1 Corinthians 3
United We Stand, Divided We Fall...
"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God [is SOMETHING], who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:7).
Paul is addressing the divisions through quarreling and jealousy that was taking place in the Corinthian Church. He chalked this up to the believers being in their infancy, spiritual infancy, which Paul equated with 'worldliness' rather than spiritual maturity - Godliness... Ouch.
So, when we are divided through disagreeing that leads to quarreling, bickering, judging, one upsmanship...we display our immaturity as believers. Paul exhorts believers to grow by graduating to the feeding of the meat of the Word - Paul points out that their viewpoint is to realize that what is important is God - who causes the growth. No matter who is doing the teaching, baptizing, leading....that is not the emphasis (which the believers were arguing about ...kinda like, "I'm a Baptist, I'm a Non-denominational, I'm a Methodist, I'ma I'ma I'ma....).
When I was at Rock of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church (!!) in Chicago for many years, we had a focus of first helping reconcile people to God through Jesus and then helping breakdown walls of division between races; particularly black and white in the church. Some of us joined the Pastor in going to different churches to share the message of reconciliation - we would sing a song called "We Will Stand" by Russ Taff (check it out on youtube :) The lyrics focused on the fact that as believers, we are brothers and sisters - regardless of our differences - that most important reality was that we were one because of what Jesus did on the cross, and what the Holy Spirit did in our lives by drawing us to God through Jesus....that is what causes (d) us to stand.
As the Church goes, so does the world...if the Church - people of God - are united and intent on one purpose (Philippians 2:1-11) then we will be a powerful force for good, for God throughout the world. If we are divided, then we are revealing that the world is having more impact on us.
How do you see the Church's impact on our world today? How do you see your impact on those around you today?
"God, please forgive me and forgive us as Your people for the divisiveness and division we are perpetrating today...either by acts of commission (things we are doing) or acts of omission (things we are not doing). Lord, move by Your Spirit, help us to mature in Christ, moving from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). Give us as individuals and as a body the deep desire to be closer and closer to You. This is a desire that You will fulfill and that You will empower us to step into by our activities and actions. Show us the spiritual disciplines that will help position us for greater transformation, continual transformation into the Image of Your Son Jesus, the body of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Thank You Lord."
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
God's Wisdom and the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 2
This chapter is one of my favorites! There is so much packed into 16 verses! Paul is continuing to break-down the differences between God's wisdom, human wisdom, and who is able to discern/know the difference between the two. Further, Paul explains that unless one has the Spirit of God living within him/her, one can not know God's wisdom...indeed it is foolishness to him/her!
"The (wo)man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him/her, and s/he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Have you encountered folks who, in hearing Scripture or interpretation and application of Scripture either say they don't understand or say, "that is ridiculous, that is foolish, that makes no sense?" Perhaps upon hearing their reply, you have tried to explain the Word to them, and try as you may, it just 'doesn't make sense' to them. Perhaps you have gotten really frustrated and thought that they are either numb or just hopeless.
The reality that Paul is pointing out to us is clear. He is saying simply that when someone is not born-again and thus does not have the Holy Spirit living within, then the Word of God and it's expression or living out of it, is incomprehensible to him/her! S/he is NOT ABLE to get it...no matter how hard s/he tries. So, all your 'explaining' is for naught, until the Spirit lives within them.
So what are we, 'who are spiritual' (1 Corinthians 2:15) to do? Like Paul, we are to humbly approach others who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit - not in persuasive words (1 Corinthians 2:1) - sharing with them the Love of Christ, the power of sin, and Christ's overcoming sin through His shed blood on the cross, and His resurrection. For them. For you. For me.
One needs to receive the love and forgiveness of the cross, before understanding the wisdom of God. We need to rely on and trust in the Lord to convey this reality to folks, as we prayerfully 'share Christ and Him crucified' (1 Corinthians 2:2). Some time ago we talked about the 'order of things.' There is a way in which things work, even as revealed through God's Creation of natural order.
And so it is with the wisdom of God. One must have the Holy Spirit within, BEFORE understanding the things of God - until then God's wisdom is foolishness...
