Seeking the Life in Christ: June 2022

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Man Up

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 30, 2022

Man Up

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

And do everything with love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Read: 1 Corinthians 16:1-18

This closing chapter is divided into three parts. The first two are covered in today’s reading and the third is tomorrow’s reading which will bring to close our journey through First Corinthians these last 2 1/2 months.

I first noticed how Paul urged the church to exercise discipline in their giving: “On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned.” (v.2a) For many years we divided our tithe into fifty-two parts, and I looked forward each week to placing our offering into the collection plate. The pandemic changed that when churches closed, and the emphasis shifted to online giving. Now I am paying our tithe monthly, but Paul’s point is not wasted on me. Cheryl and I have long practiced the discipline of tithing, and we have found God is faithful to Jesus’ promise in Luke 6:38,

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Secondly, I have been fascinated by the different translations of the word courageous in the verse quoted above. The NLT has a footnote that says the literal Greek in the verse can be rendered, “Be Men.” In looking to other translations, I think a good translation, from back in the day, would be, Man Up. I think the church in Corinth got Paul’s point, and so shall we. We are living in difficult times, and it is vitally important that all of us be on guard and stand firm in the faith. We need to be courageous and strong, and above all do everything with love.

My Takeaway: More and more, I am drawn to Paul’s testimony in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” My hope is that all of us seeking the life in Christ as our way of life will live in such a way that these words will be a suitable epitaph for our lives.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Your Labor Is Not In Vain

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 29, 2022

Your Labor Is Not In Vain

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Today’s passage, especially the verse quoted above, stands in contrast to the words of Solomon in this passage from Ecclesiastes 1:1-3,

The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

What do people gain from all the toil

at which they toil under the sun?

Solomon’s words seem so cynical until you read all of Ecclesiastes. When you do, you find Solomon was focused on those who seek to work out the meaning of their life apart from God. Paul reveals to us another way to work out the meaning of our lives in Acts 17:28,

For in him we live and move and exist.

At the beginning of today’s passage, Paul again affirmed the wonderful news that in Christ we are destined to live eternally with God. Paul then punctuates this truth with verse 57, “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul believed that knowing our future is secure in Christ should motivate us to become co-laborers with Christ, building for the Kingdom of God.

My Takeaway: God is working all things together for His good in our lives, (Romans 8:28), therefore, nothing is wasted, nothing is in vain.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Our Promised Resurrection and Transformation

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 28, 2022

Our Promised Resurrection and Transformation

Just as we are now like the earthly man,

we will someday be like the heavenly man.

1 Corinthians 15:49

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Many people ask, “What will we be like in the world to come?” Paul tries to answer that question in today’s passage, but I think the best scriptural answer is by the Apostle John:

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. (1 John 3:2)

In today’s passage, Paul is also contrasting our present circumstance with our life in the world to come. In our present circumstance, God inspires us when we gather in worship on Sunday with a desire to share Jesus. But, we don’t. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. We see the needs in our community, and we hear the call of Jesus to follow him into the world to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and set the captives free. We want to follow, but we don’t go very far. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. We are in a social setting, and someone speaks words of hatred, or bitterness, or racial prejudice. We want to speak for God and against injustice, but we remain silent. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. In our passage today, Paul says there is coming a glorious day when our Lord shall return, and when he returns, our flesh will no longer be weak.

As we learn to trust God, and as we become more willing to surrender our lives to God, the Spirit within us ascends and the flesh or natural life within us descends. Ultimately, when Christ returns, he will complete the transformation within us, and we will become just like him: the spirit indeed is willing and without any weakness.

My Takeaway: God has now given us a present reality and a promise, which together form the foundation for our faith, hope and love: the Resurrection of Jesus and our promised resurrection and transformation.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, June 27, 2022

For You Alone, O Lord

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 27, 2022

For You Alone, O Lord

And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour?

1 Corinthians 15:30

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:29-34

First, verse 29 is confusing. This is the only place in the NT that refers to being baptized for the dead. Biblical scholars are not sure exactly what practice in Corinth Paul was referring to, but they are convinced by mentioning the practice he was not condoning it. Rather, he uses it as fonder for his continuing argument that if Jesus was not in fact raised from the dead, and if there is not a sure hope for the resurrection of the disciples of Jesus, all our churchy activity is in vain. It is useless in terms of providing eternal benefits.

In today’s passage, Paul goes even further with this argument. Not only does the absence of the actual bodily resurrection of Jesus negate any eternal value of church, but it also negates the sustaining power and presence of God in our present circumstances. As I noted on June 23, 2022, all my faith rests in one basket: the resurrection of Jesus.

