Temptation sounds like such a strong word. Temptation makes me think of really bad things, blatant things. I figure I must only deal with temptation once a week, or something like that. But in reality, temptation comes knocking on me daily -- the temptation to be proud, the temptation to talk about others, the temptation for more stuff, the temptation to lose my patience when I think I have to deal with things myself rather than asking God for help. Temptation is a daily battle for me, as I imagine it is for all of us when we stop and think about it.
For the next few days, we will be studying temptation. Let's start with the introduction:
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Here's where I ask myself, "What happened?!" These people, the Israelites, saw miracles! Incredible miracles! God parted the sea for them to escape their enemies, He provided food that literally fell from the sky so they would not starve, and He provided water for them to drink...from a rock! How could people who got to witness first-hand the obvious miracles of God end up denying Him in the end? One word: temptation. They fell prey to their own desires during the hard times in the desert, and it cost them their lives. Let's not be quick to point fingers (I can say this because I'm always pointing fingers at the Israelites, and forgetting that they are me sometimes because I act like them!). They fell prey to their own desires, it cost them their very lives, and without Christ and my surrendering to Him, there go I!
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did —and were killed by the destroying angel. Notice that this is recorded as an example to us. Isn't that what the Bible is? It's hundreds of powerful examples of what to do and what not to do, among other things, but here is one very powerful example for us! Notice it says that some of them were idolaters, not all, so it is possible to be set apart even when everyone around you is falling. But of the ones who were idolaters, their fate was not idyllic.
Now, let's get one thing straight here before we go on. Idols. No, we do not bow down to golden figures or dance in front of a wooden post when we want something. But, as I've mentioned before, one of my favorite books on idols of today is written by Timothy Keller entitled Counterfeit Gods, and perhaps he can help us with this foreign word. What is an idol? "It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give." It could be a person, a relationship, an activity, a position, our beauty, our brains, our families, a political or social cause, peer approval. An idol has such control in your heart that you can spend most of your passion, energy, emotional and financial resources on it without a second thought! And you know it has become a counterfeit god when is has become "so central and essential to your life that, should you lost it, your life would feel hardly worth living."
Some of the Israelites' idols, according to these verses, were wanting their own way, turning religion into just another party (our relationship with Christ is so much more meaningful than that), sexual promiscuity, and thinking that God should serve us! I'm sure power, greed, and an attitude of self-serving were all in there as well, because that is our human condition.
So, the Israelites had idols. We have idols. Let's not think that we don't. Our idols are constantly vying for our attention, and unless we begin to give them the type of attention and work that they require to put them in their correct place, they will consume us, as they did many of the Israelites. God told us that above all things we should have no other gods before Him, and He takes that command very seriously. There is truly nothing else that will satisfy us the way He does and can. We will just be running the rat race, seeking to find fulfillment until we turn to Him...and He knows that. He created us that way, but He won't force us to turn to Him.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Wow, Paul said it again. These are examples for us. Another warning that we could become like them. But we do have the choice, do we not? Our positions in God's story are parallel: they were at the beginning of the age, and we are at the end. And we are just as capable of messing up as they were, so we must not be so self-confident to think that we would never behave as they did. I'm sure if you read my daily thoughts on a ticker-tape, it would be quite obvious that I am just like them! Instead of self-confidence, let me rely on my confidence in God -- without Him, I am nothing, and only He will give me the desires that my heart should desire.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Here is one of my favorite verses in all of the Bible. First of all, the temptations we face are not subtle...they overtake us at times. I have been in situations where I really think someone has suddenly taken the wheel of my desires and actions. I have felt completely overtaken before! And none of these feelings and situations are new -- they are common to mankind. Common. They are not some fluke. The temptations you are currently facing have been around for ages. In Ezekiel 14:3 (thousands of years ago, during the time of pagan idol worship, God saw that it was not the statues that were a problem), "These men have set up their idols in their hearts." Idols are a universal, human problem.
But even amidst that, here's the good news... God is faithful. He is faithful even when we are not! And the promise is that He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, because He will always provide a way out! I have found this to be 100% true in my own life. Sometimes I see the way out and I run to it, and sadly, other times, I have seen the way out and chosen to linger for a while in my feelings of the moment and been overtaken. Severe consequences always follow.
But the promise is that He will provide a way out. Every time. Watch for it, and then choose to RUN to it...don't delay, or you will be overtaken.
As we begin to acknowledge the idols of our hearts, I urge you to be mindful of what is taking up most of your thought-life today, your energy, and your time? Ask God if it has become an idol in your life, and if it has, confess it to someone! It takes effort on our part to remove what has been seated on the throne of our lives and put it back in its proper place, but I assure you you will find freedom in doing so. I'm working on this with you, my friend. I want the LORD to be the one and only God in my life! Help us, Lord. We just want You. Help us.
Coffee with Jesus
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Isaiah 6:1-3 (Seated)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy , holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
My world has been turned upside down ever since my mom died. It was three years ago today.
There is something about mothers, the way they hold a family together, the way they listen, the way they bandages scraped knees, the way they give the tightest hugs that seem to sink into your skin all the way to your heart. Moms are the best (as are dads, but we'll get to them another day). Today, moms are the best, and today I really miss mine.
I've missed her all month. People who haven't yet lost someone may think it strange, but as soon as my calendar read April 1, I started thinking about her, this is the month that Mom died. So, it's been a month full of memories, laughter, and tears. It seems like I should be further along by now, but then when I talk to other people who have lost someone, like my 82-year-old step grandma, even she still misses her mama. There is just something about moms.
When my mom died, my world slowly began to "fall apart" and falling apart is not always a bad thing, because if something unhealthy is being held together, it's best that it does fall apart. But being someone who doesn't like change, a little change in my life feels like "falling apart" and a lot of change (like what has happened over the past three years) feels like a death sentence at times. I used to turn to my mom in seasons like this, but she's not here.
That's when the anxiety begins to build. I don't have control, I don't know what's happening next, I don't know if I can take much more right now, and I don't even have Mom here to talk through all of this with me. Do you see what is missing in that list? How about God? How about this God who loves me, who cares for me individually and for the world as a whole, who is in control of all things, and who has all the power and knowledge of everything, everywhere. Why do I not turn to Him faster?
I think the Lord must have known I was forgetting this because three times in the last month, I have heard someone speak about the passage above. This is a very powerful piece of scripture, and I wish I had more time today to study it with you, but here is what I have been reminded this week:
"I saw the Lord, high and exalted,...and the train of his robe filled the temple." These words give us an image of how powerful our God is! God in human form is Jesus, and so here we see Jesus on this throne! He is seated high, above everything. He sees it all. As a king might look down over his kingdom, so our God looks down over the entire world. And He is also exalted -- He's in the place of honor. I forget that sometimes when I remember that Jesus is my friend while I forget that He is the King of Kings. He is above all the kings, leaders, and powerful people who have ever lived. In fact, he is so above them that the train of his robe (a distinguished symbol of honor and nobility) fills the entire temple!
Here He is with all this power. He is in charge of the world; He sees all that is happening. And with all this responsibility, how is he on His throne? He is seated. He's not pacing back and forth, wringing His hands about how to take care of this matter or that one. There are no surprises to Him -- He's not thinking, Well, I didn't see that one coming...what now? No, He is seated. He's not worried, because He is in control even as He sits.
Well, doesn't God see what I'm going through, and does He not care? How can He sit while He sees what is happening all over the world? He is seated, even at this moment, because He knows how it all ends. I cannot possibly claim to know all that Jesus thinks, but I do know from what I've read in Scripture that His heart does break for us and over us. He loves us so much, and sickness, disease, divorce, and death are all an invasion into how God created it to be. But He knows how it all ends...
He is in control of it all, and He is seated. So today, I can trust that God is working His plans through me and in me as well. Let us remain faithful, dear friends. There is pain on this side of Heaven, but it will not last forever. We have a great and glorious hope -- Christ is returning to crush satan and conquer death! And if we know Him, we will reign with Him one day soon!
...And I don't have to worry about my mom, because she is having a GREAT day today!
1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 2. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
(Back to 1 Corinthians on Monday...)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Just Crack It! (Looking Back at Year 1)
Well my friends, we've hit a monumental week. It has been over a
year now since I began writing this blog! Quite frankly, I am as
shocked, if not more shocked, than you are by this...seeing as how I
have never been one to stick with a morning quiet time for more an a
week.
I wanted to share with you, and with myself, how it all began (because, like you, I am just a regular human being who would often rather push snooze), and I'm hoping, more than anything, that you will realize that you can do this, too! So here is what I wrote on Day #1, April 16, 2012:
***
"For a few years now, I have been listening to James MacDonald's sermons on my iPod while I run. Can I just tell you that this has absolutely changed my life?! For a long time, I thought that in order to get the most out of the Bible I always had to read it myself; but let me attest that listening to James has made me a better Bible reader (and doing it while running allows me to work on my physical and spiritual health at the same time). James has taught me how to break verses apart and look at them deeply. He also has been one of a handful influences in my life who has shown me what it is to DELIGHT in the Word.
In a recent podcast, he challenged us to READ the Bible (novel concept, eh?). But I realized that I had grown to the place where I now needed to not just be spoon-fed by James, but jump into the Bible myself and allow God to have an intimate relationship with me. Such was James' challenge..."it's time that you got serious about reading the Bible before you do anything else in your day." I knew this had to be true for me -- the fact is, I had tried to make time with God after work everyday, but how quickly I was distracted. Doing it in the morning would take discipline, he said. Haven't I heard that before? Yes. But for some reason, that day, I was ready to take the jump. Will it be "easy"? Well, I sure wish it was, but I think that is part of the blessing of discipline. It's not easy. It hurts sometimes. But it is ALWAYS worth the sacrifice. So, I decided it was time to try the plan. I was going to set my alarm just 30 minutes earlier, which, let me tell you, is a huge sacrifice for me. This girl loves her sleep!
After 30 days of this, he said I would be DISCIPLINED.
After 30 more days, I would DESIRE to get up and be with God.
After 30 more days, getting up early to read the Word would become my DELIGHT.
Oh, how I want to DELIGHT in reading the word and doing what God wants me to do!
So, I have done it now for two days in a row. The hard part hasn't really come yet; I know this. But the first day (yesterday) was amazing! My entire day was different because I had a different perspective, and I had gotten to drink my coffee with Jesus that morning. How incredibly special and intimate it was! That was the best coffee date I've ever had, and I make sure to have coffee with friends regularly.
