Recognized

1 Corinthians 8
But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.  1 Corinthians 8:3 NLT


LET IT GLOW

After living away from my hometown 17 years, we moved back to it. That was 13 years ago. There have been times that I would recognize a familiar face at a ballgame or in a local store, but recall that person's name. My how everyone changes throughout the years. I'm delighted that God recognizes me. Even when my times of communicating with Him were far and few between, He was faithful. He doesn't forget me.

"The true knowledge of God does not come about through the acquisition of cognitive data concerning Him. It comes through loving Him," Jerry Falwell said in Liberty Bible Commentary.

Oh, how I love Jesus.


LET IT GROW

Verses 12-13 say,"But when ye sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

Paul addresses the topic of eating meat offered to idols as a sacrifice. Some of the Corinthian belivers thought it was all right, while some thought it was sinful. Remember there was a lot of false idol worship in Corinth.

"If you, being a 'stronger brother' should entice another brother to sin, then in effect, ye sin against Christ. This truth is derived from two facts. First, the most immediate, the stronger brother has enticed a weaker brother to sin against the Savior who died for him. Secondly, Jesus said in Mattherw 25:40, 'inasmuch as ye have dome it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'
The conclusion of the matter is love. In order to avoid offending a brother, Paul would permanently exclude the eating of meat from his diet."
"The decision to follow the path of love rests with Paul, not with the weak. The strong are to yield to love's appeal voluntarily, not because the weak demand it, leagalists always demand subjection to their laws,"
from Wycliffe Bible Commentary.

So whether it concerns eating, drinking, clothing, words, or actions, I need to watch out that I don't cause a weaker believer to stumble and fall into sin because of me. Because of love I will abstain from such things.

LET IT GO

Remember that God loves me and recognizes me.

Love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Don't use my freedom that may cause them to stumble into sin.

Going Home

1 Corinthians 7
And they use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1 Corinthians 7:31


LET IT GLOW

It was late, the night of August 23, 1997. I was standing beside her hospital bed when my mother said, "Tomorrow I'm going home." My rebuttle was, "No Mom, you're going to have surgery tonight and will stay in the hospital." Little did I know at the time that she spoke the truth. Within a few hours,  the next morning, Mom did go home, not to her little house on the country road, but to her eternal home in heaven. To which home was she referring that night? I'll ask her one day.

In the NLT, verse 31 reads,"Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away."

Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, says:

Compared with other centuries, life has never been easier for much of the Western world. We are constantly entertained, amused, and catered to. With all the fascinating attractions, mesmerizing media, and enjoyable experiences available today, it's easy to forget that the pursuit of happiness is not what life is about. Only as we remember that life is a test, a trust, and a termporary assignment will the appeal of these things lose their grip on our lives. We are preparing for something even better.
"The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."
2 Corinthians 4:18 (MSG)
The fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. It also explains why some of God's promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstanses seem unfair. This is not the end of the story.
When life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At death you won't leave home-you'll go home.

Mom went home that morning, to her eternal home. Some day I will do the same and so will you. Are we prepared? The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ.


LET IT GROW

Verse 17, NLT, says,"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."

Verse 35, NLT, states,"I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best with as few distractions as possible."

Jerry Falwell told us in Liberty Bible Commentary:

There is no special reason why a believer should change his occupation or position in life subsequent to being saved. When applied to marriage, this simply means that there is no reason why a believer should put away his unbelieving spouse.
But what of the situation where the unbeliever takes the initiative in dissolving the marriage? There is no conflict here between Paul's advice and that of the Lord in Matthew 5:32. The point is that the divine standard cannot be imposed upon the unregenerate. There is nothing the believer can do but submit to the divorce. Paul does not justify the divorce, even though the believing partner is free. Rather, there should be every possible effort on the part of the believer to avoid the separation if possible.


To sum it up, Paul says to the Christian, if you're single, it's better to stay single so you can spend more time serving the Lord and pleasing Him. If you can't stay single, that's okay, then marry. If you're married to an unbeliever who wants to stay married, then do it. That's okay, too. If the unbeliever wants a divorce, then  that's that, you're free.

Into which category do you fall? I'm married to a believer, and we're staying married. The main point I get from this chapter is to follow the Lord in whatever your situation.


LET IT GO

Make sure I'm ready to go home, to meet Jesus.

