QT 3/13/2025 1 Cor 7:17-24, A price too great to pay

1 Corinthians 7:17–24 (ESV) —

17 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. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

 

NOTE: I like the phrase "you were bought with a price." I don't think we really understand the cost of our salvation. It was a price only God could pay, so it was an infinite cost. Mathematically speaking, infinity divided by a billion or more people is still infinity. We never had the ability to save ourselves. We were dead in our sin and trespasses. We were made alive in Jesus Christ. And now we are adopted into the family of God and co-heirs with Christ. It is amazing, and it is incomprehensible. A day should not go by where we do not thank God for our salvation. And if we really believe the price paid was so high, we would live in a manner worth of the gospel in obedience to our God out of love.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I really believe that God paid an infinite price to save me?
2. How is that reflected in my obedience to God out of love for what he did?

 

PRAYER: I admit, I don't understand your great love or why you picked me. And I could to so much better in obedience to your word. Forgive me for my callousness. I pray my life would truly honor you and express my thankfulness.

QT 3/12/2025 1 Cor 7:8-16, Rules regarding separation and divorce

1 Corinthians 7:8–16 (ESV) —

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 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. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

 

NOTE: It is clear that Paul is uncomfortable in some of his instructions, yet is giving his best wisdom. The two cases are married couples separating, and spouses who are married to an unbelieving spouse. In the first case, it is not his opinion but the Lord. Married believers are bound to each other but it appears separation is okay for a time. In the second case, Paul gives his opinion, not the Lord's command, that marriage to an unbeliever should stand if at all possible, for the sake of the children, and for the sake of the unbelieving spouse.

 

In today's day and age, these instructions seem archaic. But if we desire to live according to the truth, these passages are the word of God. If a person has divorced or committed adultery, there is forgiveness at the cross, and there are consequences of the sin. This is true of all sin. Theft, lying, and drunkenness are all sins that are forgiven at the cross, but also have consequences. All sin, to include divorce, has temporal consequences, and all sin is covered by the eternal blood of Jesus. The shame is taken away by the blood.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I confessed a sin, but feel like it is not forgiven? All sin is covered by the blood of Jesus.
2. Am I contemplating an action against God's word? All sin has consequences, but there are cases where certain actions are appropriate. In my opinion, when a spouse is physically threatened, that is the same as adultery, and one can separate (probably divorce as well, but that is only my opinion).

 

PRAYER: Father, our would of sin makes life so difficult. When Jesus was questioned about divorce, he answered that the reason (he had) Moses wrote a writ of divorce was because of SIN. That is, there will always be situations where man's sin makes reconciliation impossible. It was not your plan from the beginning. Father, help us to overcome our pain and our shame. Help us to fully seek you and enjoy the cleansing power of the cross.

QT 3/11/2025 1 Cor 7:1-7, The danger of sin outside of marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1–7 (ESV) —

1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 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.

 

NOTE: So, it seems abstaining from sexual relations is good and having sexual relations is also good, since after creation, God said everything was good. But God's original classification of good was within the context of marriage. Paul says that there is a temptation to sexual immorality, and so marriage is protection from committing sexual immorality. In our day and age, as well as in ages past, Satan has used the temptation to sexual immorality to corrupt man. What is different now than before, is the ease of sexual sins brought about by technology: television, internet, computer, and smartphone. All sin corrupts and separates us from God in some way. We have the Holy Spirit within us, which is why our body is a temple. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit because it defiles the temple. In the earlier passage, Paul says that sexual sin does something to the body, not just our relationship to God. I think what it does is since sexual immorality is never satisfied, it ruins our good relationships and causes us to seek more and more perverse satisfaction.

 

PONDER:

Do I believe sex outside of marriage is sin? If not, then I am in conflict with God.

 

PRAYER: Father, this is such a dangerous sin. The culture has pretty much defined it as not being sin in order to entrap us. Protect us. Open our eyes. Deliver us.

QT 3/10/2025 1 Cor 6:12-20, Fighting addictions

1 Corinthians 6:12–20 (ESV) —

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 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: There are many addictions in life: drugs, alcohol, and pornography are the most prevalent. But anything can be an addiction: eating (leads to gluttony), playing computer games (eats up time), watching television (leads to binging and wasting time) and even work (pride in accomplishments and more power). Sexual sins are discussed in the passage above, leading to an actual physical union with another. I believe that ever increasing sexuality and lust leads to homosexuality and other perverse practices.