So why the title, PSALM 1 WALK? Well, I didn't know where else to start reading but in Psalm 1 (and I decided to read through Philippians, too). And here is what I read first:
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. They leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. (And later in verse 6) For the LORD watches over the path of the godly."
This is my desire, Lord. I desire to absolutely delight in doing everything you want because I know that your ways do not lead to destruction. I want to be planted along Your riverbed, drawing up your Truth as I walk through this life and not the lies of the culture and of satan. Help me to find my strength in you, so that I do not wither in this life, Lord. I want to prosper in whatever plans You have for me to do. Thank you for watching over me now and tomorrow. I give You my life."
***
Now back to today. Much of this hasn't changed. I still do desire to delight in His Word and to do what He wants me to do...that is the complete desire of my heart. Also, more than anything, I am always aware that my days that start with Jesus are the better ones. And, some days when the alarm goes off, it is still a little more of a discipline than a delight, at least until I can start reading, and then the delight oozes back into my soul. So, in order to get up at 5:00 every morning, I have had to move my bedtime up a bit, which means I can't stay up as late as I'd like, but it's really been worth it!
There are only a couple things that have changed, one being the length of time I've done it now (more than two days), so I've gotten past the blissful, emotional part of starting something new to where I'm slowly heading down the road to making this a lifestyle. Yes, please! And, the other big thing is that though I try to do this most weekday mornings, I have not done it every weekday morning. Normally, I would immediately feel like a failure for not having the inner drive to get up every single day, but that's part of the beauty in what I'm learning -- God's not keeping score. Realizing this is what has made all the difference this time around. Now, I do always regret when I don't get to spend time in the Word first thing in the morning, but I'm not taking an all-or-nothing approach anymore in this. I really think that is where satan has derailed me in the past, and rather than walking away with my hands in the air when I miss a day, I just plan to give it a try the next morning, and I find that God is always waiting for me in the office, a smile on His face, and He whispers to me I'm glad you're back for more today.
And you can do this, too. It will change your life, I promise. And you absolutely don't have to get up at 5:00 a.m.! Just start with 15 minutes (and maybe a cup of coffee): ask God to open your eyes to His Word, read a few verses, and allow His Spirit to speak into your life. If you're like me, after a while, you just may find that 15 minutes is not enough time anymore.
Yes, there is a sacrifice involved (your sleep) -- it's not a true sacrifice if it doesn't cost you something. But I know that God will bless our time and our sacrifices when we are seeking to know Him more! Satan, meanwhile, will do whatever he can to prevent you from knowing God more, so ignore your e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and the News for second. Grab your Bible, and just crack it open, and let the learning and wisdom flow! You NEED this!
It has been a joy to journey through The Word with you this past year! I love to know what God is doing in your life as we study together. I look forward to what the next year will bring us as we continue to "thrill in Scripture, to chew on it day and night" (The Message).
I wanted to share with you, and with myself, how it all began (because, like you, I am just a regular human being who would often rather push snooze), and I'm hoping, more than anything, that you will realize that you can do this, too! So here is what I wrote on Day #1, April 16, 2012:
***
"For a few years now, I have been listening to James MacDonald's sermons on my iPod while I run. Can I just tell you that this has absolutely changed my life?! For a long time, I thought that in order to get the most out of the Bible I always had to read it myself; but let me attest that listening to James has made me a better Bible reader (and doing it while running allows me to work on my physical and spiritual health at the same time). James has taught me how to break verses apart and look at them deeply. He also has been one of a handful influences in my life who has shown me what it is to DELIGHT in the Word.
In a recent podcast, he challenged us to READ the Bible (novel concept, eh?). But I realized that I had grown to the place where I now needed to not just be spoon-fed by James, but jump into the Bible myself and allow God to have an intimate relationship with me. Such was James' challenge..."it's time that you got serious about reading the Bible before you do anything else in your day." I knew this had to be true for me -- the fact is, I had tried to make time with God after work everyday, but how quickly I was distracted. Doing it in the morning would take discipline, he said. Haven't I heard that before? Yes. But for some reason, that day, I was ready to take the jump. Will it be "easy"? Well, I sure wish it was, but I think that is part of the blessing of discipline. It's not easy. It hurts sometimes. But it is ALWAYS worth the sacrifice. So, I decided it was time to try the plan. I was going to set my alarm just 30 minutes earlier, which, let me tell you, is a huge sacrifice for me. This girl loves her sleep!
After 30 days of this, he said I would be DISCIPLINED.
After 30 more days, I would DESIRE to get up and be with God.
After 30 more days, getting up early to read the Word would become my DELIGHT.
Oh, how I want to DELIGHT in reading the word and doing what God wants me to do!
So, I have done it now for two days in a row. The hard part hasn't really come yet; I know this. But the first day (yesterday) was amazing! My entire day was different because I had a different perspective, and I had gotten to drink my coffee with Jesus that morning. How incredibly special and intimate it was! That was the best coffee date I've ever had, and I make sure to have coffee with friends regularly.
So why the title, PSALM 1 WALK? Well, I didn't know where else to start reading but in Psalm 1 (and I decided to read through Philippians, too). And here is what I read first:
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. They leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. (And later in verse 6) For the LORD watches over the path of the godly."
This is my desire, Lord. I desire to absolutely delight in doing everything you want because I know that your ways do not lead to destruction. I want to be planted along Your riverbed, drawing up your Truth as I walk through this life and not the lies of the culture and of satan. Help me to find my strength in you, so that I do not wither in this life, Lord. I want to prosper in whatever plans You have for me to do. Thank you for watching over me now and tomorrow. I give You my life."
***
Now back to today. Much of this hasn't changed. I still do desire to delight in His Word and to do what He wants me to do...that is the complete desire of my heart. Also, more than anything, I am always aware that my days that start with Jesus are the better ones. And, some days when the alarm goes off, it is still a little more of a discipline than a delight, at least until I can start reading, and then the delight oozes back into my soul. So, in order to get up at 5:00 every morning, I have had to move my bedtime up a bit, which means I can't stay up as late as I'd like, but it's really been worth it!
There are only a couple things that have changed, one being the length of time I've done it now (more than two days), so I've gotten past the blissful, emotional part of starting something new to where I'm slowly heading down the road to making this a lifestyle. Yes, please! And, the other big thing is that though I try to do this most weekday mornings, I have not done it every weekday morning. Normally, I would immediately feel like a failure for not having the inner drive to get up every single day, but that's part of the beauty in what I'm learning -- God's not keeping score. Realizing this is what has made all the difference this time around. Now, I do always regret when I don't get to spend time in the Word first thing in the morning, but I'm not taking an all-or-nothing approach anymore in this. I really think that is where satan has derailed me in the past, and rather than walking away with my hands in the air when I miss a day, I just plan to give it a try the next morning, and I find that God is always waiting for me in the office, a smile on His face, and He whispers to me I'm glad you're back for more today.
And you can do this, too. It will change your life, I promise. And you absolutely don't have to get up at 5:00 a.m.! Just start with 15 minutes (and maybe a cup of coffee): ask God to open your eyes to His Word, read a few verses, and allow His Spirit to speak into your life. If you're like me, after a while, you just may find that 15 minutes is not enough time anymore.
Yes, there is a sacrifice involved (your sleep) -- it's not a true sacrifice if it doesn't cost you something. But I know that God will bless our time and our sacrifices when we are seeking to know Him more! Satan, meanwhile, will do whatever he can to prevent you from knowing God more, so ignore your e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and the News for second. Grab your Bible, and just crack it open, and let the learning and wisdom flow! You NEED this!
It has been a joy to journey through The Word with you this past year! I love to know what God is doing in your life as we study together. I look forward to what the next year will bring us as we continue to "thrill in Scripture, to chew on it day and night" (The Message).
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Athlete)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do
it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that
will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I
have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the
prize.
These past two chapters we've been talking about the freedom that comes in knowing Christ, as well as the rights and desires we must willingly give up. Paul knows that these proclamations are difficult -- they are not what the rest of the world might tell us to do -- so right here, in the middle of this letter to the Corinthians, Paul adds some encouragement and exhortation to help us keep the fire going! After all the commands of what rights we are to give up, I could use a little encouragement. Good thinking, Paul!
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Perhaps you just ran in the Race of the Cure this weekend, or you might be training for the mini-marathon as I am. We all are out there running, but only one person can win. We know what that looks like don't we? Everyone runs; one wins. The prize is worth your strongest effort, so we can't be running this race of the Christian life halfheartedly. Run to win. Here's how...
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Strict training. Strict training (as I'm discovering myself) requires very strict self-control. I must control myself to get up early, dress for running, and then go do it. I must control what I put into my body so that I can perform well. All of these running metaphors have a parallel.
In my Christian life I must get up. Just say yes! I have to choose to ignore all the other things I could do, and say yes to spending time with the Lord.
Not only must I get up, but I must get up early. There is a severe sacrifice involved here, because anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE sleeping. As much as you really love to sleep, that's me. I hear ya. I tried the afternoon quiet times for years, and they would always get pushed aside by other things that "must get done." But strict self-control is required of us, and I've found that when I start my day in the Word, my whole day, my whole week, my whole life is better for it. Trust me, it's worth it.
I dress for running a race. In my Christian life, that means I put on the full armor of God so that I am prepared to run this race and fight the devil's schemes against me. I would love to study this together some day! But for now, here is the armor: (Ephesians 6)
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Then, I must go do it. Sometimes, it's not a matter of self-control to NOT do something, but controlling myself TO do it. To go to church when I would rather sleep in. To go help my neighbor when I would rather relax. To listen to a co-worker when there are so many papers to grade. To speak about what Christ has done in my life when I would rather be silent. The Holy Spirit will help you in all of this. We are not alone in this race! But I assure you that nothing will be done for the kingdom if we are constantly on the couch, or...Facebook. Ouch, that's hard for me to say.
Also, I must control what I put into my body. The food I eat greatly affects my runs. Likewise, the music, images, books, conversations, movies and TV shows that fill my brain will eventually fill my heart. It is vitally important what I am putting in. I can pick media outlets that will fill my heart and soul or I can pick those that destroy what God desires to create in me. Media fasts are a great thing. This Lenten season, I was reminded as I fasted from Facebook, just how much comparisons happens in my mind as I peruse the pages of the media. But God desires that I get my value from what He says about me, not how I compare to people I rarely or never see in real life. That is not life-giving for me.
And remind my WHY I'm doing this??...They (athletes) do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Oh, yes. What we do on this side of Heaven WILL go with us into eternity. It matters. I don't understand how that works completely, but I trust it. There are rewards on the other side according to what we have done here. Our works do not "buy" us salvation, but they are rewarded! God sees what we do, and of my life, I desire that He might say, "I saw you, Molly. Well done, good and faithful servant."