In whatever marital situation, stay faithful to the Lord/ and spouse.

Washed

1 Corinthians 6
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:11


LET IT GLOW

I can think of several things that I have "washed" lately-dirty dishes in the dishwasher, a gross shower curtain in the washing machine, a greasy stove. I can't say that I enjoyed washing them, but one thing I did enjoy washing and that was me. Actually, I had gone to the mall and stopped in a store which had sweet smelling bath perfumes. Girls, I fell in love with the newest scent and had to buy the whole set-body wash, perfume, and lotion. You guessed it. That shower was a long one, an enjoyable one, a relaxing one, with my new scent.  I was squeeky clean, but sweet smelling, too. I don't think that was what Paul was referring in the key verse. He was talking spiritually, not physically.

In David Guzik's Commentaries on the Bible, he explains:

You were washed...sanctified...justified: God's great work for us in Jesus Christ is described in three terms.

1. You were washed: We are washed clean from sin by the mercy of God (Titus 3:5). We can have our sins
                                  washed way by calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). We are washed by the
                                  work of Jesus on the cross for us (Rev.1:5) and by the  Word of God (Eph.5:26).
2. You are sanctified: We are set apart, away from the world and unto God, by the work of Jesus on the
                                  cross (Heb.10:10), by God's Word (John 17:19), by faith in Jesus (Acts 26:18), and
                                  by the Holy Spirit (Rom.15:16).
3. You are justified: We are declared "just" before the court of God; not merely "not guilty," but decalred to
                               be "just" before Him. We are justified by God's grace through the work of Jesus on the
                               cross (Rom 3:24), by faith and not by our own deeds (Rom 3:28).

God can take the kind of people described in verses 9-10 and make them into the kind of people described in verse 11! How great is the work of God in the life of the believer.

Thank the Lord that I'm washed in the blood of the Lamb!


LET IT GROW

Verses 19-20 say: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

David Guzik tells us:
"This is a principle and a command for sexual purity among Christians: glorify God in your body.
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. A temple is a place sacred to God, and pure from immorality.
Our bodies belong to God, and not to ourselves. They are His purchased possession. We don't have the right to pollute and abuse God's property. We have no right to be idle with, or wasteful of, what belongs to Him. Our bodies should be put to use glorifying God!
Because our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we have God Himself living within us. This means we have a strength, a power, living within us to give us power over the sins of the flesh. We should expect sexual purity from Christians more than from those who are not, because they do not have God living within them as we do. "

Roman 12:1 says,"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 what we should think on-things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. I am daily having to retrain myself. The flesh wants to rule instead of my spirit.


LET IT GO

Act like I'm washed, sanctified, and justified, then I will glorify God in my body.

Lord, help me rule my body, not the lusts of my flesh ruling me.

Make my life, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto You.

Just a Pinch

1 Corinthians 5
So let us celebrate the festival, (Passover) not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.  NLT 1 Corinthians 5:8


LET IT GLOW

The evening before Thanksgiving, I was preparing to make my usual homemade yeast rolls to put in the refrigerator in order for them to rise overnight. I noticed the yeast had an expired date on the package, making it a year old. Okay, I confess that it was last Thanksgiving since I last made any rolls.So I put on my coat, drove to the local grocery store and bought yeast. Then I continued the process. If I had used the old yeast, it would have been flat bread. Paul uses leaven to make an illustration in this chapter.

When leaven is used in the Bible, it refers to sin.  Shepherd's Notes says, "Leaven was a small portion of fermented dough used to ferment other dough." 

Paul is encouraging the Corinthan church to do a heart check using sincerity and truth, getting rid of sinful  ways.

 Webster's Dictionary defines sincere as being free from falsehood, pretense, or deceit. So Paul is  telling  me since my life is new in Christ, people should see sincerity and truthfulness in it. I can't pretend with Christ, since He sees my heart, but I can pretend to be Christ-like.

David Guzik describes sincerity and truth used here as "two strong guard-rails for the way of the Christian life."

LET IT GROW

There is a problem in the Corinthian church which Paul addresses in this chapter. A man in the church is sexually immoral (commiting incest with stepmother) and they all know it, but are prideful of their acceptance of this man and his sin. (Evidently the woman isn't a believer because she isn't mentioned here.) Paul tells the church to kick him out for their sake (so they don't do the same thing) and the salvation of the man.
He uses the illustration of leaven.