 

So what do we do when we live in a society that is hyper-addiction fueled and makes it easy to address these cravings? In other passages in the bible, the writers talk about taking off and putting on, in relationship to certain sins. In other words, you usually just can't stop an addiction, you need to take other steps to replace the addiction. Obviously, you need to pray and ask God for help, repenting of the addiction, but you also need to replace the activity with something else. A person who has been stealing is supposed to do something useful with their hands. A hobby, a ministry, a retreat, a person, can be good substitutes. But each of us need to figure out what we can put on to help us put off some particular sin/addiction.

 

Lastly, it takes a while to change a habit, which is what an addiction becomes. It might take many repeated failures, repenting, and starting over again. But we must never give in, we must never say it is okay or that's "just me."

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have any addictions in my life?
2. What can I add to my life as I remove the addiction from my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, we can't remove these addictions in our own strength. We need the power of your Holy Spirit that resides within the temple of our body to help us. Give us wisdom and resilience to fight with you against our sinful flesh.

QT 3/7/2025 1 Cor 6:6-11, Getting serious about our sins

1 Corinthians 6:6–11 (ESV) —

6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 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.

 

NOTE: To bring another brother to court means everybody loses, even the person who so-called "wins." Because, what have you accomplished? You receive some earthly temporal satisfaction -- is it worth it? Anything you "win" is loss in eternity (in more ways than one). You receive revenge upon a brother -- is that what Christ has called us to? You feel justified -- is pride a good look for a believer. Satan certainly likes it.

 

In 15 versions of the bible, verse nine includes homosexuality (I only looked at 15). There are three Greek words used. One of the words has a suggestion of a person who keeps young boys around for their sexual pleasure. Keener writes that bisexuality was very common among Greeks. Socrates practiced it, and Plato wrote about this unnatural "love." I put the word "love" in quotes because it is not really love, it is a selfish act meant to satisfy a person's body. This behavior is destructive, both to the person and to the object of their lust. But, people who participate in homosexual activity are like all sinners (which we all are) and should be treated as human beings made in the image of God. Some things might change, like a drunkard might have his car keys taken away, but not his job or food. A gossip might be ignored by others. A liar may not be able to get a job in sales (unfortunately not true). A tax cheat might be forced to pay a fine. A sexual abuser of children may find his freedom reduced to protect other children. Sin has consequences, but people still remain people and deserve to be treated as human beings.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I take my actions seriously?
2. Do I look to root out known and unknown sin?

 

PRAYER: Father, as David prayed:

Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV) — 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Help me to see what I don't know and to be serious about what I do know.

QT 3/6/2025 1 Cor 6:1-5, Spiritual gifts is not evidence of spiritual maturity

1 Corinthians 6:1–5 (ESV) —

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,

 

NOTE: There is some interesting insight and a very simple practical application. The interesting truth is that in the age to come, we will have the job of judging those alive during the millennial kingdom. We will also judge angels, although I'm not sure how that will work or why that is needed (you either rebelled with Satan or you didn't). Since at some point, we will be judges, we should be capable of settling trivial suits among ourselves. I believe this is another place where the elders should be involved, and where a spirit of prayer is necessary. The "easy" application is to get spiritual counsel from the elders (by definition includes pastors). Usually, there are some necessary spiritual lessons in the case where two believers are ready to go to court against each other.

 

A final point, is that despite the abundance of gifts, is Paul saying that there is a lack of wisdom in the church ("no one among you wise enough")? In churches that emphasize spiritual gifts, is there a failure to emphasize the word of God and teach the heavier topics such as biblical doctrine? Is there a relationship with an abundance of spiritual gifts and spiritual immaturity?

 

PONDER:

1. Our gifts are important to be exercised, but what are we doing to saturate our lives with thee word of God?
2. A willingness to go to court suggests a very low concept of God and the Spirit's change in a person's heart, in other words immaturity. What am I doing to mature in the faith?

 

PRAYER: Father, teach us from you word. Give us wisdom from the truth of your word so that we can live in a manner worthy of you.

