Everything Belongs to You

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 29, 2022

Everything Belongs to You 

Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ,

and Christ belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 3:22b-23

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Paul made very bold claims in this brief passage. Returning to a theme he has addressed several times already, he cautions the church not to brag about being followers of Paul, or Apollos, or Peter. Paul said such behavior is following worldly wisdom of which he says, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.” (Psalm 94:11 quoted in v.20)

Paul then returns to the link I noted in yesterday’s Takeaway. Paul is saying that as God’s Temple, everything, the teachings of Paul, Apollos, Peter, (insert your pastor), belong to you. Let that sink in. God wants us to take personal ownership, and personal responsibility for the development of our Christian character.

My Takeaway: Why does Paul want us to grasp this concept that everything belongs to us? Because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. Let’s learn to relish in our belonging. 

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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

You Are That Temple

Meditations in First Corinthians 

April 28, 2022

You Are That Temple

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:12-17

As I read today’s passage, I immediately thought of Hebrews 12:28-29, “we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” Paul is making it abundantly clear that workers for God are held to a high standard: “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.” (v.13) I am convinced that if we get the reverence and awe part right, we don’t need to fear the fire of judgement. Even so, let us take seriously our responsibility to be co-laborers with Christ and strive to produce valuable work for the Kingdom.

If you are still struggling with the imagery Paul is using, take time to meditate on verses sixteen and seventeen. Sixteen is quoted above. Seventeen reveals how passionately God loves His spirit that lives within us: “God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

My Takeaway: There is an important link between the very high standards and expectations God has for us, and that link is his love for us: “For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

We Are God’s Workers

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 27, 2022

We Are God’s Workers

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-11

There are two parts that caught my attention in today’s reading. First, the lack of pretentiousness. Paul simply sees himself and Apollos as co-laborers for Christ who were building for the Kingdom of God. Each had their responsibilities and to God be the glory for prospering their labors with abundant fruit. This seems so simple, but it is a model that is desperately needed in much of today’s church culture with celebrity pastors and multilayered staff competing for time and attention.

Secondly, Paul is asserting the principal that all the followers of Christ are co-laborers building for the Kingdom of God. There seems to me a consumer mentality in our churches. The congregation expects to be fed by the clergy staff. What if the congregation was more mindful of their role in edifying one another in love?

My Takeaway: One of the things I remember from my law enforcement career is that the suspect always brings something to the crime scene, and always takes something away. What if disciples of Jesus had this same mindset. What if we were continuously conscious of what blessing we were bringing to our church gatherings, and what we were taking with us?

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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

Controlled By Your Sinful Nature

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 26, 2022

Controlled By Your Sinful Nature

Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

1 Corinthians 2:3b

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4

In today’s reading, I am reminded of Hebrews 6:1-3, “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding”.

Here, Paul is admonishing the Corinthians to put into practice what they already know, or as James put it, to be doers of the word and not hearers only. Can there be a more serious charge against those who claim to love Jesus, who claim to have been made right with God through faith in Jesus than, “Aren’t you living like people of the world?” (v. 3b)

My Takeaway: This morning, I wrote a eulogy for a friend whose service I cannot attend. In it I noted my friend took the prophet Micah very seriously and endeavored to always do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with his God. Notice the verbs in each of Micah’s declaratory statement: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. When this is our ambition, we are not living like people of the world!

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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

  

We Have Received God’s Spirit

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 25, 2022

We Have Received God’s Spirit

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Isaiah 64:4, quoted in 1 Corinthians 2:9

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-13

In today’s reading, Paul points out that the world cannot understand the deeper truths about God, because the world is still living in the past. For Paul, human history was divided into two periods: the present age and the age to come. The age to come is fully realized, the Kingdom of God will be fully established and evil, sin and death will be banished. Paul believed that Jesus the Messiah inaugurated the Age to Come. Therefore, life today is only understood in the light of the truth of God in Christ Jesus. To underscore this point, Paul points out that it was the most advanced and highest form of religion the world had known, that conspired with the best government the world had known, to execute Christ Jesus, the Lord of glory. The truth of God the Father Almighty was in their midst, and they rejected him.

When I think about today’s reading, I remember this statement of Miles Stanford in his book, The Principles of Spiritual Growth: “To taste the grace of God is one thing. To be established in it, and to manifest it in character, habit and regular life is another."

My Takeaway: God wants us to be established in His grace and to manifest His grace in our character, habits, and life. God wants us to have the mind of Christ. Paul affirmed that we have received God’s Spirit so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. (v.12)

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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

 

Paul’s Message of Jesus

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 22, 2022

Paul’s Message of Jesus 

I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

As I noted a few days ago, when Paul came to Corinth, he determined not to try and compete with the sophists. Rather, he made it his purpose to “forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.” (v.2) And that was enough! As we saw yesterday, through Jesus, God made us to be in a right relationship with Him. He made us pure and holy. He freed us from sin.

Paul says he relied on a two-part foundation for his ministry in Corinth. First, he forgot everything except Jesus. He made his ministry all about Jesus. Secondly, he relied not on rhetoric or performance-related enhancements such as singers and musicians and lights and coffee bars and rock walls or other sorts of bells and whistles. He relied on the Holy Spirit.

My Takeaway: In today’s culture can it be that simple? Is all that is needed is a Christ-centered ministry “relying only on the power of the Holy Spirit”? (v. 5) I think so. I really do.

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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

 

United With Christ Jesus

Meditations in First Corinthians 

April 21, 2022

United With Christ Jesus

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Paul compared the wisdom and strength of the world’s culture, to the wisdom and strength of God. God prevailed according to Paul, and it wasn’t a close contest. In today’s passage, we learn Jesus is the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

It wasn’t a close contest because where in the world’s culture can one be made right with God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? Where in the world’s culture can one be made pure and holy? Where, oh where, in the world’s culture can one be freed from sin?

Think of all that God has done. He made it possible for us to be in a right relationship with Him. He made us pure and holy. He freed us from sin. And He did all this through Jesus whom He made wisdom itself.

My Takeaway: God did all this though Jesus. And God united us with Jesus. What, pray tell, does the world’s culture offer that is better than being united with Jesus. Actually, all the world’s culture can offer is myriad of ways to be disconnected from 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.)

 

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.