"Lord, thank You that You have made a way for us to know You and thus to understand, increasingly, Your Wisdom. I pray that all who are reading these words now, have the Your Spirit within. If not, right now Lord, move by Your Spirit, drawing each one to Yourself - filling with Your Holy Spirit unto salvation and growth in You Lord. Then, help us 'who are spiritual' exercise 'the mind of Christ' (1 Corinthians 2:16) which You have given us, in all things. We love You Lord. Thank You for loving us."
This chapter is one of my favorites! There is so much packed into 16 verses! Paul is continuing to break-down the differences between God's wisdom, human wisdom, and who is able to discern/know the difference between the two. Further, Paul explains that unless one has the Spirit of God living within him/her, one can not know God's wisdom...indeed it is foolishness to him/her!
"The (wo)man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him/her, and s/he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Have you encountered folks who, in hearing Scripture or interpretation and application of Scripture either say they don't understand or say, "that is ridiculous, that is foolish, that makes no sense?" Perhaps upon hearing their reply, you have tried to explain the Word to them, and try as you may, it just 'doesn't make sense' to them. Perhaps you have gotten really frustrated and thought that they are either numb or just hopeless.
The reality that Paul is pointing out to us is clear. He is saying simply that when someone is not born-again and thus does not have the Holy Spirit living within, then the Word of God and it's expression or living out of it, is incomprehensible to him/her! S/he is NOT ABLE to get it...no matter how hard s/he tries. So, all your 'explaining' is for naught, until the Spirit lives within them.
So what are we, 'who are spiritual' (1 Corinthians 2:15) to do? Like Paul, we are to humbly approach others who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit - not in persuasive words (1 Corinthians 2:1) - sharing with them the Love of Christ, the power of sin, and Christ's overcoming sin through His shed blood on the cross, and His resurrection. For them. For you. For me.
One needs to receive the love and forgiveness of the cross, before understanding the wisdom of God. We need to rely on and trust in the Lord to convey this reality to folks, as we prayerfully 'share Christ and Him crucified' (1 Corinthians 2:2). Some time ago we talked about the 'order of things.' There is a way in which things work, even as revealed through God's Creation of natural order.
And so it is with the wisdom of God. One must have the Holy Spirit within, BEFORE understanding the things of God - until then God's wisdom is foolishness...
"Lord, thank You that You have made a way for us to know You and thus to understand, increasingly, Your Wisdom. I pray that all who are reading these words now, have the Your Spirit within. If not, right now Lord, move by Your Spirit, drawing each one to Yourself - filling with Your Holy Spirit unto salvation and growth in You Lord. Then, help us 'who are spiritual' exercise 'the mind of Christ' (1 Corinthians 2:16) which You have given us, in all things. We love You Lord. Thank You for loving us."
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wisdom vs. Foolishness
Food for Life:
We are focusing on a new book beginning today - Paul's (strong and straightforward) letter to the church at Corinth (written @ A.D. 55, Paul's third year/missionary journey in Ephesus). There were issues of immorality and idolatry in the church - as folks struggled to live out their faith in Christ in the midst of the corrupt and worldly city of Corinth! It appears that Corinth may have been a society much like we find ourselves in today in the USA!
Paul's focus was to assist believers in Corinth, and for us today, to identify the issues (jealousy, divisiveness, sexual immorality, and failure of the church to discipline members), offer solutions to the problems, and teach how to live as 'believers in a corrupt society" (NIV Study Bible p2059).
1 Corinthians 1
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God....For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of god is stronger than man's strength...Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord" (1:18,25, 31).
Has anyone ever said to you or communicated to you non-verbally that: the God-Man Jesus dying on the cross for you (your sin and theirs) and then rising from the dead and now living and will be returning again - is foolish? And that you are foolish for believing such? Or maybe you once thought it foolish.
This is the point of Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 1. That without faith, which is through God's grace, folks think it foolish to believe in the Gospel message that Christ came, was crucified, rose again, and is coming back - all for you because w/o Christ doing so, you and I would be lost. This world would be it for us. We wouldn't know the joy of real life here, and we wouldn't know the joy of Eternity with Christ. We would only have ourselves to boast in - our works, our accomplishments, our intelligence, our talents, our our our - me, myself, and I.