QT 3/5/2025 1 Cor 5:6-13, Continual Sin

 

1 Corinthians 5:6–13 (ESV) —

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

 

NOTE: One of the phrases we hear often is that we are not to judge people, that is God's job. But Paul makes it clear that we are to judge those who call themselves believers and are guilty of ongoing, repeated sin (in a particular area). Paul lists examples of ongoing sin that we should judge our fellow believers: sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, reviler, drunkard, and swindler. We are told to separate from these believers. What is implied, especially in context with the last section is to confront the sin first, and if there is no response, to pass it onto the leadership of the church to handle. Let me be clear, when we confront a believer over sin, it should be someone that we have had a good relationship, otherwise it is better handled by the leadership of the church. I think it can be very dangerous to judge other believers that we don't know on (probably) insufficient information. A lot that is said or heard is wrong. Also, we would be guilty of repeated gossip (also a sin). We need to show love and mercy to all, but if we have good reason to suspect a believer guilty of repeated sin, we should pass that to the elders of the church (and only to).

 

PONDER:

1. Am I aware of a believer who is continual or repeated sin, and refuses to address his/her sin?
2. Have I prayerfully address this?
3. Do I need to talk to and elder or pastor to deal with the situation?

 

PRAYER: Father, sin is so destructive in our own lives personally and in the lives of others. Your standard is holiness. I pray that we would be receptive to your spirit in our hearts convicting us of our sin. Change us, recreate us, make us into new creatures.

QT 3/4/2025 1 Cor 1:1-5, Danger of unrepentant sin

1 Corinthians 5:1–5 (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.

3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

 

NOTE: For all of their arrogant pride, it does not seem to be in their great spirituality, for they are allowing open incest in the church. At that time, even Pagans abhorred the practice and it was against the law in Rome. Paul is very clear that the church, probably the leadership, was to address the situation. From other passages, we know that the person should be confronted privately, and then with two or three. If he refuses to listen, you should expel him from the church. As to what should be told to the church, there are probably laws today against libel, and so it would seem to be important to do it quietly. The purpose of church discipline is not to embarrass but rather to encourage repentance in the individual. Without the benefit of the church, people struggling with sin, are in even greater danger from Satan. He is terrible taskmaster and sin saps our bodies dry.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I involved in church leadership, and have I overlooked a very public sin?
2. Am I involved in public sin and defending my actions even though they are opposed to Gods' word?

 

PRAYER: Lord, help us to see our sin and be repentant. Protect us from the devil's wiles. Have mercy on us.

QT 3/3/2025 1 Cor 4:10-21, Living for God and not self

1 Corinthians 4:10–21 (ESV) —

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

 

NOTE: This is quite a rebuke to the church from its spiritual father. They were not suffering in any way for the faith and life was quite easy, but for Paul and his companions, life was very difficult. Why? Should life be difficult? I don’t think that is the point, but it is a good question to ask ourselves. Have I become complacent in my faith? Do I live to have a comfortable life or have I made sacrifices for the sake of the gospel? What really is my goal in life, that is, what is important to me?

 

If Paul lived today, would he give the same rebuke to us? What can we do, that the Corinthians failed to do? I think there are two areas where we all fail and all can do better: our finances and our witnessing.

 

In the area of finances, God is not calling us to live as paupers (well, maybe some but their reward will be great), and we can definitely give more. I think ten percent is a good goal, but if you are wealthy, ten percent is an excuse not to give. By that I mean, the wealthy only giving ten percent allows them to live on a tremendous amount of money. Every year, every increase, I set a goal to give proportionally more than I got. By the time I retired, I found I was giving one whole paycheck a month -- it made it easier to retire. As retired, I went down to ten percent and in two years I have managed to increase it each year. I'm not a pauper, but I don't have money to waste either.

 

In the area of witnessing, it is important to put out our flag early and identify with the savior. The longer we wait, the harder it becomes. Even using something simple as "God bless" as you leave, or in recounting an incident use "the Lord was gracious." These simple phrases can at least identify yourself with belief. The next stage is asking questions, like "what has been your spiritual journey" or "do you have a church," can get a conversation going. The point is that witnessing may make people think less of you -- a certain type of suffering -- but we need to be willing to stand up for and not be ashamed of the savior.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my life comfortable because I keep all my money to myself?
2. Am I held in high esteem because no one knows about my faith?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would give in a manner that honors you and expresses our thankfulness for all that you have done. I pray we would be bold in our witnessing and not ashamed to identify with Jesus.

QT 2/28/2025 1 Cor 4:1-9, What are we really living for as Christians?