26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave... And that is why we don't just jog a couple laps here and there. We do not just give this a lazy effort. We must do the hard work, the grueling preparation, the painful self-denial. We train diligently, because our spiritual progress, growth, and success depends on it! We make our bodies our slave rather than being a slave to our bodies. We do not make decisions based on mere feelings, but instead, we base our decisions on Christ. Our bodies will tell us how we feel about many things, but do not trust your feelings! They don't tell you the Truth. Instead, we must make our bodies our slave, Christ's slave.
And why is that again?..."...so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." We do not want to miss out on this! It's gonna be too good! Yes, I know it seems like Heaven is so far away, but it will be here before you know it, just ask my grandma and my mom who are there now. They are having a great day today! They are in the presence of Jesus Christ, and they no longer are looking through a fogged glass -- they see the whole picture!
It is a long road, my friend. I wish so often that I could just be there now with them. But our race is not done yet. Train hard for the long haul. Keep fighting the good fight, finish the race, and keep your faith. You are not alone, and it is gonna be so good once you reach that finish line...
These past two chapters we've been talking about the freedom that comes in knowing Christ, as well as the rights and desires we must willingly give up. Paul knows that these proclamations are difficult -- they are not what the rest of the world might tell us to do -- so right here, in the middle of this letter to the Corinthians, Paul adds some encouragement and exhortation to help us keep the fire going! After all the commands of what rights we are to give up, I could use a little encouragement. Good thinking, Paul!
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Perhaps you just ran in the Race of the Cure this weekend, or you might be training for the mini-marathon as I am. We all are out there running, but only one person can win. We know what that looks like don't we? Everyone runs; one wins. The prize is worth your strongest effort, so we can't be running this race of the Christian life halfheartedly. Run to win. Here's how...
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Strict training. Strict training (as I'm discovering myself) requires very strict self-control. I must control myself to get up early, dress for running, and then go do it. I must control what I put into my body so that I can perform well. All of these running metaphors have a parallel.
In my Christian life I must get up. Just say yes! I have to choose to ignore all the other things I could do, and say yes to spending time with the Lord.
Not only must I get up, but I must get up early. There is a severe sacrifice involved here, because anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE sleeping. As much as you really love to sleep, that's me. I hear ya. I tried the afternoon quiet times for years, and they would always get pushed aside by other things that "must get done." But strict self-control is required of us, and I've found that when I start my day in the Word, my whole day, my whole week, my whole life is better for it. Trust me, it's worth it.
I dress for running a race. In my Christian life, that means I put on the full armor of God so that I am prepared to run this race and fight the devil's schemes against me. I would love to study this together some day! But for now, here is the armor: (Ephesians 6)
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Then, I must go do it. Sometimes, it's not a matter of self-control to NOT do something, but controlling myself TO do it. To go to church when I would rather sleep in. To go help my neighbor when I would rather relax. To listen to a co-worker when there are so many papers to grade. To speak about what Christ has done in my life when I would rather be silent. The Holy Spirit will help you in all of this. We are not alone in this race! But I assure you that nothing will be done for the kingdom if we are constantly on the couch, or...Facebook. Ouch, that's hard for me to say.
Also, I must control what I put into my body. The food I eat greatly affects my runs. Likewise, the music, images, books, conversations, movies and TV shows that fill my brain will eventually fill my heart. It is vitally important what I am putting in. I can pick media outlets that will fill my heart and soul or I can pick those that destroy what God desires to create in me. Media fasts are a great thing. This Lenten season, I was reminded as I fasted from Facebook, just how much comparisons happens in my mind as I peruse the pages of the media. But God desires that I get my value from what He says about me, not how I compare to people I rarely or never see in real life. That is not life-giving for me.
And remind my WHY I'm doing this??...They (athletes) do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Oh, yes. What we do on this side of Heaven WILL go with us into eternity. It matters. I don't understand how that works completely, but I trust it. There are rewards on the other side according to what we have done here. Our works do not "buy" us salvation, but they are rewarded! God sees what we do, and of my life, I desire that He might say, "I saw you, Molly. Well done, good and faithful servant."
26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave... And that is why we don't just jog a couple laps here and there. We do not just give this a lazy effort. We must do the hard work, the grueling preparation, the painful self-denial. We train diligently, because our spiritual progress, growth, and success depends on it! We make our bodies our slave rather than being a slave to our bodies. We do not make decisions based on mere feelings, but instead, we base our decisions on Christ. Our bodies will tell us how we feel about many things, but do not trust your feelings! They don't tell you the Truth. Instead, we must make our bodies our slave, Christ's slave.
And why is that again?..."...so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." We do not want to miss out on this! It's gonna be too good! Yes, I know it seems like Heaven is so far away, but it will be here before you know it, just ask my grandma and my mom who are there now. They are having a great day today! They are in the presence of Jesus Christ, and they no longer are looking through a fogged glass -- they see the whole picture!
It is a long road, my friend. I wish so often that I could just be there now with them. But our race is not done yet. Train hard for the long haul. Keep fighting the good fight, finish the race, and keep your faith. You are not alone, and it is gonna be so good once you reach that finish line...
Monday, April 23, 2012
1 Corinthians 9:19-27 (Free Slave)
For the past few mornings, we've looked at Paul's rights and the ways that he has given up his rights in order to serve Christ well. We will continue to study these choices of his as well as add some new perspective today.
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. Here Paul reminds us: he is free! Contrary to the popular opinion, Christianity is not just a bunch of rules that impose on "good living"; rather, there is such freedom in knowing Whose we are and what we are to be doing. So, here Paul contrasts this freedom with the fact that he has chosen to make himself a slave to all people in order that he might help others come to know Christ. He is a free slave who willingly continues to work for the Master.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. Here is why he has given up his freedom: in order that he might reach a wide range of people -- the Jews to the Gentiles. At that time, that list covered everyone! Paul took on their way of life, but without losing his grounding in Christ. He did the best he could to see things from their point of view -- he tried to enter their world. What does it look like to enter someone else's world? Well, when Paul was with Jewish people, I'm sure he tried his best to respect their culture (just as we should when we travel to other countries or are in the homes of people from other countries). I would imagine he asked them a lot of questions, showed interest in them, gave more than he took, and listened, really listened to their answers, trying to soak in every word they said so that he could understand their heart. Without these things, how do we expect to gain the trust and then the ability to share what Christ has done in our lives? So, how are you with a wide range of people? How are you with the religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized? Can you control your facial expressions? Does every thought push it's way out of your mouth, or can you filter what should or shouldn't really be said? All people in your circle of influence, can you talk comfortably with them all? Just ask questions!
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. There continues to be one recurring theme in all of this: whatever Paul does, it is to win others to Christ. And notice why he does it -- that he may share in its blessings. He knows he gets something out of it, and he's not ashamed to say so! If you have ever had the privilege of watching someone come to know Jesus for the first time because of a conversation YOU had with them, then you know, blessing barely touches on it! Also, notice that Paul's not expecting to conquer the whole world. He just hopes to save "some" it says. It's so important to keep that in mind -- God doesn't ask us to save the whole world all by ourselves -- but just to impact those in our daily lives that we might be able to help draw closer to Jesus.
A few important principles from this chapter that are important to ministry according to Paul:
1. Find common ground with those with whom you speak. Whether you're in high school, college, grad school or at your place of work -- flippin' burgers or hookin' up mergers -- that is where God has placed you. The people around you are important to God, and they must know you care. Tear down walls by building common ground first.
2. Avoid a know-it-all attitude. Remember from chapter 8 that knowledge is not everything. What matters is love in action. Be humble. It's okay if you don't know all the answers...that makes you human...and that is what we are. Our "knowledge" is but a drop in bucket compared to the unsurprising greatness and knowledge of God. I know very little, and knowing that is most important. I don't need to force my "knowledge" on others, but I should love them well.
3. Make others feel accepted. Now, one of the big buzz words when I was in middle and high school that now makes me cringe is the word tolerant. They wanted us to be tolerant of others regardless of our differences; they wanted us to accept and respect others. The Bible has a word for this: love. It's all in the way I treat and speak of/to other people. I don't have to tolerate, accept, or respect another's behavior, but I do need to love them. The point here is that people do need to feel wanted. If someone tries a new church and no one talks to them, they will probably not return to the church. We need to be reaching out, wherever we are today, so that people feel accepted, or perhaps the better word is welcomed.
4. Be sensitive to their needs and concerns. This takes listening and an others-focused mind set. How can you help?
5. Look for opportunities to tell them about Christ. This day in age, we are so weak, myself included, when it comes to sharing our faith because we don't want to offend others by speaking the name of Christ. But Paul was anything but concerned about offending someone with the name of Christ! In fact, Christ told us that His name would be offensive to people. No surprise there! But there is power in His name, my friends. No, I'm not going to stand on a street corner with a megaphone, but as we build relationships with those around us, it is incredibly important to share this news. We once were lost and dead, but now we are found and alive forever because of Jesus Christ.
For this is the most important news the world has ever or will ever hear! And your life IS the megaphone.
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. Here Paul reminds us: he is free! Contrary to the popular opinion, Christianity is not just a bunch of rules that impose on "good living"; rather, there is such freedom in knowing Whose we are and what we are to be doing. So, here Paul contrasts this freedom with the fact that he has chosen to make himself a slave to all people in order that he might help others come to know Christ. He is a free slave who willingly continues to work for the Master.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. Here is why he has given up his freedom: in order that he might reach a wide range of people -- the Jews to the Gentiles. At that time, that list covered everyone! Paul took on their way of life, but without losing his grounding in Christ. He did the best he could to see things from their point of view -- he tried to enter their world. What does it look like to enter someone else's world? Well, when Paul was with Jewish people, I'm sure he tried his best to respect their culture (just as we should when we travel to other countries or are in the homes of people from other countries). I would imagine he asked them a lot of questions, showed interest in them, gave more than he took, and listened, really listened to their answers, trying to soak in every word they said so that he could understand their heart. Without these things, how do we expect to gain the trust and then the ability to share what Christ has done in our lives? So, how are you with a wide range of people? How are you with the religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized? Can you control your facial expressions? Does every thought push it's way out of your mouth, or can you filter what should or shouldn't really be said? All people in your circle of influence, can you talk comfortably with them all? Just ask questions!
