Read 1 Corinthians 13 and 15
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 13:11-12
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
If a police sketch artist would call you on the phone right now, could you describe your face (without looking in a mirror) well enough for your family to recognize the picture? Even if you saw the first attempt, could you tell the artist what to change?
When we are looking in a mirror, we really don't see what the world sees (if we did, why would Tammy Fay have worn so much makeup?!?!?). We may notice all of our flaws and none of the attractive features, like the anorexic who thinks she is fat. Or we may only see the good stuff and ignore the things that are unflattering (I'm thinking about 80's hair...how could we think that looked good?).
But even if we have a good realistic handle on how we look, we still only see a partial image. And in reality, God sees right through that image to view our hearts and minds. He can view our intentions, our aspirations, our deep dark secrets, and our most fervent desires --- often things we aren't even aware of.
As Christians, do you realize that God doesn't really look at the true picture, either? If we have turned our heart over to Jesus, God looks at us through a magnifying glass that has a picture of Christ imbedded in it. The closer our relationship to Christ, the more we look like him to God! The true ugliness of our sins are erased, just like a photographer erases blemishes from a photo on the computer. All he sees is the perfection of Christ.
Amazing! And we have the confidence of knowing that when we come face-to-face with Christ, we will see the true image in which God created us.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
1 Corinthians -- Selective Obedience
Read 1 Corinthians 11-12
Today's Devotion -- We'll use it all today! Click on the link above to read it.
Today's text contains some of the most controversial information in the Bible from the perspective of our current society. These verses are disputed heavily when theologians try to decide if we should follow the entire Bible as written, or instead if we should 'allow' some departure due to cultural standards of the time. Entire denominations have been formed because people either agreed legalistically or vehemently disagreed that Paul's directives should be followed.
These are good verses to test your own convictions. How would you answer these questions?
1. Should we selectively follow the advice given in the Bible because our culture is different?
2. If your answer is yes, at what level does this ability to choose stop? For instance, our culture says it's ok for women to go without head coverings or to cut their hair short, so we don't follow Paul's advice. But what if our culture says it's ok for gay couples to marry? Is it then ok to differentiate?
3. Does God give different spiritual gifts now than he did back in Bible days? How do you know? And if you say 'yes', what does it mean if someone claims to have a gift you believe isn't given any more? Who is wrong?
4. Must we follow advice given by disciples/apostles, or only the advice of Christ? How do you decide?
5 Are these issues worthy of the vast number of denominations we have today? How can we co-exist as Christians with significantly differing beliefs about issues such as these?
Today's Devotion -- We'll use it all today! Click on the link above to read it.
Today's text contains some of the most controversial information in the Bible from the perspective of our current society. These verses are disputed heavily when theologians try to decide if we should follow the entire Bible as written, or instead if we should 'allow' some departure due to cultural standards of the time. Entire denominations have been formed because people either agreed legalistically or vehemently disagreed that Paul's directives should be followed.
These are good verses to test your own convictions. How would you answer these questions?
1. Should we selectively follow the advice given in the Bible because our culture is different?
2. If your answer is yes, at what level does this ability to choose stop? For instance, our culture says it's ok for women to go without head coverings or to cut their hair short, so we don't follow Paul's advice. But what if our culture says it's ok for gay couples to marry? Is it then ok to differentiate?
3. Does God give different spiritual gifts now than he did back in Bible days? How do you know? And if you say 'yes', what does it mean if someone claims to have a gift you believe isn't given any more? Who is wrong?
4. Must we follow advice given by disciples/apostles, or only the advice of Christ? How do you decide?
5 Are these issues worthy of the vast number of denominations we have today? How can we co-exist as Christians with significantly differing beliefs about issues such as these?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
1 Corinthians 9-10 -- The Object of My Devotion
NOTE: If you are interested, I'm giving away a copy of a book called Wild Goose Chase -- Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God, by Mark Batterson. You can read more about it and sign up for the drawing at http://hisreadinglist.blogspot.com/
Read 1 Corinthians 9-10
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)
taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/
Can you name five U.S. Olympians who won medals in the 1996 Olympics? How about the 2004 Olympics? Honestly, I couldn't name five who won in the 2008 Olympics! For some reason we really weren't into watching them this year. We tuned in a couple of times and saw some amazing trampoline action and the 'exciting' marathon run, but I couldn't even tell you the names of the medal winners in those events.
