that is who I will be in the future. I don't know what the future holds. But I do know, I must serve God and not jockey for position and influence. I need to put all that behind. I just need to serve. It is not the wisdom that the world would argue for me, but it is what God wants me to do.

PRAYER: Father, I'm excited to wait upon you. I'm excited to serve. Protect me from myself. Give me grace to live as you command me to live.

QT 25 Sep 18, 1 Cor 3:3, Being satisfied with life

1 Corinthians 3:3 (ESV) — 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

NOTE: I do struggle with jealousy and strife, and it is related to my pride. It is no so much in the spiritual world as it is in the physical, temporal world. I would like to blame it on a sense of justice or on what I perceive as "playing favorites." Certainly those things exist in this fallen world. But what does it matter? Well, it matters if this is all that life holds, which I know is not true. God will restore this earth as he had originally intended. My problem is my pride. I need to let go of the things that I do not have and enjoy all that God has given me. It should be enough.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for always wanting more. Forgive me for not being satisfied. Forgive me for esteeming myself higher than I ought. Forgive me for my ugly pride.

QT 24 Sep 18, 1 Cor 2:6-8, As a nation, we have become fools

1 Corinthians 2:6–8 (ESV) — 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

NOTE: So is Paul advocating a certain kind of Gnosticism? No. What he is saying is that some things are hidden from the world, but not from believers. There are two things they cannot comprehend. One, that Jesus was God. And two, that God the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, as a result of Jesus' death for our sin.  If the world had understood that, they would not have crucified the Lord. If the world knew the gift of salvation, they would not spurn the offer. No, Paul says they are doomed because they think they are too wise, that the wisdom of the world has made belief in God spurious and unnecessary. And God has chosen to reveal this "secret" to the despised, the deplorables. Someday the world hopes to rid itself of this error of evolution -- believers in the Lord Jesus. And God will actually give them what they hope for, as he often does to teach us a lesson. And the world will find that once again they were wrong. Again and again, their wisdom is wrong.

PRAYER: Father, I pray for my nation. It is certainly deserving of every judgment that can befall it. We have sinned against you in every manner possible. We seemed to be beyond rational thought and yet we try to argue that we are rational. Open our eyes to our idiocy. Have mercy on a foolish and stupid people once more.

QT 23 Sep 18, 1 Cor 1:29-31, God is against the proud

1 Corinthians 1:29–31 (ESV) — 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

NOTE: Over and over again, it is clear, God hates pride. He hates boasting. And he is choosing to save those who do not boast about themselves. We all struggle with pride. If humility was a requirement, no one would be saved. But there are people, whose narcissistic pride oozes out of their life. They are also the ones who defy God to prove them wrong, as if somehow their thinking ability can even be measured with God's. The smartest of us would not even register on God's scale. I think we might realize that, so the easier thing is to deny his existence. But what does that do? Denying God or denying what is true, is a foolish exercise.

PRAYER: Father, protect me from my pride. Continue to give me opportunities to see my foolishness. I do not need to tell of my accomplishments. It is not important. I just need to serve others.

QT 20 Sep 18, 1 Cor 1:21, God hates pride; God works against the proud

1 Corinthians 1:21 (ESV) — For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

NOTE: God specifically addresses a class of people we would call the proud and arrogant. These are the people who think they have discovered all the answers. I think Job showed signs of entering this class of "elites," but repented of it after being questioned by God. I think the reason God hates pride so much is that it is the sin that partially destroyed the angelic kingdom. And, it is probably what drives Satan today -- this feeling that he is superior to God in some way and that he knows how to win this battle. In the end, God will disprove the wisdom of the world. I feel for all the people who are led astray by their wisdom. Our intellect is so small as compared to God. We are so foolish.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me again for my pride. Help me to see it today. Help me to let go of it. Help me to give others their place and not worry about my place.

QT 18 Sep 18, 1 Cor 1:10-11, A significant cause of quarrels: pride

1 Corinthians 1:10–11 (ESV) — 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

NOTE: So, problem number one in this church is that there are divisions and quarreling. I imagine that some of it is pride and then related to that is power. If a person is more knowledgeable or has a better pedigree, they want to be treated differently or have their opinion accepted by virtue of their standing. Frankly, pride is always ugly. I certainly know that because it is one sin that very easily entangles me again and again. Why? Ultimately it is our sin nature. But I think it is my seriousness or lack of seriousness to the issue. It seems that pride is an acceptable sin in many circles, at least to the point of where it becomes obnoxious.

PRAYER: Father forgive me for my sin of pride. Today, help me to see where I subtly let myself fall into the trap of trying to get people to think good of me.

QT 17 Sep 18, 1 Cor 1:4-8, Even in failure, there is good to bring rejoicing

1 Corinthians 1:4–8 (ESV) — 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: For a church that is about to be raked over the coals, Paul is exceedingly gracious in his words and prayer. They are enriched (in every way) in speech and knowledge. They don't lack any gift. They are guiltless because of their faith in Jesus. And yet, this is a church with a lot of worldly problems. They are certainly not to be emulated in their actions or lifestyle. There is jealousy, sexual sin, abuse of the spiritual gifts, to name a few. I think every church has those problems and unfortunately it is almost expected. I'm not suggesting that it is okay, but I am saying that it is normal. We live in a fallen world. We have sin-marred bodies. The world is not as God intended. I think we need to get off of our high and holy horse now and then, and recognized that God still loves this mess we call the church. We can do better. Paul's letter (one of three to this church) suggests as much. But Paul is thankful for them. We can learn to be more thankful.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for my critical spirit. I have been very critical of the church over the years. I treat your bride as a hindrance and a pain at times. I want to see transformation and growth and I am frustrated when I don't see it. Yet, I can do better. Give me a thankful heart. Help me to see what you see that is good. Forgive me for my sin.