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. There continues to be one recurring theme in all of this: whatever Paul does, it is to win others to Christ. And notice why he does it -- that he may share in its blessings. He knows he gets something out of it, and he's not ashamed to say so! If you have ever had the privilege of watching someone come to know Jesus for the first time because of a conversation YOU had with them, then you know, blessing barely touches on it! Also, notice that Paul's not expecting to conquer the whole world. He just hopes to save "some" it says. It's so important to keep that in mind -- God doesn't ask us to save the whole world all by ourselves -- but just to impact those in our daily lives that we might be able to help draw closer to Jesus.
A few important principles from this chapter that are important to ministry according to Paul:
1. Find common ground with those with whom you speak. Whether you're in high school, college, grad school or at your place of work -- flippin' burgers or hookin' up mergers -- that is where God has placed you. The people around you are important to God, and they must know you care. Tear down walls by building common ground first.
2. Avoid a know-it-all attitude. Remember from chapter 8 that knowledge is not everything. What matters is love in action. Be humble. It's okay if you don't know all the answers...that makes you human...and that is what we are. Our "knowledge" is but a drop in bucket compared to the unsurprising greatness and knowledge of God. I know very little, and knowing that is most important. I don't need to force my "knowledge" on others, but I should love them well.
3. Make others feel accepted. Now, one of the big buzz words when I was in middle and high school that now makes me cringe is the word tolerant. They wanted us to be tolerant of others regardless of our differences; they wanted us to accept and respect others. The Bible has a word for this: love. It's all in the way I treat and speak of/to other people. I don't have to tolerate, accept, or respect another's behavior, but I do need to love them. The point here is that people do need to feel wanted. If someone tries a new church and no one talks to them, they will probably not return to the church. We need to be reaching out, wherever we are today, so that people feel accepted, or perhaps the better word is welcomed.
4. Be sensitive to their needs and concerns. This takes listening and an others-focused mind set. How can you help?
5. Look for opportunities to tell them about Christ. This day in age, we are so weak, myself included, when it comes to sharing our faith because we don't want to offend others by speaking the name of Christ. But Paul was anything but concerned about offending someone with the name of Christ! In fact, Christ told us that His name would be offensive to people. No surprise there! But there is power in His name, my friends. No, I'm not going to stand on a street corner with a megaphone, but as we build relationships with those around us, it is incredibly important to share this news. We once were lost and dead, but now we are found and alive forever because of Jesus Christ.
For this is the most important news the world has ever or will ever hear! And your life IS the megaphone.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (Rights Released)
Now Paul expands on what we read yesterday about enjoying our freedoms while always focusing on others. The point of his discussion in Chapter 9 is that he has numerous "rights" that he does not claim, because of his love for the Corinthian church and his love for Christ and Christ's message. I hope you can hear the passion in his voice as he speaks these words!
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Here he reminds them that he is free and does indeed have rights. He is also an apostle, which was being questioned at the time, but the proof is is that he has seen the Lord Jesus, which was true of the other apostles. He also adds that his ministry has produced significant fruit (the Corinthians) which should confirm that the Lord is using him. All of this proof of identity then gives him the "right" to say what comes next.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? Here Paul uses himself as an illustration for giving up personal rights. Paul had the right to receiving food and drink (from the members of the Church because he works for the Church); he had the right to be married if he wanted (Peter had a wife according to Mark 1:30 -- learned something new there); and he had the right to be paid for his work (probably through the tithes of the Church). He had the right to all of these major things: food, marriage, and money. But as you'll see, he chooses to not claim these rights so that his focus could be one thing: The Gospel.
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? Here Paul gives examples that echo what Jesus taught that workers should earn their wages (Luke 10:7). Just as soldiers, farmers, and shepherds all reaped some of the benefits of their job, food, drink, and wages, so should people who work for the Church. We, my friends, do have this responsibility to care for our pastors, teachers, and spiritual leaders and see that they are fairly and adequately compensated. One way to be a part of this is to tithe regularly to your church.
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Though it was Paul's right to ask for all of these things, he would rather be hungry, single, and poor than do anything that might distract from his message, The Gospel. Wow.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. And here he says it plainly. He uses an example that all the people would know from their knowledge of the Old Testament and from the pagan temples of the day. In the same way, those who spread The Message, must be supported by those who believe The Message. We may not be "the preachers" but we are their providers. We all have a part to play in getting the message of Christ to the world, even if our part is financially.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. And now, after he's made quite an argument for how he is not getting what he technically deserves, he still decides to release his rights, so that he may preach the gospel freely. He's still not trying to get anything out of anyone, because he'd rather die that give anyone reason to discredit his motives or tarnish his character. He may not be getting any money out of this calling, but his reward is the pleasure of getting to proclaim the Gospel at no cost to the people.
Can you believe that?! Think of all that he has given up in order to serve the Lord unrestrained. I am left quite speechless. And yet, God has still provided him what he's needed, hasn't He?
After recently stepping away from the season of Lent, I wonder if maybe you discovered that in giving up our rights and desires, we are actually given the opportunity to draw closer to God. Paul is not complaining here, but he is challenging us. God does provide all we need, and more than anything we need more of Him. We are free to release whatever "rights" we feel we have or want, because God has so much more in store for us than merely receiving our "rights".
What rights can you step away from today? You're not being weak when you step away with intention. So step away from your rights, and step closer to Christ.
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Here he reminds them that he is free and does indeed have rights. He is also an apostle, which was being questioned at the time, but the proof is is that he has seen the Lord Jesus, which was true of the other apostles. He also adds that his ministry has produced significant fruit (the Corinthians) which should confirm that the Lord is using him. All of this proof of identity then gives him the "right" to say what comes next.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? Here Paul uses himself as an illustration for giving up personal rights. Paul had the right to receiving food and drink (from the members of the Church because he works for the Church); he had the right to be married if he wanted (Peter had a wife according to Mark 1:30 -- learned something new there); and he had the right to be paid for his work (probably through the tithes of the Church). He had the right to all of these major things: food, marriage, and money. But as you'll see, he chooses to not claim these rights so that his focus could be one thing: The Gospel.
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? Here Paul gives examples that echo what Jesus taught that workers should earn their wages (Luke 10:7). Just as soldiers, farmers, and shepherds all reaped some of the benefits of their job, food, drink, and wages, so should people who work for the Church. We, my friends, do have this responsibility to care for our pastors, teachers, and spiritual leaders and see that they are fairly and adequately compensated. One way to be a part of this is to tithe regularly to your church.
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Though it was Paul's right to ask for all of these things, he would rather be hungry, single, and poor than do anything that might distract from his message, The Gospel. Wow.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. And here he says it plainly. He uses an example that all the people would know from their knowledge of the Old Testament and from the pagan temples of the day. In the same way, those who spread The Message, must be supported by those who believe The Message. We may not be "the preachers" but we are their providers. We all have a part to play in getting the message of Christ to the world, even if our part is financially.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. And now, after he's made quite an argument for how he is not getting what he technically deserves, he still decides to release his rights, so that he may preach the gospel freely. He's still not trying to get anything out of anyone, because he'd rather die that give anyone reason to discredit his motives or tarnish his character. He may not be getting any money out of this calling, but his reward is the pleasure of getting to proclaim the Gospel at no cost to the people.
Can you believe that?! Think of all that he has given up in order to serve the Lord unrestrained. I am left quite speechless. And yet, God has still provided him what he's needed, hasn't He?
After recently stepping away from the season of Lent, I wonder if maybe you discovered that in giving up our rights and desires, we are actually given the opportunity to draw closer to God. Paul is not complaining here, but he is challenging us. God does provide all we need, and more than anything we need more of Him. We are free to release whatever "rights" we feel we have or want, because God has so much more in store for us than merely receiving our "rights".
What rights can you step away from today? You're not being weak when you step away with intention. So step away from your rights, and step closer to Christ.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
1 Corinthians 8:4-13 (Freedom with Respect)
Those who do not claim Christ may look at Christianity and think, "How constricting! So many rules!" At least, I know that's what many people in my life, even some Christians, have said. Yet, I hope that you have found that these "rules" or boundaries have actually led to more freedom and peace in your life. I know they have mine! That's the beauty of Christ. Life with Him has been immeasurably less constricting, and instead has freed my heart to live with joy and assurance. I know that I don't do this thing correctly all the time, but it is most certainly the way I desire and try to live! It's true, as I continue to grow in Christ, I find more and more freedom, not constriction.
So it was with the Corinthians. It was quite normal for sheep, goats, etc, to be sacrificed to the pagan gods in the temple, and after they bled to death on the altar, they would sell the meat to the local butcher who would sell it to the townspeople! I had always wondered what happened to all that meat, and now I know! So, the Christians struggled with whether or not they should buy this mean since it had been sacrificed to a pagan god.
I have to tell you that if someone would have asked me what I thought the Bible would say about this, I would have guessed that it would say we should not eat it because of the unholy purpose it had been used for, but instead, this is what Paul says:
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. In other words, he is saying that these supposed "gods" are nothing -- they are the equivalent of a tall tale -- and they have no power or identity. They are just wood or stone. And even if there are any other forces or gods in the world (like the pagan gods or other lords of nations), it doesn't matter because ours is the true God from whom all things came! He is the one with all the power!
Isn't that crazy how much assurance Paul has? He's not concerned at all about actually eating the meat, because it's as if a child played with a little, and then we ate it. That's all the pagans were doing, in other words, mere "play" as far as any real power is concerned. Jesus is the God, the Lord, the Master.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Oh, there's that word knowledge again. Remember from yesterday, that knowledge means nothing if it without love? And not everyone, including myself apparently, really understands this knowledge and freedom that comes when we know who the one True God is! So logically, nothing happened to the meat when it was sacrificed to the idol because the idol is nothing -- it's just a piece of stone. The meat at the butcher is still just like any other meat!
But many of these new Christians were probably former idol worshipers themselves, and it was difficult for them to separate their knowledge from their former way of living. They thought that there was still something bad in the meat from being in the pagan altar and that the evil might be going into them. That way of thinking was ingrained in them, and it was not going to change overnight. Fortunately for us, our closeness with God is not graded based on our diet, but Paul wanted the Christians to be sensitive to the new believers in this.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. The issue becomes your others-centered view. You may know that there are freedoms in the Lord, but if a new Christian sees you, the mature and knowledgeable Believer, participating in an activity that they are still struggling over, the danger is that he may become terribly confused and mixed up in his conscience about the issue, and begin down a path that might be destructive to them because they have not yet matured in their faith.