It often costs tens of thousands of dollars per YEAR to train at levels that will get you into the Olympics. In addition, it costs thousands of hours of painful training, injuries, and lost family time. Hundreds of people are paying these costs, yet few get the opportunity to represent our country in the international games. And only 302, out of all 10,500 the participants, went home with medals. Depending on the country you represent and the sport in which you compete, a gold medal could be worth millions of dollars in endorsements. Coming in fourth isn't worth much.
Why do people put themselves through the pain and the cost to participate? Thousands will never leave their native country to compete in the games despite years of training. One sprained ankle could cause all your efforts to be for naught. And even if you break a world record when you win, some young punk will beat you out in a few years...or even a few minutes! I'm sure it's an amazing honor to know that they are the very best at what they do in the whole world for a moment in time, but do they regret all the aches and pains that result when they are senior citizens?
In comparison to their devotion to a sport for a moment of glory, I'm embarrassed by the way I train for my eternal crown. I cut corners by skimming the Bible and not digging to find answers. I let other priorities, like phone calls, television, or wasted time, get in the way of learning. And I even fall asleep in the middle of sessions with my coach (prayer). My spiritual diet often leaves me anorexic, not well nourished.
It would be easy to see how an Olympic athlete's devotion plays out in his daily life by looking at how he spends his time. What does your life say about the object of your devotion?
Read 1 Corinthians 9-10
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)
taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/
Can you name five U.S. Olympians who won medals in the 1996 Olympics? How about the 2004 Olympics? Honestly, I couldn't name five who won in the 2008 Olympics! For some reason we really weren't into watching them this year. We tuned in a couple of times and saw some amazing trampoline action and the 'exciting' marathon run, but I couldn't even tell you the names of the medal winners in those events.
It often costs tens of thousands of dollars per YEAR to train at levels that will get you into the Olympics. In addition, it costs thousands of hours of painful training, injuries, and lost family time. Hundreds of people are paying these costs, yet few get the opportunity to represent our country in the international games. And only 302, out of all 10,500 the participants, went home with medals. Depending on the country you represent and the sport in which you compete, a gold medal could be worth millions of dollars in endorsements. Coming in fourth isn't worth much.
Why do people put themselves through the pain and the cost to participate? Thousands will never leave their native country to compete in the games despite years of training. One sprained ankle could cause all your efforts to be for naught. And even if you break a world record when you win, some young punk will beat you out in a few years...or even a few minutes! I'm sure it's an amazing honor to know that they are the very best at what they do in the whole world for a moment in time, but do they regret all the aches and pains that result when they are senior citizens?
In comparison to their devotion to a sport for a moment of glory, I'm embarrassed by the way I train for my eternal crown. I cut corners by skimming the Bible and not digging to find answers. I let other priorities, like phone calls, television, or wasted time, get in the way of learning. And I even fall asleep in the middle of sessions with my coach (prayer). My spiritual diet often leaves me anorexic, not well nourished.
It would be easy to see how an Olympic athlete's devotion plays out in his daily life by looking at how he spends his time. What does your life say about the object of your devotion?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
1 Corinthians -- Permission Granted
Read 1 Corinthians 5-6
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 6:12
12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
In context, this verse relates to instructions from Paul about avoiding sexual immorality. However, unfortunately, it really concerns everything we do to or for our bodies, the temples of God. I have to say that this is one of my least favorite verses in the Bible!
Christ's sacrifice has allowed us to participate in the glory of God without having to follow the extensive laws that were established for the Israelites in the desert. They were told specifically what they could and couldn't eat, touch, and do, and they were given specific consequences that would follow if they disobeyed. Because of Jesus, we are able to agree with Paul that 'everything is permissible'.
If the verse ended there, it would be fine! I could do whatever I wanted to this temple I live in -- eat tons of fried foods and sweets, sit around watching television all day, listen to whatever sounds good to me, and never sit through a dentist's wicked tools again.
But even our society tells us daily that not everything is beneficial. I know pretty specifically what will happen to me if I do whatever I want...weight gain, heart and lung problems, distraction from God's priorities, and tooth decay, to say the least.
Even though I know these things, I struggle with them like Paul did (remember his "why do I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I don't do" confession in Romans?). Why do I eat all the great, unhealthy snacks that are put before me? Why do I find excuses not to exercise?
Sometimes I think it might be easier to live under the law...the consequences occur pretty quickly once you break one. But left on my own, the consequences of my actions often won't show up for decades, and then they may be irreversable. Surely one buttery little cookie (ok, so it looks like a frisbee) won't hurt in the long run, right? Even one each day....