My Takeaway: Since April, I have been struggling with Atrial Fibrillation. My doctors have prescribed medicines by the hands full, which have side effects, and which for me has included disrupting my normal sleep pattern. Every night as I lie in bed, Cheryl prays Psalm 4:8 over me,

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

If there is no resurrection, Cheryl is wasting her breath and giving me false hope.

Thanks be to God, she is not!

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, June 24, 2022

The Resurrection of the Dead

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 24, 2022

The Resurrection of the Dead

But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

1 Corinthians 15:23

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

We will stay in chapter 15 until June 29 because it is so important. I mentioned on Monday that recently my church concluded a study of the Nicene Creed with a discussion of our resurrection and life in the World to come. We looked often to chapter 15 to help us grasp the importance of this affirmation that is both the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. A few years ago, I was teaching a Sunday School class on the Apostles’ Creed. When we got to the phrase, “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” I asked the class what they thought this phrase meant. There was a near unanimous response that the phrase was referring to the resurrection of Jesus. Yes, Jesus is resurrected, but this phrase in the creed refers to our resurrection.

While Paul expounds on the coming again of the resurrected Jesus, in Final Victory to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, my focus this morning is on the verse quoted above” “. . . then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.” I encourage you read and mediate on verses 20-23 and receive God’s encouragement for your life today, and your life in the world to come

My Takeaway: As I noted yesterday, my faith rests in one basket: the resurrection of Jesus. Integral to my faith is my belief that I too will be resurrected.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, June 23, 2022

The Resurrection of the Dead

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 23, 2022

The Resurrection of the Dead

And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

1 Corinthians 15:19

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Our passage today affirms how important it is to keep focused on the foundation of our faith. Our culture tempts us to believe that if we do the right things in the right way, we will be successful. With that thinking, when we are not as successful as we had hoped, it can be quite depressing. As well it should be, if we are putting our faith in doing the right things the right way. Our passage today reminds us that as a Christian, our faith rests on one fact and one fact alone: the resurrection of Jesus.

If Jesus has not been resurrected, there is no hope for today, much less an eternal future with God the Father. Because Jesus has been resurrected from the dead, it is still very important that we do the right things the right way. However, the purpose of our service changes, from seeking to be successful, to being faithful to God. Our Father has promised us that because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we have a hope for today and for the future. Because Jesus has been resurrected, we can serve God, trusting that He is working all things together to accomplish His will.

For me, it makes all the difference in the world whether I go through life trusting in my ability to be good, or trusting that God my Father, who resurrected Jesus, knows my name, and has saved me from sin and death.

My Takeaway: All my faith rests in one basket: the resurrection of Jesus.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The Resurrection of Christ

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 22, 2022

The Resurrection of Christ

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:10a (NRSV)

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Chapter 15 is one of the most important of all of Paul’s writings. He begins with affirming the resurrection of Jesus, which is the foundation upon which everything in the New Testament church rests. As we continue our journey with Paul, we will see that he believes the world can never be the same again after the resurrection of Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus’ resurrection, and fashion their lives by this truth, will never be the same either.

In verses 3-9, Paul underscores the importance of this foundation: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day. He was seen by Peter, the Twelve, by more than 500 of his followers, he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Paul also saw him. Paul wanted to be perfectly clear in asserting that Jesus was alive!

My Takeaway: Paul then testified how his belief in the resurrection of Jesus had changed his life: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain” (I Corinthians 15:10a NRSV). I often come home to this verse as my personal testimony.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Let All Things Be Done For Building Up

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 21, 2022

Orderly Worship

Let All Things Be Done For Building Up

1 Corinthians 14:26b

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

The role of women in the church is still debated as evidenced by the continuing debates in the Southern Baptist Church, and others. For me, Acts 21:9 is helpful in discerning God’s will in this matter. Luke is describing Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and their stop in Caesarea where they stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist. Luke notes, “He (Philip) had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.” Some people have read verses 34-35 and concluded Paul is commanding that women are forbidden to speak in public worship services. However, to reach that conclusion, you would have to discard chapter 11 (as well as many other places in the Bible) where Paul clearly expects women to provide leadership in worship through praying and preaching. Some scholars suggest that these verses were added as an editorial comment by a scribe copying the manuscripts. Others suggest that Paul wrote these verses, but that he was addressing a peculiar situation in Corinth that concerned an issue other than worship leadership.

In Paul’s description of worship, he introduces the inclusion of an exhorter that is still practiced in some churches. An exhorter was a speaker who followed the preacher, who encouraged the congregation to apply the lessons proclaimed by the preacher to their daily lives. The situation in Corinth involved interaction during the service between the exhorter and the congregation. It is known that while St. Augustine was preaching, he was often interrupted for questions or comments. I had that happen a time or two while I was preaching – for me, another disconcerting moment.