One area where I see this very prevalent today is in the idea of alcohol. You and I may differ on the idea of alcohol (and I'm not saying that I know I'm right), but I think from what I've read in the Bible that there is a freedom in Christ that allows me to enjoy a glass of wine, not in excess, but within boundaries that the Bible sets up. However, I am also very aware that many Christians feel strongly that they shouldn't have even a sip. And who am I to say that they are wrong and MY knowledge is right?! Paul has something very strict to say about this:
12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. If I am the cause of wounding the sensitive conscience of a fellow Believer, then I have sinned, it says. I should be more concerned about him/her than I am about having my glass of wine! I don't want my freedoms to lead others away from Christ, and I most certainly do not want to think that my knowledge is superior.
We are all learning, aren't we? We are all a work in progress. So yes, we have freedoms. But more important than freedoms is the way we love and respect each other. That is the key today, my friend! Be sensitive to the other Christians, especially the newer ones, around you.
So it was with the Corinthians. It was quite normal for sheep, goats, etc, to be sacrificed to the pagan gods in the temple, and after they bled to death on the altar, they would sell the meat to the local butcher who would sell it to the townspeople! I had always wondered what happened to all that meat, and now I know! So, the Christians struggled with whether or not they should buy this mean since it had been sacrificed to a pagan god.
I have to tell you that if someone would have asked me what I thought the Bible would say about this, I would have guessed that it would say we should not eat it because of the unholy purpose it had been used for, but instead, this is what Paul says:
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. In other words, he is saying that these supposed "gods" are nothing -- they are the equivalent of a tall tale -- and they have no power or identity. They are just wood or stone. And even if there are any other forces or gods in the world (like the pagan gods or other lords of nations), it doesn't matter because ours is the true God from whom all things came! He is the one with all the power!
Isn't that crazy how much assurance Paul has? He's not concerned at all about actually eating the meat, because it's as if a child played with a little, and then we ate it. That's all the pagans were doing, in other words, mere "play" as far as any real power is concerned. Jesus is the God, the Lord, the Master.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Oh, there's that word knowledge again. Remember from yesterday, that knowledge means nothing if it without love? And not everyone, including myself apparently, really understands this knowledge and freedom that comes when we know who the one True God is! So logically, nothing happened to the meat when it was sacrificed to the idol because the idol is nothing -- it's just a piece of stone. The meat at the butcher is still just like any other meat!
But many of these new Christians were probably former idol worshipers themselves, and it was difficult for them to separate their knowledge from their former way of living. They thought that there was still something bad in the meat from being in the pagan altar and that the evil might be going into them. That way of thinking was ingrained in them, and it was not going to change overnight. Fortunately for us, our closeness with God is not graded based on our diet, but Paul wanted the Christians to be sensitive to the new believers in this.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. The issue becomes your others-centered view. You may know that there are freedoms in the Lord, but if a new Christian sees you, the mature and knowledgeable Believer, participating in an activity that they are still struggling over, the danger is that he may become terribly confused and mixed up in his conscience about the issue, and begin down a path that might be destructive to them because they have not yet matured in their faith.
One area where I see this very prevalent today is in the idea of alcohol. You and I may differ on the idea of alcohol (and I'm not saying that I know I'm right), but I think from what I've read in the Bible that there is a freedom in Christ that allows me to enjoy a glass of wine, not in excess, but within boundaries that the Bible sets up. However, I am also very aware that many Christians feel strongly that they shouldn't have even a sip. And who am I to say that they are wrong and MY knowledge is right?! Paul has something very strict to say about this:
12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. If I am the cause of wounding the sensitive conscience of a fellow Believer, then I have sinned, it says. I should be more concerned about him/her than I am about having my glass of wine! I don't want my freedoms to lead others away from Christ, and I most certainly do not want to think that my knowledge is superior.
We are all learning, aren't we? We are all a work in progress. So yes, we have freedoms. But more important than freedoms is the way we love and respect each other. That is the key today, my friend! Be sensitive to the other Christians, especially the newer ones, around you.
Monday, April 16, 2012
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (Opinions and Love)
In conversations with Josh, when I want him to tell me what he thinks about something, I will often refer to the fact that I could, at this very moment, give him my opinion about anything. Point to anything, and I can tell you what I think about that object, topic, or person. (It has been a process for me to realize that Josh is a thinker, and it's harder for him to tell me his opinion until he quietly thinks about it.)
It takes a very conscious effort for me to withhold my opinions sometimes, especially when I am not asked my opinion...because after all, if people wanted to know my opinion on something, they'd ask, right? Now, after a couple run-ins with a very opinionated woman, who was absolutely exhausting and annoying to be with, I decided I was on the track to being like her, and something needed to change.
So, I have a lot to say on these three little verses today, because this is something where I need some work. It bothers me SO much when I see overly-opinionated people who force their opinions on others and who will never listen to another side because they just know they're right. The conversation with those people is one-sided, which makes it not a conversation at all. They have no love -- they just want to be right. Well, this bothers me a lot, and often the things that bother us most in others are, low-and-behold, present in us, too. Ouch.
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. There, Paul said it. He said, yes Molly. Everyone knows that you have some knowledge or opinion you'd like to impart, because we ALL do! We all do. Everyone thinks their knowledge is the correct knowledge, or we wouldn't think what we do. (We'll get back to the food sacrificed to idols part tomorrow).
...But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Paul says, we know that you have knowledge and opinions, BUT. That "but" means that knowledge is not the most important thing. Knowledge does make us feel important -- it's as if we have this gem that someone else doesn't have. It's a one-upper! And all it does is puff us up -- our heads, our chests, our pride. And just like we humans do, we take something good that God made, like knowledge and wisdom, and turn it into something we can lord over others. We've twisted it, and made it to be something that makes people feel less-than. BUT LOVE...here comes the opposite. Love builds. Love lasts. You can let the air out of something that is "puffed" up, but if something is built, it's much stronger and more solid. And what is LOVE? Perhaps you remember, that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Cor. 13:4-5).
Everyone doesn't have to agree with our opinions, because that's just what they -- AN OPINION. Our opinions are not always the truth, and they that are not what is important at all. But we do need to love.
So how do we change this desire to be right and to spread our way of thinking?
2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. The grip that "being right" has on us is tight, but there is a way to change our desires. We must acknowledge that we do not know everything. In fact, if we think we know a lot, then we really don't know much at all, because if we really knew God, we would know just how little we do know. Our humble hearts reveal a wisdom and knowledge far greater than our proud minds. Our strong opinions often make it difficult for us to be willing to listen and learn from God and others. But we obtain God's knowledge only by loving Him. He is the source of all knowledge. And it is not our knowledge, but our love, that counts in God's eyes.
I recently heard a prominent pastor as he was being interviewed. The person asked the pastor if he would give his opinion on something, and this humble, older man chuckled and said, "I can give you an opinion, but it may not be right." I look at this man and think that whatever he'd say surely must be the truth because he just oozes Jesus, but even with all his years and fame, he still knew that it was not he but God who knows everything.
May that be the attitude of my heart, too.
I don't know everything. I just don't. And just because I feel strongly about something, doesn't automatically make it right. I still need to speak gently and with love. And when I hold myself up beside the perfection of Jesus, I am wrong...a lot.
Lord, help me to be humble in my interactions with people today. Help me to seek only Your wisdom, and not for the sake of my own pride, but that I might better love the people in my life.
It takes a very conscious effort for me to withhold my opinions sometimes, especially when I am not asked my opinion...because after all, if people wanted to know my opinion on something, they'd ask, right? Now, after a couple run-ins with a very opinionated woman, who was absolutely exhausting and annoying to be with, I decided I was on the track to being like her, and something needed to change.
So, I have a lot to say on these three little verses today, because this is something where I need some work. It bothers me SO much when I see overly-opinionated people who force their opinions on others and who will never listen to another side because they just know they're right. The conversation with those people is one-sided, which makes it not a conversation at all. They have no love -- they just want to be right. Well, this bothers me a lot, and often the things that bother us most in others are, low-and-behold, present in us, too. Ouch.
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. There, Paul said it. He said, yes Molly. Everyone knows that you have some knowledge or opinion you'd like to impart, because we ALL do! We all do. Everyone thinks their knowledge is the correct knowledge, or we wouldn't think what we do. (We'll get back to the food sacrificed to idols part tomorrow).
...But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Paul says, we know that you have knowledge and opinions, BUT. That "but" means that knowledge is not the most important thing. Knowledge does make us feel important -- it's as if we have this gem that someone else doesn't have. It's a one-upper! And all it does is puff us up -- our heads, our chests, our pride. And just like we humans do, we take something good that God made, like knowledge and wisdom, and turn it into something we can lord over others. We've twisted it, and made it to be something that makes people feel less-than. BUT LOVE...here comes the opposite. Love builds. Love lasts. You can let the air out of something that is "puffed" up, but if something is built, it's much stronger and more solid. And what is LOVE? Perhaps you remember, that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Cor. 13:4-5).
Everyone doesn't have to agree with our opinions, because that's just what they -- AN OPINION. Our opinions are not always the truth, and they that are not what is important at all. But we do need to love.
So how do we change this desire to be right and to spread our way of thinking?
2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. The grip that "being right" has on us is tight, but there is a way to change our desires. We must acknowledge that we do not know everything. In fact, if we think we know a lot, then we really don't know much at all, because if we really knew God, we would know just how little we do know. Our humble hearts reveal a wisdom and knowledge far greater than our proud minds. Our strong opinions often make it difficult for us to be willing to listen and learn from God and others. But we obtain God's knowledge only by loving Him. He is the source of all knowledge. And it is not our knowledge, but our love, that counts in God's eyes.
I recently heard a prominent pastor as he was being interviewed. The person asked the pastor if he would give his opinion on something, and this humble, older man chuckled and said, "I can give you an opinion, but it may not be right." I look at this man and think that whatever he'd say surely must be the truth because he just oozes Jesus, but even with all his years and fame, he still knew that it was not he but God who knows everything.
May that be the attitude of my heart, too.
I don't know everything. I just don't. And just because I feel strongly about something, doesn't automatically make it right. I still need to speak gently and with love. And when I hold myself up beside the perfection of Jesus, I am wrong...a lot.
Lord, help me to be humble in my interactions with people today. Help me to seek only Your wisdom, and not for the sake of my own pride, but that I might better love the people in my life.
Friday, April 13, 2012
1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (God's Will for You & 1,000 Steps)
"What is God's will for my life?"
That is a very common and understandable question -- and at the root of it, for most of us who read this blog anyway, is a desire to do whatever it is that would please God the most. I have often said things like, "Lord, I don't know if I should marry the person I'm dating or not...what's Your will for me in this?" or "Lord, we're looking to buy a house...what house should I buy?" or "Lord, I have two job possibilities...which one should I take?"
