Category: Devotions

I’ve got some questions:
1 Corinthians 9
Do you know your authority to speak? v1
Do you actually have an experience of the Lord? v1
Do you know your task? v2
Do you have evidence of good works? v2
Do you feel settled in your lifestyle? v3-7
Do you see yourself in the Bible? v9-10
Do you surrender your own selfish gain? v15-18
Do you know freedom from people’s expectations? v19-23
Do you serve God with passion? v26-27
Do you discipline yourself in order to win? v26-27

Do you say YES?

I can do what I like
1 Corinthians 8
No you can’t.

The time is short
1 Corinthians 7
Married? Then realise you’re not in it for yourself but the other person.
Single? Remain as you are.
The time is short.
Separating or divorcing? Don’t bother.
Married to the unbeliever? Remain as you are.
The time is short.
Desertion? Let it be.
Pleasing man (becoming circumcised) is pointless.
The time is short.
Held back by man? Don’t let that become your identity.
Complicated lives? Simplify them.
The time is short.
Engaged? Then marry.
Widow? You are now free so act like it.
The time is short.
When the time is short then that becomes the main focus and helps with the decisions.
Is the time short for you?

Are your sins in the list?
1 Corinthians 6
Some Christians get so angry with the sins of other Christians.
We don’t like seeing ourselves on the sin list.

Allegedly, Charles Spurgeon invited D.L. Moody to speak at an event he hosted.

Moody accepted and preached the entire time about the evils of tobacco, and why the Lord doesn’t want Christians to smoke.

Spurgeon, a cigar smoker, was surprised at what seemed to be a cheap shot levelled by Moody, using the pulpit to condemn a fellow minister.

When Moody finished preaching, Spurgeon walked up to the podium and said, “Mr. Moody, I’ll put down my cigars when you put down your fork.”

Moody was overweight.

We are all on someone’s sin list.
But not God’s.
Because we were washed, sanctified and justified!
It’s those 3 declarations which mean we are in the kingdom of God, within the rule of Christ.
Thank God for Jesus!

Church problems!
1 Corinthians 5

A man slept with his step-mother which obviously not only wrecked his father’s marriage but brought a severing of their own relationship. What did the church who believed they were so amazing do? Nothing!
So Paul wades in and starting from this situation begins to talk about other sins and what to do when they get into the church.

And some interpret the chapter with a campaign of: Kick it Out!
Church attendance is down but at least we have got rid of the sinner.

The sexually immoral Christian – the person whose own selfish gratification is the most important thing.
The greedy Christian – the person who is solely focused on getting more and more.
The Christian who looks like they worship God but don’t – the person who’s own image is more important than that of God’s.
The rude Christian – the person who is not concerned about others because ME is always above everything else.
The drunk Christian – the person who has no self-control because self is all encompassing.
The cheating Christian, the ones who say they are something but are not or those who allow themselves to appear to be givers but are not – the person who wants to look good.

Don’t associate with these people. Don’t sit down and eat food with these people.
Why?
It’s not the activity as such but the main reason behind that activity which is the reason. The main reason is “It’s all about ME, it’s not about HIM” mentality.
There is no room for the selfish ME in the kingdom.
If you associate with that person by eating with them it means you are agreeing with their selfishness.
This selfish living is not welcome in the church. It’s not a reflection of the body of Christ. The unbeliever should not be confused. They should see Christ clearly.

If we are going to kick people out of the church then let’s get rid of those so-called Christians who are wrapped up in themselves. They are not a true reflection of Christ.

Inflated ego, puffed up, judgmental, boastful, parading wealth and wisdom, arrogant yet devoid of true power.

1 Corinthians 4

Who am I speaking of?

Surely not the leaders of our world? Christian leaders? Surely not the latter?!

The descriptions are what Paul was having to address of the leaders on the Corinthian church in the first century.

Faithful servants, looking for the return of Christ, the last instead of being the first, foolish in the world’s eyes, hungry and thirsty, in rags, suffering, without possessions, categorised as rubbish in the eyes of the world, loving, gentle and powerful.

Who am I speaking of?

These descriptions are that of Paul and Apollos, examples and true ambassadors of what a Christian leader should be like.

What has to be said and what needs to be acknowledged is that there are still not many fathers in the church, v15.
If there were then we would confidently be able to say that the first descriptions do not apply and the second do.

Pray for more fathers.

The greatest, the most amazing, the most influential, decisive, the best anointed, the fabulous, the charismatic, life-changing …..
1 Corinthians 3

None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear.”
― Ferdinand Foch

It is common for those that are farthest from God, to boast themselves most of their being near to the Church.
Matthew Henry

No athlete was ever victorious because he did his boasting in advance.

—Roy L. Smith, Tampa Morning Tribune, Tampa, Fla., Feb. 1, 1940.

Joseph Smith boasted that he did more than Jesus to keep a church together.
“God is in the still small voice. In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of the devil–all corruption. Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet . . . ” (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 408-409).

“I’m not the greatest; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock ’em out, I pick the round.” Muhammed Ali

Boasting is the outward form of the inner condition of pride.
John Piper

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
Mark Twain

It is always the novice that exaggerates
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape letters

So then no more boasting about men, v21

Paul not only knows who he was sent to and what he had been sent to do, that was to preach the gospel, but he also knew how he would do this.
1 Corinthians 2
I did not come with, v1
“My methods are not what you expected, I did not come with superiority.”

I came with focus, v2 I resolved that everything else was a distraction. I will control my thinking. My thoughts were not determined by my circumstances or people, but by who and what I had been sent to do. No compromise, no deals and no negotiation.

I came with humility, v3 I didn’t come trying to get to the top, sweet-talking my way up there. I didn’t come stepping on people to be heard, trying to somehow get an advantage. I came forgetting about myself and thinking of others.

I came with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, v4. It wasn’t my demonstration nor my power, but His. I don’t want anyone looking at me but Him.

For Christ did not send me …1 Corinthians 1:17
v10-17
God did not send you to be popular, to get a following, v12
He did not send you into a competition.
You were not sent to be the Saviour, v13

Those on mission have to continually assess and perhaps realign themselves to the reason why they were sent.
Knowing what you should not do will serve your true mission.
So …
Who are you sent to?
What are you sent to do?

People
Romans 16
There are people who have all played a part in my journey.
Servants, fellow workers, dear friends, hard workers, outstanding fellow prisoners, people I love, those tried and tested, whole families, relatives, those in the Lord, who worked very hard and who became mothers to me. 28 individuals in total plus their families.

There are people who are still with me today in this journey. Fellow workers, relatives, administrators, hospitable workers, professional people, people who became like brothers to me. 8 individuals in total.

All these people are special to me.

But then there is one person. Only one who is able. He alone who establishes all things.
It is Him who is to be truly praised above all others.

Today, thank the Lord for those who journeyed with you over the years. Thank them if you still can.
Thank the Lord for those who are still with you. Honour them.
But pause and thank the Lord for being the only One who has made all things possible.
Amen!