1 Corinthians 4:1–9 (ESV) —

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 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?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 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: I think the church at Corinth was viewing life from a material point of view. The servants of Christ, Paul and others, have suffered greatly in their work for the gospel, while the Corinthians were living it up in their own eyes. They had Christ, and they were living like kings. But in reality, they were focused on the wrong things. Rather than boasting of accomplishments, they should have been humble and thankful for what God had given. But to me, the real issue here for this church and many other churches today is that our walk with God is just an extra thing in our lives. Our real goal is advancement, money, possessions, and external things. We don't see ourselves as making disciples or a part of the great commission. We give lip service to those things, but that isn't what we really want. And I think part of the reason is the shallowness of our faith. We have never really tasted God in a deep and personal way. We say we know him, but only scratch the surface of that relationship.

 

PONDER:

1. On a day-to-day basis, what am I really pursuing?
2. What are my long term goals for my life? Is God the focus of my future goals?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we wouldn't be playing church, but we would be fully committed disciples of yours. Don't let us settle for a second-bit life, lost in the things of the world and ineffective for the kingdom

QT 2/27/2025 1 Cor 3:14-23, Constructing on truth

1 Corinthians 3:14–23 (ESV) —

14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

 

NOTE: Continuing the theme of God's wisdom versus man's wisdom, Paul  finishes the thought of building on the right foundation, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. I would point out that in the gospel of John, it says,

 

John 1:1, 14 (ESV) — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Jesus is the word of God and if our foundation must be Jesus, it will be by necessity the word of God. We must build upon God's word, not on man's ideas or rules.

 

There is a lot of talk about the deconstructionist movement today, which is very dangerous, but can be good if we are reevaluating our beliefs based on the word of God. Unfortunately, some have chosen to deconstruct and then reconstruct based on human wisdom and not God's word. They find worldly arguments for homosexuality, multiple genders, marriage other than between a man and woman, the elimination of guilt and sin and shame, and many other false truths. These are all things which work to destroy the temple, which is now a believer's soul.

 

If you think you are wise because you have worldly wisdom, repent and seek God, and learn the wisdom of God found in the bible.

 

PONDER:

1. Do you have a daily intake of God's wisdom, the word of God?
2. Have you built a false foundations based on the lies of the world? Repent, re-examine your life, and rebuild it based on God's word.

 

PRAYER: Father, in these last days, the enemy has deceived many with false truths. Seeking peace and fulfillment, they have wandered into enslavement. Open our eyes to our sin, convict us of our sins, and lead us into salvation.

QT 2/26/2025 1 Cor 3:7-13, Building things that last

1 Corinthians 3:7–13 (ESV) —

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

10 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. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 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.

 

NOTE: Continuing on the theme that God's wisdom is infinitely greater than man's wisdom, it is not the person who led us to the Lord or who watered our need that saved us, but God. The important thing for us as individuals is to be building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ with things that last and not things that will burn up. The world's wisdom will NOT help you grow in Christ, and will only keep you from growing. There are only a three things in life which are eternal, most things are not. Our relationship with God is eternal. God's word is eternal. And the work we do to bring people to Christ is eternal. So, we need to stop and evaluate our life, how the activities match up against the three.

 

1) Do we make time for our relationship with God? Quiet time, prayer, and worship are important.

 

2) Do we spend time understanding the word? Bible study, scripture memory, teaching, preaching, meditating on the word, good Christian books, and spiritual conversations with other growing Christians, all help us to understand the eternal word of God and change us. (Incidentally, conversations with static Christians probably do little good for our spirit, although may help the static, backsliding person.)

 

3) Lastly, we need to be involved in the great commission, helping others come to know Christ. Giving, missionary work (short term or long term), praying for our neighbors, involvement in relief efforts as a Christian, and many other ventures whose purpose is to love others and get the gospel out to the world. All of those things are eternal.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I spend my life? What activities truly have eternal value?
2. What am I building upon the foundation of Christ? Will it last? Or am I wasting my life on things with no eternal value?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is never too late to evaluate or reevaluate our lives. Help me to see what I need to do more and what I need to do less. Continue to change me through the power of your Holy Spirit who lives within me.

QT 2/25/2025 1 Cor 3:1-6, Rather than boasting, we need to focus on the fact we are loved

1 Corinthians 3:1–6 (ESV) —

1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 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? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

 

NOTE: This continues the discussion of God's wisdom and man's wisdom. In the latter, competition through comparison and boasting are signs of human wisdom which is almost always characterized by pride. Men feel they need to prove themselves better than others. They boast about the school they attended or their number of degrees or their position or their title or their knowledge. Men are always boasting, either directly or subtly through a type of virtue signaling. Why is it so hard for us to just shut up and not boast of ourselves when questioned about our background or accomplishments? Why can't we be comfortable in who we are and what God thinks of us?