Without faith in Christ, we have it backwards at best. The reality is human's highest intelligence and wisdom is like God's 'foolishness.' Now, we know that there is no foolishness in God...but if there were, it would be more wise than we could possibly achieve!
And so, Paul is stressing to the believers at Corinth, and us, that we have no reason to be braggarts in ourselves or any one person - which ultimately cause divisions, quarrels, jealousies, and discord. Paul exhorts, calls them and us to 'boast in the Lord' if we are going to boast.
Boasting in anyone or anything apart from Christ, except for God, is...foolish.
"Lord, thank You for the reality and message of Christ. Thank You for all the gifts, talents, abilities, and blessings we have in our lives...they all are from You. You are the source of EVERYTHING that is good. Help us to recognize our dependence on You in all matters in this life and Eternity; and have grateful hearts for all the good that comes from within us...because You live...because You live in and through us. We love You Lord."
We are focusing on a new book beginning today - Paul's (strong and straightforward) letter to the church at Corinth (written @ A.D. 55, Paul's third year/missionary journey in Ephesus). There were issues of immorality and idolatry in the church - as folks struggled to live out their faith in Christ in the midst of the corrupt and worldly city of Corinth! It appears that Corinth may have been a society much like we find ourselves in today in the USA!
Paul's focus was to assist believers in Corinth, and for us today, to identify the issues (jealousy, divisiveness, sexual immorality, and failure of the church to discipline members), offer solutions to the problems, and teach how to live as 'believers in a corrupt society" (NIV Study Bible p2059).
1 Corinthians 1
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God....For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of god is stronger than man's strength...Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord" (1:18,25, 31).
Has anyone ever said to you or communicated to you non-verbally that: the God-Man Jesus dying on the cross for you (your sin and theirs) and then rising from the dead and now living and will be returning again - is foolish? And that you are foolish for believing such? Or maybe you once thought it foolish.
This is the point of Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 1. That without faith, which is through God's grace, folks think it foolish to believe in the Gospel message that Christ came, was crucified, rose again, and is coming back - all for you because w/o Christ doing so, you and I would be lost. This world would be it for us. We wouldn't know the joy of real life here, and we wouldn't know the joy of Eternity with Christ. We would only have ourselves to boast in - our works, our accomplishments, our intelligence, our talents, our our our - me, myself, and I.
Without faith in Christ, we have it backwards at best. The reality is human's highest intelligence and wisdom is like God's 'foolishness.' Now, we know that there is no foolishness in God...but if there were, it would be more wise than we could possibly achieve!
And so, Paul is stressing to the believers at Corinth, and us, that we have no reason to be braggarts in ourselves or any one person - which ultimately cause divisions, quarrels, jealousies, and discord. Paul exhorts, calls them and us to 'boast in the Lord' if we are going to boast.
Boasting in anyone or anything apart from Christ, except for God, is...foolish.
"Lord, thank You for the reality and message of Christ. Thank You for all the gifts, talents, abilities, and blessings we have in our lives...they all are from You. You are the source of EVERYTHING that is good. Help us to recognize our dependence on You in all matters in this life and Eternity; and have grateful hearts for all the good that comes from within us...because You live...because You live in and through us. We love You Lord."
Monday, September 20, 2010
Created for and with Purpose
This devotional encourages and confirms the gifting God has given to women. It encourages me as a woman who has not been married nor given birth to children. I experience what the writer is speaking of however, in 'giving birth' in writing, ministry offerings, pouring into others lives....relishing in seeing others grow and blossom as they grow in their relationship with the Lord!
I pray that for you today, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances of life, that today would be a day when you experience the deep Love of God for yourself. In God's deep Love I pray you get a glimpse of who you are created to be, and that the reality of who you are in Christ breaks forth to another level.
Blessings and joy to you today,
Robin
Sunday, September 19, 2010
To Mother
As large as the role our mothers have played, the word "mother" is more powerful when used as a verb than as a noun. All women are not mothers but all women are called to mother. To mother is to nurture, to train, to educate, to rear. As daughters of Eve, all women are uniquely gifted to help others in their lives become more of who they truly are - to encourage, nurture and mother them towards their true selves. In doing this, women partner with Christ in the vital mission of bringing forth life.