Verses 6-7 in NLT say,"Your boasting about this is terrible. Don't you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us."

David Guzik said,"Leaven mentioned was just yeast, but a pinch of dough left over from the previous batch, as in making of sourdough bread, in ancient times. It could make the new lump of dough rise and 'puff up.' It illustrates the work of sin and pride."

Shepherd's Notes states,"When a congregation, or the church at large, condones immorality, the moral fiber of the church is weakened. None escape is contamination. The whole lump is affected. No church or fellowship may celebrate deliverance from sin while sheltering sin among its members."

Now, that's a tall glass of tea.

Is the Lord telling me to be watchful of pride in my life? Is He saying to watch out with whom I  associate?
To not condone immorality? To be aware of just a pinch of sin? Don't let it grow into a whole batch.


LET IT GO

Be sincere and truthful.

Don't let a pinch of sin grow into a whold batch; stay confessed up.

Scum

1 Corinthians 4
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.    1 Corinthians 4:13


LET IT GLOW

Soap scum, mildew, and yucky stuff seems to accummulate quickly in my shower. You know what I'm talking about, don't ya? Perhaps the reason for this is because we don't have a vent to remove the humidity from the bathroom. Anyway, I have to attack it once a month so nothing grows and carries me off. Scrubbing while on my hands and knees to remove all that scum built up isn't my idea of spending a fun morning. Although, after it's loosened, water washes it away. Then everything shines and is so squeaky clean that I can see myself in the fixtures. (Well, maybe not, but it sure does shine.)
I realize that's the way I need to come to Jesus-on my hands and knees, begging for forgiveness when I venture off into sin, resulting in scum in my life. Then He washes me clean again and I can shine for Him.

The New Living Translation uses the phrases " world's garbage" and "everybody's trash" in verse 13.
Mathew Henry says,"In the first age, Christians were considered dirt of the world that was to be swept away."

Psalm 118:29 says, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

1 John 1:9 states,"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I sure don't like scum, either kind. Thank the Lord He removes it.


LET IT GROW

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful," says verses 1-2.

Shepherd's Notes Commentaries Series-I Corinthians says:

• A steward was the "manager of a household, which often was a trusted slave put in charge of the whole household. The word emphasizes that one is entrusted with great responsibility and acountability." [A quote by Fritz Rienecker, Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament]
• Paul referred to leaders who are stewards and what has been entrusted, or what they are to administer.
• The "secret things of God" granted to leaders are things that human wisdom cannot discover but can only be revealed by God.

Falwell said in Liberty Bible Commentary:

Stewards, in general, were slaves in the master's household who is entrusted with property. It stresses accouontability. He must render account for the manner in which he carries out his master's orders. It is sought for all stewards, that each one be found reliable and trustworthy.

As a steward, I want to be faithful with what responsibility God has given to me.

Verse 20 says,"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."

Is Paul saying that God's kingdom is not just "God talk", words, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit?
There's a difference in the Bible being "just another book" and a book inspired by His Holy Spirit.


LET IT GO

Get the scum out of my life through confession to God.

Be a faithful steward of God.

Co-Workers

1 Corinthians 3
I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1 Corinthian 3:6-9


LET IT GLOW

Co-workers. Certain people come to my mind whenever I say the word. How about you?
Down through the years I have had some very helpful, wonderful co-workers. But then, I have had some lousy ones too. You have probably had the same experiences. In this chapter, Paul is talking about being God's co-worker, following and serving Him. He is also talking about his fellow workers in the ministry-Apollos, Peter, Luke, etc. Let's see what Paul has to say about them.

In verse 9, Paul says we are laborers together with God. Its our responsibility to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that we allow nothing to hinder our cooperation with Him. We are to be absolutely devoted to our co-Worker. We have no right to judge where we should be put, or to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for. God engineers everything wherever He puts us. Our one great aim is to pour out a wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work.
(Resource:  My Utmost For His Highest, Daily Devotional Journal  by Oswald Chambers)

Each ones' work is important in the ministry as they use different spiritual gifts for God's glory. The emphasis
in on our being faithful to obey and not the success.  Am I a faithful servant of the Lord's?

Matthew Henry said,"We work under Him, with Him, and for Him (God).