 

1 John 3:1a (ESV) — See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV) — I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 

In the message Sunday, the pastor reminded us of how much we (believers in Christ) are loved by God. We are not just called children of God (as 1 John 3:1a affirms -- we really are children of God -- which is in contrast to the world whom Jesus calls children of Satan, the Father of lies.

 

The other verse is a favorite of mine. Paul writes that Jesus loved him and died for him. All believers can say the same thing. Jesus loves me (say it out loud and emphasize the me) and Jesus gave himself (died) for me. That is so amazing and I am so unworthy.

 

PONDER:

1. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, do you realize the tremendous love God has for you?
2. If you are not a believer in Jesus, while you are created by God and his creation, the bible does not say you are a child of God. Do you realize that the Jesus calls someone who does not believe in Christ, a child of Satan?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am undeserving of the great kindness you have shown to me. We are all your creation, but only a few are your children. It was nothing I did. You offered the gift of salvation, the only thing I did was to accept your gift. I pray others would realize you simple salvation is.

QT 2/24/2025 1 Cor 2:6-16, The bible will change your life

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 (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. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 

NOTE: The wisdom of God that we impart is the truth from the scriptures. This is a secret and hidden wisdom of God. How can I say that? The scriptures are out there but they are not understood without the Spirit of God. Reading the bible and understanding the literal words does not seem hard. But apparently it is. It could be that men's (referring to mankind) mind are blinded to spiritual truth. They consider it folly so that they won't even try to understand it. I have people challenge me on a so-called contradictions in the bible. In every case to date, I have found simple explanations. I started to wonder why it was so hard to see logical explanations when the subject was the bible. The problem is that the atheist and person who does not believe in God begins with the assumption that the bible is wrong and contradictory, and then he precedes to find contradictory statements. But they really aren't, the person is blinded by his assumptions. If you assume it is true, you see the logical explanations. For example, one gospel mentions two demoniacs and another one demoniac in a story. The person who believes the bible is false says, "see a contradiction." I have a friend who was a military crime investigator -- He told me that when he heard two exact stories, it usually meant someone was lying. Two people in one story and one in another doesn't contradict. First, one is included in the number two. Second, one person may have been the dominant talker and mentioning the other didn't add anything to the story. These are all things we do when we write literal stories. If anything, slight differences don't contradict but rather validate the historical truth of the event, especially when written at the same time.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I approach the scriptures?
2. Do I believe the bible is true or do I believe it is false? My assumptions will influence my understanding.

 

PRAYER: Father, your word is literally life changing. It exposes our inner heart, revealing things about ourselves we never knew. It changes us from the inside out. It is, by far, the greatest self-help book that exists if people would only read it. Open our eyes to truth. Fill us with your spirit to understand its truth.

QT 2/21/2025 1 Cor 2:1-5, We only need to speak truth

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (ESV) —

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

NOTE: Paul continues on with his argument that the gospel is not based on human wisdom. Paul was quite brilliant and his arguments and speech can be lofty. But Paul specifically says that he did not present the gospel in that way. He did not impose himself upon them in a tower of great intelligence and human power. Instead, he came in weakness, fearful, and a little scared. He didn't use human arguments (although he could, and many people make apologetic arguments using science and philosophy), no -- he spoke as the Spirit of God led him. I imagine that he quoted Old Testament scripture to these Greek Gentiles. A favorite verse of mine illustrates this idea perfectly:

 

Isaiah 55:10–11 (ESV) —

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

 

God's word is powerful. You don't have to have all the answers. You really only need a few scriptures.

 

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) — And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Romans 3:23 (ESV) — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 (ESV) — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:10 (ESV) — The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 3:16 (ESV) — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV) — Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

 

Don't try to tell me that the last verse  was written to a church and does not apply to an individual. Read it in context and you will see that the last church were not believers -- they were blind (God opens the eyes of believers); they were naked (God clothes believers in righteousness); they were poor (they thought they were rich but God says they were poor, but God gives believers an inheritance). The reason they were wretched is because they thought they were saved but weren't. They needed a relationship with the savior. Each one needed to open the door and let him Jesus in.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I wretched? Do I truly know Jesus?
2. Am I trying to answer all the questions or do I just tell people what I have seen and heard using a few bible verses? That's all that Jesus asks.

 

PRAYER: Father, the level of our faith is so stinking low. It is hard to believe that so many are actually Christians. If there were as many Christians in this country as their claim to be, this country would look so much different. Forgive us and open our eyes to real truth.