I think we somehow think that God's will for us is this one, concise dot-of-a-will, and if we don't get on that dot and stay on it, then we are out of God's plan for us -- it's the belief that there is one specific plan, and we'd better find out what it is and then do that! But, I'm coming to find that I think the Lord gives us a little more freedom in terms of "His Will" for our lives. Of course he cares about every part of our lives, because He loves us so deeply. But what I am learning, is that God cares most that our hearts are pure, and if our hearts are pure and we're making choices that are pleasing to Him, THAT is what would please God the most. It's not one specific dot that we have to figure out, but rather it's just having a heart that wants to be like Jesus, and then taking 1,000 little steps in the right direction. That's why it's called our "walk" with God.
This gives me some freedom because I don't have to fret about finding "The One" that I'm supposed to marry (because that's even foolishness...my dad has been married twice now because of the death of my mom, so he clearly God did not have "just one" woman for him). But instead of asking specifically WHO, we should be asking if they have qualities that would please and honor God. If they do (because they love Jesus), and we are passionate about that person, then marry them! What will please God most is that the two of you fight for your marriage and continue to love and serve one another, even on the hard days. That is God's Will for you.
With finding jobs and houses, we should weigh factors like: How will this affect the people around me? How will this affect my relationship with God? How will I give an account for this decision when I see God one day? Should we leave a lifetime of relationships and ministry to be able to live in Florida?...umm...I'm not sure if weather is the most important thing to God. In our jobs, should we pack up our families, pull the kids out of school, leave dear friends and a good church, and move three states away for a mere $10,000 more a year?...again, I don't think a little more money is always the most important thing to God.
But, if both jobs, or both houses, are great, and can stand up to those questions...then pick the one you want most! Sure, seek wisdom from the Lord, of course, but I am learning that there is so much freedom in our every day decisions...it's our HEARTS that the Lord is most concerned about. The Bible is full of teaching on our HEARTS, but it never describes the type of house we're supposed to buy, which job to take, or even the specific person we're supposed to marry. Let's look at the passage today...
17 Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
This comes right after the section from yesterday on singleness versus marriage. So, I can infer that wherever the Lord has placed you, in a marriage, in a church, in a season of singleness, you should continue there. Steadfastness. None of this hopping from one person to another or from one church to another. God, not your marital status, defines you. God's will is that you continue...1,000 more little steps toward Him, wherever you currently are. THAT is what He's most concerned about! We need to live, love and obey right where we are, for THIS is where God has us right now. That is His Will for you.
18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. 19 For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.
Another freeing command here. Now that they are Christ followers, the Jews were trying to rid themselves of the physical evidence that they were Jewish. But verse 19 says that is makes no difference! Again, look at what it says is the important thing: keeping God's commandments which is just obeying Christ (a heart issue). The great news here is that if you are covered in tattoos, keep 'em! If you like to have crazy hair and none of the other Christians around you do, keep it! It makes no difference to God...what matters to Him is your heart and your obedience. That is His Will for you.
20 Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. 21 Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. 22 And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.
And just because we have become Christians, doesn't mean we need to go find other work (unless what you're doing is in direct opposition to the Bible). But wherever you are, whether you work for someone or you own the whole company, stay where you are and honor God with your life in that workplace. In verse 22, Paul reminds us that we are part of a new kingdom now that belongs to the Lord. If you are the underdog in this world, you are now of great worth because of Christ; and if you are held high by this world, you now have the opportunity to experience the joy it is to be a slave or servant of Christ! That is God's will for you!
23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 24 Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.
In all things, we must remember that we were once held hostage by this sinful society, but now we have been bought and saved for a very high cost, and praise God, we now belong to Jesus! So now, our gift back to the Lord is what we do with our lives, not what house we buy, what job we take, or what specific person we marry, but by making just the next right choice. This "walk with God" is a marathon, and my prayer is that we will continually be walking closer to Him.
But for now, don't even worry about 1,000 steps. Just look to Him this morning to direct your paths, because He cares SO greatly for you. Then, walk one more step toward Him.
That is God's Will for your life.
That is a very common and understandable question -- and at the root of it, for most of us who read this blog anyway, is a desire to do whatever it is that would please God the most. I have often said things like, "Lord, I don't know if I should marry the person I'm dating or not...what's Your will for me in this?" or "Lord, we're looking to buy a house...what house should I buy?" or "Lord, I have two job possibilities...which one should I take?"
I think we somehow think that God's will for us is this one, concise dot-of-a-will, and if we don't get on that dot and stay on it, then we are out of God's plan for us -- it's the belief that there is one specific plan, and we'd better find out what it is and then do that! But, I'm coming to find that I think the Lord gives us a little more freedom in terms of "His Will" for our lives. Of course he cares about every part of our lives, because He loves us so deeply. But what I am learning, is that God cares most that our hearts are pure, and if our hearts are pure and we're making choices that are pleasing to Him, THAT is what would please God the most. It's not one specific dot that we have to figure out, but rather it's just having a heart that wants to be like Jesus, and then taking 1,000 little steps in the right direction. That's why it's called our "walk" with God.
This gives me some freedom because I don't have to fret about finding "The One" that I'm supposed to marry (because that's even foolishness...my dad has been married twice now because of the death of my mom, so he clearly God did not have "just one" woman for him). But instead of asking specifically WHO, we should be asking if they have qualities that would please and honor God. If they do (because they love Jesus), and we are passionate about that person, then marry them! What will please God most is that the two of you fight for your marriage and continue to love and serve one another, even on the hard days. That is God's Will for you.
With finding jobs and houses, we should weigh factors like: How will this affect the people around me? How will this affect my relationship with God? How will I give an account for this decision when I see God one day? Should we leave a lifetime of relationships and ministry to be able to live in Florida?...umm...I'm not sure if weather is the most important thing to God. In our jobs, should we pack up our families, pull the kids out of school, leave dear friends and a good church, and move three states away for a mere $10,000 more a year?...again, I don't think a little more money is always the most important thing to God.
But, if both jobs, or both houses, are great, and can stand up to those questions...then pick the one you want most! Sure, seek wisdom from the Lord, of course, but I am learning that there is so much freedom in our every day decisions...it's our HEARTS that the Lord is most concerned about. The Bible is full of teaching on our HEARTS, but it never describes the type of house we're supposed to buy, which job to take, or even the specific person we're supposed to marry. Let's look at the passage today...
17 Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
This comes right after the section from yesterday on singleness versus marriage. So, I can infer that wherever the Lord has placed you, in a marriage, in a church, in a season of singleness, you should continue there. Steadfastness. None of this hopping from one person to another or from one church to another. God, not your marital status, defines you. God's will is that you continue...1,000 more little steps toward Him, wherever you currently are. THAT is what He's most concerned about! We need to live, love and obey right where we are, for THIS is where God has us right now. That is His Will for you.
18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. 19 For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.
Another freeing command here. Now that they are Christ followers, the Jews were trying to rid themselves of the physical evidence that they were Jewish. But verse 19 says that is makes no difference! Again, look at what it says is the important thing: keeping God's commandments which is just obeying Christ (a heart issue). The great news here is that if you are covered in tattoos, keep 'em! If you like to have crazy hair and none of the other Christians around you do, keep it! It makes no difference to God...what matters to Him is your heart and your obedience. That is His Will for you.
20 Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. 21 Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. 22 And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.
And just because we have become Christians, doesn't mean we need to go find other work (unless what you're doing is in direct opposition to the Bible). But wherever you are, whether you work for someone or you own the whole company, stay where you are and honor God with your life in that workplace. In verse 22, Paul reminds us that we are part of a new kingdom now that belongs to the Lord. If you are the underdog in this world, you are now of great worth because of Christ; and if you are held high by this world, you now have the opportunity to experience the joy it is to be a slave or servant of Christ! That is God's will for you!
23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 24 Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.
In all things, we must remember that we were once held hostage by this sinful society, but now we have been bought and saved for a very high cost, and praise God, we now belong to Jesus! So now, our gift back to the Lord is what we do with our lives, not what house we buy, what job we take, or what specific person we marry, but by making just the next right choice. This "walk with God" is a marathon, and my prayer is that we will continually be walking closer to Him.
But for now, don't even worry about 1,000 steps. Just look to Him this morning to direct your paths, because He cares SO greatly for you. Then, walk one more step toward Him.
That is God's Will for your life.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
1 Corinthians 7: 8-17 (Paul on Marriage, Sex and Singleness, Part 2)
This morning, I would like to show you one tactic that I have learned can be really helpful when studying Scripture, and that is to read different translations of the same passages. Now, for some people, you may be thinking, "duh!", but to others, like I was before, I had thought that the translation I always read was the easiest to read -- and sometime it is, but other times it helps to read others to get a better picture.
If you've done any study of Greek, even if it's very small, like me, then you know that often the words in the original Greek (or Hebrew) have multiple meanings based on their context, just as we do for certain words in English. Take the word bear, for instance. We have the many uses of the word: bear the weight of something, bear a child, a tree bears fruit, his claim might not bear close examination, a bear market, you can bear scars, the bear that eats salmon, or the man is a bear in court. So, as people translate anything, it is obviously very important that they picked the exact correct meaning of a word for a correct translation. If someone didn't know English, I'd say bearing weight and bearing a child could possibly be difficult to distinguish without really studying the context, etc.
So, that is why I love to put up multiple translations on my computer as I study scripture...I can get a fuller picture that way! I don't have to have multiple concordances and historical books when I'm starting out in my study of the Bible. That is what I want to show you now. For our passage today, I am not going to say anything of my own, but just show you one example in comparing the NIV to The Message. Now, I know there's a lot of controversy about the Message, and that it is not a true translation, but a paraphrase. But even the present-day language of the paraphrase can be really helpful sometimes, even if you may not use it as your personal translation of the Bible. So, join me in comparing our passage today!
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
8-9I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
10-11And if you are married, stay married. This is the Master's command, not mine. If a wife should leave her husband, she must either remain single or else come back and make things right with him. And a husband has no right to get rid of his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
12-14For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages—Christian married to non-Christian—we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
15-16On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.
So, what do you think? Helpful? I really think so! I love to use the website www.biblegateway.com for my study because you can add as many parallel versions as you want. I usually look at at least 4 at a time. It's a fantastic, free resource!