My Takeaway: I have two takeaways today. First, I do not know for sure what Paul had in mind with his discussion of women in worship, other than this surely is not a prohibition on the leadership of women in the church. Secondly, if we practice the lesson from the beginning of chapter 14, we will find our right path:

Let love be your highest goal!

1 Corinthians 14:1a

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, June 20, 2022

On Prophecy

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 20, 2022

On Prophecy

As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

1 Corinthians 14:25

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

I noted last Monday that we, the followers of Jesus, are living by the values of the Kingdom of God. We are the children of God; therefore, we set our hearts and minds on learning to live as the Beloved of God. Paul is pointing to this truth in today’s passage when he wrote, “Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers. . .” (v.22b) Paul goes on to say that if unbelievers come into a worship service, they may not fully understand the preaching, but they may well hear enough of the Gospel to repent of their sins.

I am seeing this truth work out in our church. I am writing this the day after Trinity Sunday when our pastor preached a deep theological sermon about the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Later in his teaching session between services, he concluded a months-long series on the Nicene Creed with a discussion of our resurrection and life in the World to come. Clearly all this was over the head of an unbeliever. Yet, the pastor is also teaching confirmation classes for youth and adults who, having been nudged by God’s prevenient grace, are seeking to go deeper in the faith. I see Paul’s vision for the church being fulfilled.

My Takeaway: On Wednesday of last week, our theme focused on our highest goal: “Let love be your highest goal!” (1 Corinthians 14:1a) If we will keep this as our focus, we will be implementing Paul’s instructions in our daily lives.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, June 17, 2022

But It Won’t Strengthen the People Who Hear You

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 17, 2022

But It Won’t Strengthen the People Who Hear You

But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

1 Corinthians 14:19

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

Two things caught my attention in today’s passage.

First, Paul taught in his letter to the Galatians, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.” (Galatians 6:7 NRSV) The church in Corinth had sought to accommodate their church gatherings to the mores and norms of the secular culture. In so doing, their church was being torn apart; they were reaping what they had sown. Jesus has proclaimed that he will remove his anointing from a church that stops loving and obeying God by seeking to go along to get along with the world’s culture. Paul spent a great portion of this letter drawing the church back to God.

Secondly, as we have already seen repeatedly in this chapter, Paul is calling us to let love be our highest goal as we seek to strengthen the whole church. Whenever I read these words of Paul, I am reminded of his teaching in Philippians 2:4 (NRSV),

Let each of you look not to your own interests

but to the interests of others.

When love is my highest ambition, when seeking to strengthen the whole church is my mission, I will look not to my own interests, but to the interest of others.

My Takeaway: We are not left to our strength to accomplish this mission. As we seek to “Let (our) bearings towards one another arise out of (our) life in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NEB 1961), we are being empowered by God to seek the life in Christ as our way of life.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Strengthen The Whole Church

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 16, 2022

Strengthen The Whole Church

Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

1 Corinthians 14:12b

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

I remember visiting a church many years ago that had a rather unusual form of church prayer. When it came time for prayer, all the congregation stood and began praying, out loud. All over the sanctuary people were standing with their arms raise intently praying. Because everyone was speaking at the same time it was impossible to distinguish what was being prayed. It was a very disconcerting experience for me.

I suspect the situation in Corinth was even more disconcerting. As we saw yesterday, Paul identifies the main goal of corporate worship, which is to offer a form of worship that is open and inviting to everyone in the congregation. Under the best of circumstances that is a hard assignment. In Corinth, it was made even more difficult because some of the people were exhibiting their own sense of spirituality, and thus directing the attention of the congregation to them rather than to God.

My Takeaway: The verse quoted above caught my attention today. I have served within the Christian church for forty-five years, and I am hard pressed to recall encountering many people who were as Paul described, “so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives.” Paul’s word to me, and to you, is to each and every day ask ourselves what we are doing to strengthen the whole church.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Let love be your highest goal!

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 15, 2022

Your Highest Goal

Let love be your highest goal!

1 Corinthians 14:1a

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Paul continues to deal with cultural mores and norms being carried over into the church in Corinth. I suspect most of us have not experienced such contentiousness in our churches, especially in striving over spiritual gifts, but there are important lessons for us in today’s passage.

Paul distinguishes between the speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost and what the church in Corinth was experiencing. On Pentecost, God suspended the confusion of languages from Babel (see Genesis 11), and everyone could understand the proclamation of the Gospel. Apparently, some in Corinth, including Paul, spoke in something like a private language of love as they got caught up in their praise and adoration of God. Paul didn’t diminish this experience, rather he cautioned that only what strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them should be included in public worship.