The nurturing of life is a high and holy calling. And as a woman, it is yours. Yes, it takes many shapes and has a myriad of faces. Yes, men are called to this as well. But uniquely and deeply, this calling makes up part of the very fiber of a woman's soul - the calling to mother.
All women are called to mother. And all women are called to give birth. Women give birth to all kinds of things - to a book (it's nearly as hard as a child, believe me), to a church or to a movement. Women give birth to ideas, to creative expressions, to ministries. We birth life in others by inviting them into deeper realms of healing, to deeper walks with God, to deeper intimacy with Jesus. A woman is not less of a woman because she is not a wife or has not physically born a child. The heart and life of a woman is much vaster than that. All women are made in the image of God in that we bring forth life. When we enter into our world and into the lives of those we love and offer our tender and strong feminine hearts, we cannot help but mother them.
The capacity of a woman's heart for meaningful relationships is vast. There is no way your husband or your children can ever provide the intimacy and relational satisfaction you need. A woman must have women friends.
It is here, in the realm of relationship that women receive the most joy and the profoundest sorrows. The friendships of women inhabit a terrain of great mystery. There is a fierce jealousy, a fiery devotion and a great loyalty between women friends. Our friendships flow in the deep waters of the heart where God dwells and transformation takes place. It is here, in this holy place that a woman can partner with God in impacting another and be impacted by another for lasting good. It is here that she can mother, nurture, encourage and call forth Life.
To have a woman friend is to relax into another soul and be welcomed in all that you are and all that you are not. To know that, as a woman, you are not alone. Friendships between women provide a safe place to share in the experiences of life as a woman.
(Captivating, 176-180)
I pray that for you today, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances of life, that today would be a day when you experience the deep Love of God for yourself. In God's deep Love I pray you get a glimpse of who you are created to be, and that the reality of who you are in Christ breaks forth to another level.
Blessings and joy to you today,
Robin
Sunday, September 19, 2010
To Mother
As large as the role our mothers have played, the word "mother" is more powerful when used as a verb than as a noun. All women are not mothers but all women are called to mother. To mother is to nurture, to train, to educate, to rear. As daughters of Eve, all women are uniquely gifted to help others in their lives become more of who they truly are - to encourage, nurture and mother them towards their true selves. In doing this, women partner with Christ in the vital mission of bringing forth life.
The nurturing of life is a high and holy calling. And as a woman, it is yours. Yes, it takes many shapes and has a myriad of faces. Yes, men are called to this as well. But uniquely and deeply, this calling makes up part of the very fiber of a woman's soul - the calling to mother.
All women are called to mother. And all women are called to give birth. Women give birth to all kinds of things - to a book (it's nearly as hard as a child, believe me), to a church or to a movement. Women give birth to ideas, to creative expressions, to ministries. We birth life in others by inviting them into deeper realms of healing, to deeper walks with God, to deeper intimacy with Jesus. A woman is not less of a woman because she is not a wife or has not physically born a child. The heart and life of a woman is much vaster than that. All women are made in the image of God in that we bring forth life. When we enter into our world and into the lives of those we love and offer our tender and strong feminine hearts, we cannot help but mother them.
The capacity of a woman's heart for meaningful relationships is vast. There is no way your husband or your children can ever provide the intimacy and relational satisfaction you need. A woman must have women friends.
It is here, in the realm of relationship that women receive the most joy and the profoundest sorrows. The friendships of women inhabit a terrain of great mystery. There is a fierce jealousy, a fiery devotion and a great loyalty between women friends. Our friendships flow in the deep waters of the heart where God dwells and transformation takes place. It is here, in this holy place that a woman can partner with God in impacting another and be impacted by another for lasting good. It is here that she can mother, nurture, encourage and call forth Life.
To have a woman friend is to relax into another soul and be welcomed in all that you are and all that you are not. To know that, as a woman, you are not alone. Friendships between women provide a safe place to share in the experiences of life as a woman.