If we're honest, we know how we should treat our bodies. And we know that we shouldn't be too legalistic (in eating, exercising, or any other effort) or our humanness will rebel. But God wants the best for us, and he wants us to make the best choices for our lives -- whether they relate to health, sexual morality, finances, or our time alone with him.
What ways do you struggle with God's permissiveness? What can you do today to make the right choice?
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 6:12
12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
In context, this verse relates to instructions from Paul about avoiding sexual immorality. However, unfortunately, it really concerns everything we do to or for our bodies, the temples of God. I have to say that this is one of my least favorite verses in the Bible!
Christ's sacrifice has allowed us to participate in the glory of God without having to follow the extensive laws that were established for the Israelites in the desert. They were told specifically what they could and couldn't eat, touch, and do, and they were given specific consequences that would follow if they disobeyed. Because of Jesus, we are able to agree with Paul that 'everything is permissible'.
If the verse ended there, it would be fine! I could do whatever I wanted to this temple I live in -- eat tons of fried foods and sweets, sit around watching television all day, listen to whatever sounds good to me, and never sit through a dentist's wicked tools again.
But even our society tells us daily that not everything is beneficial. I know pretty specifically what will happen to me if I do whatever I want...weight gain, heart and lung problems, distraction from God's priorities, and tooth decay, to say the least.
Even though I know these things, I struggle with them like Paul did (remember his "why do I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I don't do" confession in Romans?). Why do I eat all the great, unhealthy snacks that are put before me? Why do I find excuses not to exercise?
Sometimes I think it might be easier to live under the law...the consequences occur pretty quickly once you break one. But left on my own, the consequences of my actions often won't show up for decades, and then they may be irreversable. Surely one buttery little cookie (ok, so it looks like a frisbee) won't hurt in the long run, right? Even one each day....
If we're honest, we know how we should treat our bodies. And we know that we shouldn't be too legalistic (in eating, exercising, or any other effort) or our humanness will rebel. But God wants the best for us, and he wants us to make the best choices for our lives -- whether they relate to health, sexual morality, finances, or our time alone with him.
What ways do you struggle with God's permissiveness? What can you do today to make the right choice?
Monday, August 25, 2008
1 Corinthians -- Foolishness
We are moving on to the book of 1 Corinthians. Today, read 1 Cor 1-2
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 1:18-25 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (NIV)
www.biblegateway.com
Why did God make knowledge of him and his ways look like foolishness to the world? Wouldn't more people believe if it seemed logical?
Do you remember the foolishness of religion before you believed? Creation, virgin birth, resurrection, Jesus taking on MY sins and thinking of ME on the cross? Being born again, having to pay 10% of our hard earned money, flooding the whole world, getting kicked out of paradise for eating an apple? The foolish examples could go on and on.
There are still many things that are difficult for me to understand based on the worldly perspective we are all raised with, but it is so freeing to realize that God doesn't want us to understand -- he just wants us to believe and trust.
The world thinks that belief in God is a crutch for those of us who are too weak to make it in this world on our own. Many people take pride in their ability to survive and (they think) thrive in a world full of sin, refusing to admit that there might be a bigger purpose to life or that they will be held accountable for their actions.
If knowing the truth and believing in things that don't logically make sense makes me weak, I'm proud to say that I need God's help to make it through the day. Call me foolish, but I choose to believe in the one power that will make a difference for all eternity! That belief opens my eyes to the true foolishness of the world.
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 1:18-25 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (NIV)
www.biblegateway.com
Why did God make knowledge of him and his ways look like foolishness to the world? Wouldn't more people believe if it seemed logical?
Do you remember the foolishness of religion before you believed? Creation, virgin birth, resurrection, Jesus taking on MY sins and thinking of ME on the cross? Being born again, having to pay 10% of our hard earned money, flooding the whole world, getting kicked out of paradise for eating an apple? The foolish examples could go on and on.
There are still many things that are difficult for me to understand based on the worldly perspective we are all raised with, but it is so freeing to realize that God doesn't want us to understand -- he just wants us to believe and trust.
The world thinks that belief in God is a crutch for those of us who are too weak to make it in this world on our own. Many people take pride in their ability to survive and (they think) thrive in a world full of sin, refusing to admit that there might be a bigger purpose to life or that they will be held accountable for their actions.
If knowing the truth and believing in things that don't logically make sense makes me weak, I'm proud to say that I need God's help to make it through the day. Call me foolish, but I choose to believe in the one power that will make a difference for all eternity! That belief opens my eyes to the true foolishness of the world.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Romans - A Debt-Free Life
Read Romans 5-6
Today's Devotion -- Romans 5:6-8
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
The North County region of St. Louis County reportedly has the highest foreclosure rate per capita in all of Missouri. Drive down almost any street and you will see several For Sale signs, often with 'price reduced' plackards and unmown grass. Many people have lost jobs or had medical issues that put them into debt, many more just got in over their heads. As a result many families are dealing with the devastating consequences.