QT 2/20/2025 1 Cor 1:22-31, Choosing real wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:22–31 (ESV) —

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 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: You actually see verses 26-28 working out in real life. I used to work in a Fortune 100 company as well as one of the top think tanks in the world (although they hated to be called a think tank). In the offices I work or led, more than half of the employees were PhD's and almost everyone else had Masters. There was a disdain for the Christian or Christian views. They are what we would call the "elite" in society and they saw Christians as uneducated and foolish. I was the outlier which was hard for them to explain, because I had an advanced degree, and I could defend my positions. They live isolated in their circles and echo chambers, such that it does not occur to them that there are quite a few educated people (Paul writes "not many" meaning some) who do believe in the gospel. But even if there weren't any, the "elite" will be shamed by the simple faith of those who were called and responded to the gospel. And the absolute scary thing is that these people, the "elite," will stand before God, and think they are ready to "stun" God with their questions. In reality, they will stand before God stunned and unable to open their mouth. They will find that the gospels are true, there is a creator, and they rebelled against God in order to become their own gods.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I listen to the educated voices or do I listen to the God whose "foolishness" is wiser than men's wisdom?
2. Do I try to mix the world's wisdom into God's word, or do I trust the wisdom of God over the wisdom of men?

 

PRAYER: Father, I want to know you and the power of your son's life in my life. I want to focus on the word, the bible, because it has the real answers to life. I want to teach truth, the word only.

QT 2/19/2025 1 Cor 1:18-22, Comparing the mind of man to God is like comparing an anthill to Mt Everest

1 Corinthians 1:18–22 (ESV) —

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 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. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

 

NOTE: The message of the cross, which during the time of the letter, would have been to the Greek "a cruel and disgusting penalty" (Cicero), and to the Jew a "curse." The message of the free gift of eternal life goes against human wisdom. We say the same thing all the time, "nothing is truly free," or "it's too good to be true." But salvation was never free, it cost God a lot. Only an incredible love, such as a man laying down his life for a friend or his children can explain it.

 

To the world, a free salvation seems like foolishness. Today, the idea of God is considered foolishness. Man has convinced himself that there were no miracles despite the eyewitnesses and biblical record. We are told these are fabrications, yet many eyewitnesses testified to the truth of the accounts. Thousands of copies were made during the time of the events. And 11 of the men who travelled with Jesus chose death or imprisonment rather than deny what they saw. Many other eyewitnesses, such as Stephen died standing up for the truth of the gospel. Martyrs who died for a cause generations after an event mean little to me. It is easy to be fooled. But martyrs who lived during the time and knew the truth, that evidence is impossible to ignore.

 

True foolishness is ignoring the evidence because it does not fit with our view of the world.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I truly examined the gospels and the claims of Christ?
2. Does the supernatural turn me off because I can't understand the science? If God created everything out of nothing, what really is impossible to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I believe in the message that was recorded in the first century. I believe it happened just as the writers recorded it. I believe that your wisdom is not only greater than mine, but that it is infinitely greater than mine. For me, to understand your works fully, would be like me explaining a recurrent neural network to a 5 year-old child -- there are things too difficult for me to comprehend, but that doesn't make it untrue.

QT 2/18/2025 1 Cor 1:10-17, Spiritual gifts abounding but not spiritual maturity

1 Corinthians 1:10–17 (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. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

 

NOTE: They are blessed with all the spiritual gifts, and, it seems, a fair amount of pride. There is no spiritual gift of humility. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit (i.e., related to patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness, but not listed), which is a result of maturity in Christ. You can have spiritual gifts when you first come to Jesus, but you can't have fruit until you have matured in Christ. The fruit includes love as the first item. In Peter's second letter, he describes a progression of spiritual maturity, adding one quality to another (I believe it is a cyclical progression that we continue to go through at deeper and deeper levels). The last thing to add in Peter's progression is love. When you truly love, you're not worried about who is the most important or who was discipled by who. You don't quarrel, but gently instruct and pray. This Corinthian church is very immature in its faith as seen in the quarreling over things related to pride. What a sad testimony to a church!

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have a spiritual pride problem?
2. Am I always trying to make myself known for my accomplishments or teaching?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I have a spiritual pride problem. I notice it more and more as I grow older. But I also notice an ever-growing lack of caring that people know my accomplishments -- that is good. I want to be more quiet and more interested in others. Those days of pushing myself up are fading, and that is a good thing. Continue to help me to mature in humility.