What I'm finding is that you do not have to a be trained Biblical scholar to truly understand Scripture for yourself. When you get stuck on a passage, or are concerned you may not fully understand what is being said, pull up some different versions. (The versions I tend to go to most are NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB, KJV, and The Message.) First, ask God to grant you the wisdom and insights to understand His Word (because you won't understand anything without Him), then pick a chapter of a book you'd like to read, and read it in at least three different translations. It won't take you long, but you will be amazed at how much you can understand! Let me know how it goes for you!
We'll be back to the normal format tomorrow, and talking about "God's Will for you when it comes to Marriage, Sex, and Singleness." It's gonna be good! See you here in the morning!
If you've done any study of Greek, even if it's very small, like me, then you know that often the words in the original Greek (or Hebrew) have multiple meanings based on their context, just as we do for certain words in English. Take the word bear, for instance. We have the many uses of the word: bear the weight of something, bear a child, a tree bears fruit, his claim might not bear close examination, a bear market, you can bear scars, the bear that eats salmon, or the man is a bear in court. So, as people translate anything, it is obviously very important that they picked the exact correct meaning of a word for a correct translation. If someone didn't know English, I'd say bearing weight and bearing a child could possibly be difficult to distinguish without really studying the context, etc.
So, that is why I love to put up multiple translations on my computer as I study scripture...I can get a fuller picture that way! I don't have to have multiple concordances and historical books when I'm starting out in my study of the Bible. That is what I want to show you now. For our passage today, I am not going to say anything of my own, but just show you one example in comparing the NIV to The Message. Now, I know there's a lot of controversy about the Message, and that it is not a true translation, but a paraphrase. But even the present-day language of the paraphrase can be really helpful sometimes, even if you may not use it as your personal translation of the Bible. So, join me in comparing our passage today!
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
8-9I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
10-11And if you are married, stay married. This is the Master's command, not mine. If a wife should leave her husband, she must either remain single or else come back and make things right with him. And a husband has no right to get rid of his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
12-14For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages—Christian married to non-Christian—we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
15-16On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.
So, what do you think? Helpful? I really think so! I love to use the website www.biblegateway.com for my study because you can add as many parallel versions as you want. I usually look at at least 4 at a time. It's a fantastic, free resource!
What I'm finding is that you do not have to a be trained Biblical scholar to truly understand Scripture for yourself. When you get stuck on a passage, or are concerned you may not fully understand what is being said, pull up some different versions. (The versions I tend to go to most are NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB, KJV, and The Message.) First, ask God to grant you the wisdom and insights to understand His Word (because you won't understand anything without Him), then pick a chapter of a book you'd like to read, and read it in at least three different translations. It won't take you long, but you will be amazed at how much you can understand! Let me know how it goes for you!
We'll be back to the normal format tomorrow, and talking about "God's Will for you when it comes to Marriage, Sex, and Singleness." It's gonna be good! See you here in the morning!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
1 Corinthians 7:1-17 (Paul on Marriage, Sex, and Singleness, Part 1)
In the next few days, as we read chapter 7, we will be studying what Paul teaches about marriage and singleness.
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” From now until the end of 1 Corinthians, Paul will be addressing some questions that the Church had written and asked him to answer, so here in verse 1, he is quoting the statement that they had made regarding sex, "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." At the time, the sexuality of the culture was very tumultuous: thousands of women served as prostitutes in the pagan temples down the street, but the Greeks were also teaching that anything related to the body was dirty and so to reject sex and marriage altogether. With those two strong but opposing ideologies, it was difficult for the Christians to determine what God's will was for their sexuality. They wrote to Paul to gain some wisdom on the subject.
2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
The answer to the question of "should we be having sex?" is "certainly -- but only within a certain context." It is GOOD for a man to have sex with his wife and a wife with her husband! Sexual drives are strong, and God Himself created them to be that way...isn't THAT a relief?! It is not wrong in the slightest to want to have sex, because God created us to want it (again...phew!). But this works best, and for our benefit, when it is within the context of marriage as God intended. Marriage can provide a passionate, balanced, and fulfilling sex life in a world of sexual disorder! With the commitment of marriage, I don't have to try to pretend to be something I'm not, and I don't have to try to impress my husband in the bedroom for fear that he'll leave me the next morning (a fear I struggled with for the first few years of our marriage...more on that another day). Marriage provides a safe place to learn, enjoy, and grow together sexually! It's incredible!
Now, verses 3 and 4 always get a bad wrap, but really, I think Paul is just being the passionate and blunt speaker that he is. We, especially women, get really defensive when we're told that we have a duty to something and no authority over ourselves, but look and see that it also says the very same thing to the husbands right after that. In other words, the marriage bed must be a place of mutuality -- the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, and the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Notice no where does it say, "The point of sex is for you to be satisfied, so make sure you're getting what you want." Marriage itself is a decision to SERVE the other person, and so too in sex! But in our culture, we go into marriage and sex to get what we want and expecting the other person is going to meet up to our expectations and desires in and out of the bedroom -- but that is so far from the truth of what marriage is about! Though I can tell you from experience, when both people are doing all they can to serve the other (even when they don't do it perfectly), the end result is a very rich and rewarding marriage!
5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
In fact, not only should married people have sex, but they should have it regularly! (I can hear your "amens" from here!) Sex is just another way for satan to drive a wedge between a husband and a wife, and the best way for him to do damage in your marriage through your sexual relationship is when you don't do it. Because God created our sexual passions to be so strong, our lack of self-control begins to gain even more strength when we do not have an outlet. However, it is still possible to have self-control even when our desires are strong, don't get me wrong...which is why Paul says marriage is a concession and not a command. Paul is single, so I'm sure he must know how hard it can be some days!
7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Paul goes on to say, that he wishes they were all like him...single. And do you see that he looks at his singleness as a gift?! All our chick-flicks sure don't teach that, do they? But Paul sees singleness as the simpler life in many ways, and it is! Marriage is really tough, and on some days, can bring just as many tears as my single friends shed over the desire to be married. Yet, he knows that God gives the gift of marriage to some and the gift of singleness to others...but BOTH are a GIFT.
So wherever you are in your relationships today, I hope you have gained some Truth. I pray that you will sense God's direction and His peace wherever you are in your relationships. People are the most important things in our lives, but they can also be the most difficult things sometimes. That's why my prayer is that in relationships, may I just be taking one step closer to being more like Christ each day.
I'd encourage you to share with Jesus whatever is difficult for you right now in relationships. He already knows it, but He sure would love to hear it from you and help guide and direct you.
We will be studying this topic for the rest of the week, so come back for more! I sure do love walking this road of discipleship with you all. You are a joy to me!
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” From now until the end of 1 Corinthians, Paul will be addressing some questions that the Church had written and asked him to answer, so here in verse 1, he is quoting the statement that they had made regarding sex, "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." At the time, the sexuality of the culture was very tumultuous: thousands of women served as prostitutes in the pagan temples down the street, but the Greeks were also teaching that anything related to the body was dirty and so to reject sex and marriage altogether. With those two strong but opposing ideologies, it was difficult for the Christians to determine what God's will was for their sexuality. They wrote to Paul to gain some wisdom on the subject.
2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
The answer to the question of "should we be having sex?" is "certainly -- but only within a certain context." It is GOOD for a man to have sex with his wife and a wife with her husband! Sexual drives are strong, and God Himself created them to be that way...isn't THAT a relief?! It is not wrong in the slightest to want to have sex, because God created us to want it (again...phew!). But this works best, and for our benefit, when it is within the context of marriage as God intended. Marriage can provide a passionate, balanced, and fulfilling sex life in a world of sexual disorder! With the commitment of marriage, I don't have to try to pretend to be something I'm not, and I don't have to try to impress my husband in the bedroom for fear that he'll leave me the next morning (a fear I struggled with for the first few years of our marriage...more on that another day). Marriage provides a safe place to learn, enjoy, and grow together sexually! It's incredible!
Now, verses 3 and 4 always get a bad wrap, but really, I think Paul is just being the passionate and blunt speaker that he is. We, especially women, get really defensive when we're told that we have a duty to something and no authority over ourselves, but look and see that it also says the very same thing to the husbands right after that. In other words, the marriage bed must be a place of mutuality -- the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, and the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Notice no where does it say, "The point of sex is for you to be satisfied, so make sure you're getting what you want." Marriage itself is a decision to SERVE the other person, and so too in sex! But in our culture, we go into marriage and sex to get what we want and expecting the other person is going to meet up to our expectations and desires in and out of the bedroom -- but that is so far from the truth of what marriage is about! Though I can tell you from experience, when both people are doing all they can to serve the other (even when they don't do it perfectly), the end result is a very rich and rewarding marriage!
5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
In fact, not only should married people have sex, but they should have it regularly! (I can hear your "amens" from here!) Sex is just another way for satan to drive a wedge between a husband and a wife, and the best way for him to do damage in your marriage through your sexual relationship is when you don't do it. Because God created our sexual passions to be so strong, our lack of self-control begins to gain even more strength when we do not have an outlet. However, it is still possible to have self-control even when our desires are strong, don't get me wrong...which is why Paul says marriage is a concession and not a command. Paul is single, so I'm sure he must know how hard it can be some days!
7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Paul goes on to say, that he wishes they were all like him...single. And do you see that he looks at his singleness as a gift?! All our chick-flicks sure don't teach that, do they? But Paul sees singleness as the simpler life in many ways, and it is! Marriage is really tough, and on some days, can bring just as many tears as my single friends shed over the desire to be married. Yet, he knows that God gives the gift of marriage to some and the gift of singleness to others...but BOTH are a GIFT.
So wherever you are in your relationships today, I hope you have gained some Truth. I pray that you will sense God's direction and His peace wherever you are in your relationships. People are the most important things in our lives, but they can also be the most difficult things sometimes. That's why my prayer is that in relationships, may I just be taking one step closer to being more like Christ each day.
I'd encourage you to share with Jesus whatever is difficult for you right now in relationships. He already knows it, but He sure would love to hear it from you and help guide and direct you.
We will be studying this topic for the rest of the week, so come back for more! I sure do love walking this road of discipleship with you all. You are a joy to me!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (Save the Bodies!)
One of the topics that the Church today often harps on is "sexual sin." To some, it appears sometimes as if they just pulled this topic out of mid-air to ruin the fun of teenagers and single people. But today's passage explains why sexual sin is such a big deal...and we don't mean just "intercourse".