LET IT GROW

Paul uses two metaphors here-an agricultural one and an architectural one.
First, Paul planted the Gospel seed and Apollos watered, teaching those believers in Corinth. It was God who gave the increase. God saves by His grace and grows people to spiritual maturity, yielding fruit.

David Guzik said,"We work with God in our "field." The work Paul did with God was to work "on" God's people. They were His "field." What's important is that God makes the seed grow. He gives the increase."

Am I planting seeds of the Good News, Jesus saves? Am I watering, encouraging faith in people? Am I trusting God to give the increase?

Second, Paul said we are God's building. Christ is the foundation of our Christian life. Our works build upon that foundation. They can be two different kinds-combustible and incombustible.

New Living Translation, verses 12-15 say, "Anyone who build on that foundation (Jesus Christ) may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames."

What are these materials? I have read many commentaries on this chapter. They say these materials may be doctrines/ the law;  faith/ works; good/bad; tribulations, afflictions, trials.
I wonder if Paul is telling us that we are building our mansion in heaven, using these materials, laying the stones so to speak. Are the stones in the walls made of  gold, silver, and jewels our faith, obedience, worship, prayers, attitude, loving deeds done for our neighbors, deeds done for the glory of God, applying of God's Word in our life resulting in fruit of the Spirit,  those works that survive judgment? Are the other parts  the wood, hay, straw our selfish, sinful deeds done in the flesh, done for our glory, those works that burn up in the judgment? I don't have any Biblical basis, just wondering. Do you have any suggestions?

Hebrews 11:6a - "Without faith it is impossible to please Him."

1 Samuel 15:22b-23a-"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken (submission), than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as (bad as) the sin of  witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (bad as worshiping idols)." (NLT in parenthesis)

1 Samuel 16:7b- "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

Jeremiah 17:26b-"bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord."

Hebrews 13:15- "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

James 5:16b- "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Romans 14:23b-"whatsoever is not of faith is sin."


LET IT GO

Be a co-worker with Christ.

Plant the seed of God's Word, then water It with love.

Keep Jesus as the foundation of my life.

Trips

1Corinthians 2
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1Cor.2:5


LET IT GLOW

The other day I was getting ready for a trip to Alabama, doing the laundry, gathering things together, when I tripped over my suitcase and fell flat on the floor. The floor was cement, not carpeted, so I have bruises as evidence of my trip. That was not the trip I had on my mind that day, but it happened. I would lots rather stand than trip or fall. What about spiritually speaking?  Standing is definitely better than falling or tripping over temptations.

Paul says that my faith should not be based on the wisdom of man or the natural person. My faith  should stand in the power of God. How? By reading His Word and submitting to His Holy Spirit. Then I won't trip over temptations and fall into sin.
Also, if "Christ crucified" is what my Christian faith stands upon, then I won't fall for other doctrines or religious heresy.

LET IT GROW

In verse 9 Paul paraphrases Isaiah 64:4 saying,"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
(Instead of the word love, that scripture actually reads wait. )

There's a special blessing connected with waiting for the Lord. Men would rather work than wait. They also love legalism more than the holiness of waiting. (Bultema)


If spiritual things were detected by the senses, there would be no need for revelation. (Mathew Henry)

While it is true that we cannot comprehend the greatness of heaven, that isn't what Paul means, but the glorious thing is the gospel. (David Guzik)

Verse 9 says,"God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit."

Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 in verse 16, "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that He may instruct him? "
His answer is, "But we have the mind of Christ."

David Guzik said,"God needs no counsel, no instruction, no teacher, and no one to show Him the way of understanding."

Paul says in verse 7,"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which
God ordained before the world unto our glory."

King James Dictionary defines wisdom as the right use or exercise of knowledge; discerning or judging what's most just, proper, and useful.

In this chapter we find the wisdom of God is:

• a mystery, hidden (verse 7)
• revealed by His Spirit (verse 9)
• the deep things of God (verse 10)
• freely given to us of God (verse 12)
• not received nor known by the natural man (verse 14)

James 1:5 tells us how to get wisdom: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (KJV)
NLT says: "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

So I can have the wisdom of God if I ask Him for it. It is His Spirit revealing things to my spirit. I already have the revelation of Jesus Christ as my Savior.

LET IT GO

Have standing faith in God's power.

Ask for wisdom from God.