My Takeaway: Paul’s teaching reveals the importance he puts on private worship. We are called to worship God with the Body of Christ, the church. We are also called to practice our own personal times of worship. It has been my experience that the more time I spend in personal praise and worship, the more my public worship expresses reverence and awe for God.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Known by God

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 14, 2022

Known by God

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

1 Corinthians 13:12b

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Jane and Maura, from the TV show Rizzoli & Isles, are talking. Maura is trying, in a very convoluted way, to express her feelings about something. Jane responds, “It must be very difficult to be you.” Maura replies, “You have no idea!” I can so identify with Maura’s comment. I know I am a child of God, and that Christ is in me, and I am in him. I also realize that I am the totality of all that has been my life for seventy-five years. Much of that life has been so very good. Significant portions have been so very bad. Daily I get to choose to live my life out of my core identity that I know is a beloved child of God. Often there are competing voices vying for attention, and sometimes they win out.

Which is all to say, some of the sweetest words to me in the Bible are in verse 12: “Just as God now knows me completely.” There are many days when the attributes we looked at yesterday in verses 4-7 hardly seem present in my life, and I am most acutely aware of how much more in me needs to be transformed to become like Christ. Even so, my Heavenly Father wraps His arms around me and says, “Dear one, you are mine and I love you.” My Heavenly Father knows and loves me. He made me. He knows what it is like for me to be me. I rest in the sweet affection of His smile toward me.

By the way, if we are inclined to have some deep and meaningful private devotional time, like our own personal daily retreat, we would do well to spend a week with chapter 13. We can meditate on just two verses each day. We can read, mediate, and reflect on those two verses three times each day: morning, noon, and evening. We would do well.

My Takeaway: Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (v. 13) I want the entire focus of my life to be on that which is eternal; faith, hope and love.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, June 13, 2022

Living As the Beloved Of God

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 13, 2022

Living As the Beloved Of God

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.

1 Corinthians 13:4

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:7

A few things to keep in mind as you read chapter 13, the Love Chapter. First, to the great shame of the church, this chapter has been relegated to weddings and poems. This chapter is the very essence of everything the Apostle Paul believed.

To continue with the metaphor of the symphony I used last Tuesday (June 7), do not think of chapter 13 as a ‘stand-alone’ chapter. It is the central part of a great symphony that is chapters 12, 13, and 14. They all go together.

Within this divine music of the Kingdom, you can see the core of Paul’s theology. We, the followers of Jesus, are living today by the values of the Kingdom of God. Today, we are the children of God; therefore, we set our hearts and minds on learning to live as the Beloved of God. As you read verses 4-7, think of how you see these qualities, attributes, and characteristics in the life of Jesus.

Remember Paul’s words in Philippians 2:5

“Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus.”

How do we see the attributes of Jesus in verses 4-7, being revealed in our life? You may want to do this exercise in two parts. Paul lists both attributes that love is, and those which love is not. First, focus on love is patient, kind, rejoices whenever the truth wins out, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love never gives up, never loses faith. How do we see these attributes in our daily lives?

Next, Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice. Again, how do we see these attributes in our daily lives?

My Takeaway: Becoming like Jesus, is our destiny, loving like Jesus is our destiny.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, June 10, 2022

One Body with Many Parts

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 10, 2022

One Body with Many Parts

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31a

Sometimes, today’s closing passage in chapter 12 is taken literally. Paul provides a list of spiritual gifts. The first three are numbered, and then he added five more. Some churches interpret this as a ranking order so that the first three are the most important, and then there are the others. When you read the entire chapter 12, I believe you must reject that interpretation as Paul went to great lengths to show that all spiritual gifts are essential to the success of the church’s mission. The ranking order interpretation is seemingly supported by verse 31a, “So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.” If some gifts are most helpful, then are some other gifts less helpful? No, not if you read the entire chapter.

Paul begins this passage by noting the list is some of the gifts of the Spirit God has provided for the church. The list is far from exhaustive, but there is enough listed to give the church a sense of how we can all work together to fulfill the mission of the church.

My Takeaway: The critical success factor is the passage is verse 31b: “But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.” It wasn’t included in today’s reading because it properly introduces the Love Chapter which we will turn to on Monday. When we ponder verse 31b, and then turn to Chapter 13, I believe we will see Paul’s heart for the operation of spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Man Up

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Your Labor Is Not In Vain

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Our Promised Resurrection and Transformation

Monday, June 27, 2022

For You Alone, O Lord

Friday, June 24, 2022

The Resurrection of the Dead

Thursday, June 23, 2022

The Resurrection of the Dead

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The Resurrection of Christ

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Let All Things Be Done For Building Up

Monday, June 20, 2022

On Prophecy

Friday, June 17, 2022

But It Won’t Strengthen the People Who Hear You

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Strengthen The Whole Church

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Let love be your highest goal!

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Known by God

Monday, June 13, 2022

Living As the Beloved Of God

Friday, June 10, 2022

One Body with Many Parts

Seeking the Life in Christ

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