(Captivating, 176-180)
Truth vs. a lie
Food for Life
Romans 16
"I urge you, {sisters and} brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving the Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. That grace of our Lord Jesus be with you" (16:17-21)
This is the last chapter in the book of Romans. Paul summarizes his teachings, admonitions, warnings, instruction, and encouragement in this Scripture by reminding the believers to be responsible and accountable for themselves in knowing the Truth of Scripture. The way for them, and us, to do this is to be reading, meditating, studying, and practicing Scripture ourselves. So, when we hear, read, or in other ways are presented with teaching that is contrary to Scripture, we will be able to detect this ourselves - we will not be deceived by flattery, charisma, persuasion, or debate; which then leads to division and obstacles among us.
The ending of Paul's letter to the Romans records his admonition to be "wise in what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Wow, I love this. We are exhorted/called to be wise in all things good, and to veer so far away from evil, that we are just innocent, un-knowledgeable or even naive about the details of evil...Let it be Lord.
You may have heard that in order for money handlers to be able to distinguish real money from counterfeit, they are expert in real money. So, when they see counterfeit, they know it is counterfeit b/c it veers from the real...not b/c they know all the details of counterfeit. As you may imagine, there are so many ways to make money counterfeit that it really would be impossible to know them all and identify them. BUT real money is real money. As it is with God's way...God's Truth...if we know the Truth then we will easily detect when something is amiss...even if we can't describe all the ways something is amiss, or even if we can't actually 'put our finger on it', we just know that it isn't the Truth.
"Lord, I pray You would move in each one of our hearts and minds in such a way that we would increasingly thirst and hunger after You; in reading and meditating on Your Word and seeking the Holy Spirit to reveal all Truth to us. Thank You that You are able. Thank You that in You, Satan is and will be crushed under our feet, and that even now, we can receive Your Grace Lord Jesus. Thank You Lord."
Romans 16
"I urge you, {sisters and} brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving the Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. That grace of our Lord Jesus be with you" (16:17-21)
This is the last chapter in the book of Romans. Paul summarizes his teachings, admonitions, warnings, instruction, and encouragement in this Scripture by reminding the believers to be responsible and accountable for themselves in knowing the Truth of Scripture. The way for them, and us, to do this is to be reading, meditating, studying, and practicing Scripture ourselves. So, when we hear, read, or in other ways are presented with teaching that is contrary to Scripture, we will be able to detect this ourselves - we will not be deceived by flattery, charisma, persuasion, or debate; which then leads to division and obstacles among us.
The ending of Paul's letter to the Romans records his admonition to be "wise in what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Wow, I love this. We are exhorted/called to be wise in all things good, and to veer so far away from evil, that we are just innocent, un-knowledgeable or even naive about the details of evil...Let it be Lord.
You may have heard that in order for money handlers to be able to distinguish real money from counterfeit, they are expert in real money. So, when they see counterfeit, they know it is counterfeit b/c it veers from the real...not b/c they know all the details of counterfeit. As you may imagine, there are so many ways to make money counterfeit that it really would be impossible to know them all and identify them. BUT real money is real money. As it is with God's way...God's Truth...if we know the Truth then we will easily detect when something is amiss...even if we can't describe all the ways something is amiss, or even if we can't actually 'put our finger on it', we just know that it isn't the Truth.
"Lord, I pray You would move in each one of our hearts and minds in such a way that we would increasingly thirst and hunger after You; in reading and meditating on Your Word and seeking the Holy Spirit to reveal all Truth to us. Thank You that You are able. Thank You that in You, Satan is and will be crushed under our feet, and that even now, we can receive Your Grace Lord Jesus. Thank You Lord."
Friday, September 17, 2010
Commitment
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do it " Psalm 37:5).
Without this commitment, commitment to the Lord, all other commitments will eventually extinguish...here or in Glory.
"Lord, help us to see our need for You and for Your ways, help us to see the need we for relationship commitment to You as #1...let us today be in greater fellowship commitment with You than we were yesterday...and not as much as tomorrow :), thank You Lord"
Without this commitment, commitment to the Lord, all other commitments will eventually extinguish...here or in Glory.
"Lord, help us to see our need for You and for Your ways, help us to see the need we for relationship commitment to You as #1...let us today be in greater fellowship commitment with You than we were yesterday...and not as much as tomorrow :), thank You Lord"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
