We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul pens a fundamental thought.
1 Corinthians 10
14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? 19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is? 23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything” - but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything” - but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
Glory. In chapter 8, Paul began addressing the issue of whether or not Jesus followers should eat meat that had been used in a ceremony at a pagan temple. In this conclusion, he write one of my favorite verses, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Whatever you do … do it for the glory of God. Whatever you do … do it for the glory of God. Whatever. I don’t think there is anything I can add to that thought, so I won’t.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Warning
We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul offers an important reminder (warning).
1 Corinthians 10
1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Warning. We need to be wise enough to learn from other people’s mistakes. We need to be humble enough to acknowledge our propensity to make certain mistakes. We need to be reminded enough to know that God wants to help us not repeat those mistakes. Consider yourself warned.
1 Corinthians 10
1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Warning. We need to be wise enough to learn from other people’s mistakes. We need to be humble enough to acknowledge our propensity to make certain mistakes. We need to be reminded enough to know that God wants to help us not repeat those mistakes. Consider yourself warned.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Discipline
We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul talks about control.
1 Corinthians 9
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Discipline. I don’t think anyone likes the word discipline. Look it up in the dictionary, none of the definitions sound like they’re any fun. However, I do think everyone needs discipline. It is really a matter of control. Am I expressing every impulse I experience (including my thoughts, words and actions) or am I gaining controlling of my impulses and submitting them to God’s control? It won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight; but it is the foundation of becoming a follower (or disciple) of Jesus. I would encourage you to take it slow (the same advice any trainer would give you if you were starting a new workout). Start with becoming aware of your impulses ... what you are thinking and saying and doing. Life moves so fast sometimes that we don’t even realize what we are doing. Once you have gained some awareness, work on evaluating your impulses before expressing them. The standard for evaluation should be simple (check out Matthew 22:35-40). Does it honor God? Does it help others? Once you have implemented an evaluation process, it becomes a matter of repeating the ones that do (honor and/or help) and replacing the ones that don’t.
1 Corinthians 9
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Discipline. I don’t think anyone likes the word discipline. Look it up in the dictionary, none of the definitions sound like they’re any fun. However, I do think everyone needs discipline. It is really a matter of control. Am I expressing every impulse I experience (including my thoughts, words and actions) or am I gaining controlling of my impulses and submitting them to God’s control? It won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight; but it is the foundation of becoming a follower (or disciple) of Jesus. I would encourage you to take it slow (the same advice any trainer would give you if you were starting a new workout). Start with becoming aware of your impulses ... what you are thinking and saying and doing. Life moves so fast sometimes that we don’t even realize what we are doing. Once you have gained some awareness, work on evaluating your impulses before expressing them. The standard for evaluation should be simple (check out Matthew 22:35-40). Does it honor God? Does it help others? Once you have implemented an evaluation process, it becomes a matter of repeating the ones that do (honor and/or help) and replacing the ones that don’t.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Compelled
We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul provides some important insights.
1 Corinthians 9
16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Compelled. Paul felt compelled to tell others about Jesus. If you are like me, there have been times in life when you have been more compelled by you and your wants than by God and his need for everyone to truly understand and experience grace. In this passage, Paul provides some insight on how to reverse that. It all starts with a change of heart ... “I have become a slave to all”. He embraced (and expressed) the heart of Jesus, a servant’s heart (check out Mark 10:45). If you are like me, there have also been times when you struggled with how to “spread the Good News”. Thankfully, Paul offers some insight on how to initiate that process. It begins with building a relationship ... “I try to find common ground with everyone” ... which was a huge change of strategy for him. His approach to introducing people to God used to be a lot more abrasive (check out Acts 9:1-2). A relationship based on acceptance and compassion and grace will allow you to tell others about a God who is accepting and compassionate and gracious.
1 Corinthians 9
16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Compelled. Paul felt compelled to tell others about Jesus. If you are like me, there have been times in life when you have been more compelled by you and your wants than by God and his need for everyone to truly understand and experience grace. In this passage, Paul provides some insight on how to reverse that. It all starts with a change of heart ... “I have become a slave to all”. He embraced (and expressed) the heart of Jesus, a servant’s heart (check out Mark 10:45). If you are like me, there have also been times when you struggled with how to “spread the Good News”. Thankfully, Paul offers some insight on how to initiate that process. It begins with building a relationship ... “I try to find common ground with everyone” ... which was a huge change of strategy for him. His approach to introducing people to God used to be a lot more abrasive (check out Acts 9:1-2). A relationship based on acceptance and compassion and grace will allow you to tell others about a God who is accepting and compassionate and gracious.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Right
We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul provides an example of giving up our rights.
1 Corinthians 9
1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle. 3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. 11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. 13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
Right. Paul had the right to financial support. It was a common practice in their society to support spiritual teachers (reread verses 4-5 and 12-13) and even taught by God (reread verses 9-11 and 14). That is why I love verse 12 ... “We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ”. It seems that Paul would rather have people question his authority as an apostle because he gave up that right and worked to support himself (Greeks tended to look down on manual labor) than have people potentially question his motives because he accepted their money. In a world that seems to hold rights above responsibilities, we (as Jesus followers) ought to hold responsibilities above rights no matter what obstacle it creates.
1 Corinthians 9
1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle. 3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. 11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. 13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
Right. Paul had the right to financial support. It was a common practice in their society to support spiritual teachers (reread verses 4-5 and 12-13) and even taught by God (reread verses 9-11 and 14). That is why I love verse 12 ... “We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ”. It seems that Paul would rather have people question his authority as an apostle because he gave up that right and worked to support himself (Greeks tended to look down on manual labor) than have people potentially question his motives because he accepted their money. In a world that seems to hold rights above responsibilities, we (as Jesus followers) ought to hold responsibilities above rights no matter what obstacle it creates.
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