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Oh my! Does that not sound like our culture? People are constantly claiming "their rights" and especially when it comes to things they want to do that "won't hurt other people" like drinking, sex, or anything else that doesn't involve the physical harm of another. But surely we know that these things do hurt those around us -- if just not physically sometimes. So here Paul quotes the saying, which was apparently popular in his day too, that people are claiming their rights. But he reminds us that sure we can make our own choices, but just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. And then I sure would be mastered by something...myself! We are all mastered by something, because as Bob Dylan wrote, we're all "gonna serve somebody." He is absolutely right. So, yes, we have the right to do what we want, but I want to make choices that are beneficial for the spiritual growth of myself and those around me.
13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
A saying that may ring a bell in our day would be "Eat to live or live to eat." But the people Paul is talking to say that it doesn't matter anyway because God is going to give us a new body, so I can do whatever I want with this one...indulge in food, drink and sex, for instance. Well, these bodies may be temporary, but Paul says that's no excuse to mistreat them. God honored us by giving us this body, a body that is meant for Him since it is His dwelling place (the Holy Spirit lives in you, remember?). Our bodies are His home, so let's be sure we are taking good care of the one He gave us.
14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
We are made in the image of God and were created with the same dignity. If we wouldn't take Jesus' body and have Him sleep with a prostitute or with whatever women He wants. In fact, the thought of that is so disturbing to me. But yet, why don't we feel the same way about our own bodies sometimes? We are a new and holy creation once Jesus lives in us. It does take some self-control and restraint -- I'm not saying it always easy -- but it is my desire to honor God with my body and it can be done.
16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Christ, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." This is why God says to give yourself to only your spouse. He is not saying "don't" for the sake of being a kill joy. He is saying to us, "Don't hurt yourself," because he knows the impact that HE created sex to have on us. And outside of the context for which it was created, marriage, it can have some really destructive consequences to us emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
I like how The Message summarizes this: "There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body."
I sure hope that you come away with a better understanding of why sex is a big deal. There are plenty of other topics in the Bible that area big deal, too, but we just happen to be at this one today. It seems to me that the Christians are getting swept away by the culture in this area. I read an article last month that said that 80% of self-proclaimed followers of Christ between the ages of 18-29 have had sex before marriage, and 42% of those unmarried people are currently having sex! So much for True Love Waits, huh? I think we have forgotten the goodness in God's plan for His creation of sex...and it is meant to be AWESOME!
Don't feel shunned today, my friends, but take The Word you've read today and decide to change your focus from "how far can I go" to "how can I honor God with my body and my purity?"
To read more from the above mentioned article, go here: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/features/28337-the-secret-sexual-revolution
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Oh my! Does that not sound like our culture? People are constantly claiming "their rights" and especially when it comes to things they want to do that "won't hurt other people" like drinking, sex, or anything else that doesn't involve the physical harm of another. But surely we know that these things do hurt those around us -- if just not physically sometimes. So here Paul quotes the saying, which was apparently popular in his day too, that people are claiming their rights. But he reminds us that sure we can make our own choices, but just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. And then I sure would be mastered by something...myself! We are all mastered by something, because as Bob Dylan wrote, we're all "gonna serve somebody." He is absolutely right. So, yes, we have the right to do what we want, but I want to make choices that are beneficial for the spiritual growth of myself and those around me.
13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
A saying that may ring a bell in our day would be "Eat to live or live to eat." But the people Paul is talking to say that it doesn't matter anyway because God is going to give us a new body, so I can do whatever I want with this one...indulge in food, drink and sex, for instance. Well, these bodies may be temporary, but Paul says that's no excuse to mistreat them. God honored us by giving us this body, a body that is meant for Him since it is His dwelling place (the Holy Spirit lives in you, remember?). Our bodies are His home, so let's be sure we are taking good care of the one He gave us.
14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
We are made in the image of God and were created with the same dignity. If we wouldn't take Jesus' body and have Him sleep with a prostitute or with whatever women He wants. In fact, the thought of that is so disturbing to me. But yet, why don't we feel the same way about our own bodies sometimes? We are a new and holy creation once Jesus lives in us. It does take some self-control and restraint -- I'm not saying it always easy -- but it is my desire to honor God with my body and it can be done.
16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Christ, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." This is why God says to give yourself to only your spouse. He is not saying "don't" for the sake of being a kill joy. He is saying to us, "Don't hurt yourself," because he knows the impact that HE created sex to have on us. And outside of the context for which it was created, marriage, it can have some really destructive consequences to us emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
I like how The Message summarizes this: "There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body."
I sure hope that you come away with a better understanding of why sex is a big deal. There are plenty of other topics in the Bible that area big deal, too, but we just happen to be at this one today. It seems to me that the Christians are getting swept away by the culture in this area. I read an article last month that said that 80% of self-proclaimed followers of Christ between the ages of 18-29 have had sex before marriage, and 42% of those unmarried people are currently having sex! So much for True Love Waits, huh? I think we have forgotten the goodness in God's plan for His creation of sex...and it is meant to be AWESOME!
Don't feel shunned today, my friends, but take The Word you've read today and decide to change your focus from "how far can I go" to "how can I honor God with my body and my purity?"
To read more from the above mentioned article, go here: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/features/28337-the-secret-sexual-revolution
Monday, April 9, 2012
1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (Court Cases)
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
So, apparently, the Corinthian Church had gotten themselves wrapped up in some civil cases that had begun to take over and consume their lives (see verses 7-8). It seemed to the Believers that they needed to take their cases to the Roman courts to get "real" answers, rather than deal with these issues among themselves in the Church. And Paul reminds them that they do not need to go to human courts because Christ has given them the wisdom and discernment to settle their own cases, just as humans will be judging angels and the world someday. Yes, you! And if we will be ruling with Christ and making judgements about those big things, how much more are we given the ability to judge the "small" things of this life.
4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?
Have you ever done this? Sought a ruling from the world rather than Christ? I do. I seek approval, justification, and wisdom from the media...specifically the little scrolly pictures on the Yahoo! Homepage. They are always offering little tidbits of advice about how to win my man and keep him or how to invest my money wisely, and how easily I can be swayed by it because the authors are "experts" in their fields. But this verse reminds us their their "way of life is scorned in the church." Why am I getting advice on intimacy with my husband from someone who has had sixty-two partners or wealth advice from someone who is full of greed and self? No, I must be a lot more careful about the "expert" advice I seek. Not all advice is wisdom.
5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
Paul is not beating around the bush here -- his words are meant to shame. He is saying it bluntly so that we might wake up! If we are taking one another to court over small matters or not so small matters, then the world will wonder if there really is nothing different about us. We do not want to be the cause of their unbelief, and yet, so often it is the very Christians themselves who cause unbelief in others because of the way they live. This is a big deal!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.
The sad fact is that if we have lawsuits and disputes among us, we are already defeated...who cares what the worldly judge says, we've already lost! If we are so concerned about being sure we are not wronged or cheated by another human being and have gone so far as to take it to court, than we are already consumed with greed, retaliation and hatred rather than practicing unselfishness, forgiveness and love -- the fruit of the Spirit. Where is the Spirit in us when we are so concerned about making sure we get "ours"? Instead Paul says, Go ahead and be wronged, be cheated...so what?! That's small potatoes compared to what's to come! Let them take your money, your stuff, your pride -- there is so much more to this life than that. And it's especially heart-breaking when it's happening among Believers. That is not who we were created to be.
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. 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.
And here we see a list of sins which can shame us all the more, as I myself am represented in that list, but that is not the point of it... the best part about it is verse 11, "And that is what some of you were." This is a list of what the Christians were before they came to Christ!
And here is what is so amazing about Easter: we are no longer labeled by our sins because our sin is not our identity any longer, and we are walking away from those behaviors because Christ has come to set us free! We WERE those things, "BUT you you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Now our identity is Christ. We are His. That is our identity!
...and because of that, nothing, not even court cases, matters in light of eternity. He will right all wrongs and vindicate the greed of this world.
So, let the justice system do what they will in criminal cases, but let's keep each other out of civil court. We don't need the "wisdom" of this world.
So, apparently, the Corinthian Church had gotten themselves wrapped up in some civil cases that had begun to take over and consume their lives (see verses 7-8). It seemed to the Believers that they needed to take their cases to the Roman courts to get "real" answers, rather than deal with these issues among themselves in the Church. And Paul reminds them that they do not need to go to human courts because Christ has given them the wisdom and discernment to settle their own cases, just as humans will be judging angels and the world someday. Yes, you! And if we will be ruling with Christ and making judgements about those big things, how much more are we given the ability to judge the "small" things of this life.
4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?
Have you ever done this? Sought a ruling from the world rather than Christ? I do. I seek approval, justification, and wisdom from the media...specifically the little scrolly pictures on the Yahoo! Homepage. They are always offering little tidbits of advice about how to win my man and keep him or how to invest my money wisely, and how easily I can be swayed by it because the authors are "experts" in their fields. But this verse reminds us their their "way of life is scorned in the church." Why am I getting advice on intimacy with my husband from someone who has had sixty-two partners or wealth advice from someone who is full of greed and self? No, I must be a lot more careful about the "expert" advice I seek. Not all advice is wisdom.
5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
Paul is not beating around the bush here -- his words are meant to shame. He is saying it bluntly so that we might wake up! If we are taking one another to court over small matters or not so small matters, then the world will wonder if there really is nothing different about us. We do not want to be the cause of their unbelief, and yet, so often it is the very Christians themselves who cause unbelief in others because of the way they live. This is a big deal!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.
The sad fact is that if we have lawsuits and disputes among us, we are already defeated...who cares what the worldly judge says, we've already lost! If we are so concerned about being sure we are not wronged or cheated by another human being and have gone so far as to take it to court, than we are already consumed with greed, retaliation and hatred rather than practicing unselfishness, forgiveness and love -- the fruit of the Spirit. Where is the Spirit in us when we are so concerned about making sure we get "ours"? Instead Paul says, Go ahead and be wronged, be cheated...so what?! That's small potatoes compared to what's to come! Let them take your money, your stuff, your pride -- there is so much more to this life than that. And it's especially heart-breaking when it's happening among Believers. That is not who we were created to be.
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. 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.
And here we see a list of sins which can shame us all the more, as I myself am represented in that list, but that is not the point of it... the best part about it is verse 11, "And that is what some of you were." This is a list of what the Christians were before they came to Christ!
And here is what is so amazing about Easter: we are no longer labeled by our sins because our sin is not our identity any longer, and we are walking away from those behaviors because Christ has come to set us free! We WERE those things, "BUT you you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Now our identity is Christ. We are His. That is our identity!
...and because of that, nothing, not even court cases, matters in light of eternity. He will right all wrongs and vindicate the greed of this world.
So, let the justice system do what they will in criminal cases, but let's keep each other out of civil court. We don't need the "wisdom" of this world.
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