How would your life be different if you were totally debt free? If you didn't own anything to any body? If your home and car were fully paid for, there were no credit card bills racking up high levels of interest, and no one else was laying claim to your earnings? If you were able to pay cash for everything? If you had enough savings to take care of almost any emergency that could occur?
If, if, if! Most of us can't imagine the peace and security of knowing that all debts are paid off and all of our belongings are secure from creditors.
Imagine someone coming in, a stranger who pays all of your bills and deposits enough in your accounts to provide a lifetime of security! He doesn't reduce or eliminate your debts like credit consolidators or bankruptcy courts do, he pays it off in full! Happy creditors and a fabulous credit rating . . . what an amazing blessing that would be!
Would you jump right back in and start charging new cars, televisions, vacations, and other fun things? Or would you vow to start anew, working to ensure that you lived on less than you made and maybe saving up so you could help others in financial need?
It may be a weak analogy, but this is what Christ does for us. We were buried in the debt of sin, and while we weren't even a twinkle in some remote ancestors' eye he paid off our sins so that we would be able to live in peace, secure about our eternal future. We owe our very lives to his loving sacrifice. How, then, should we live?
Today's Devotion -- Romans 5:6-8
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
The North County region of St. Louis County reportedly has the highest foreclosure rate per capita in all of Missouri. Drive down almost any street and you will see several For Sale signs, often with 'price reduced' plackards and unmown grass. Many people have lost jobs or had medical issues that put them into debt, many more just got in over their heads. As a result many families are dealing with the devastating consequences.
How would your life be different if you were totally debt free? If you didn't own anything to any body? If your home and car were fully paid for, there were no credit card bills racking up high levels of interest, and no one else was laying claim to your earnings? If you were able to pay cash for everything? If you had enough savings to take care of almost any emergency that could occur?
If, if, if! Most of us can't imagine the peace and security of knowing that all debts are paid off and all of our belongings are secure from creditors.
Imagine someone coming in, a stranger who pays all of your bills and deposits enough in your accounts to provide a lifetime of security! He doesn't reduce or eliminate your debts like credit consolidators or bankruptcy courts do, he pays it off in full! Happy creditors and a fabulous credit rating . . . what an amazing blessing that would be!
Would you jump right back in and start charging new cars, televisions, vacations, and other fun things? Or would you vow to start anew, working to ensure that you lived on less than you made and maybe saving up so you could help others in financial need?
It may be a weak analogy, but this is what Christ does for us. We were buried in the debt of sin, and while we weren't even a twinkle in some remote ancestors' eye he paid off our sins so that we would be able to live in peace, secure about our eternal future. We owe our very lives to his loving sacrifice. How, then, should we live?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Romans -- God Uses Nobodies
Today's reading, Romans 4, is difficult for me to follow and understand, so I decided to read it in The Message version. You may chose to do the same! I've put both links for you.
Read in The Message version
Read in NIV
Today's Devotion -- Romans 4:17-18
17-18We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
I'm fascinated by the story of Abraham. There is no Biblical evidence that he was a follower of God before he was called to relocate his entire family. He was just one of a crowd of people in the bustling town of Haran, where the majority of people (including Abraham's father) worshipped the moon-god.
But God knew Abraham's heart, and he knew that he could mold Abraham into a man of great faith. Step by step he instructed Abraham in the right way to worship, and God tested his faith with a variety of means -- relocation, circumcision, impossible conception, and sacrificing his own child. Abraham made lots of mistakes, many serious, but God hung in there with him to create a level of faith that will be remembered eternally.
Isn't it amazing to know that God could do the same with us? We, too, are ordinary people, nobodies, even. Yet day by day God tells us how to grow in our faith. We will make tons of mistakes, serious ones, yet God will patiently correct us and prod us in the right direction if we will only trust in his love.
We may never be famous here on earth, and we will most likely never be written about in books read around the world, but our tasks are just as significant as Abrahams'. God will develop our faith and use the skills he's given us to make a significant difference in his kingdom -- if we will only trust him.
It is overwhelming to think that he will use a nobody like me to make a difference. I pray that I will be up to his task!
Read in The Message version
Read in NIV
Today's Devotion -- Romans 4:17-18
17-18We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
I'm fascinated by the story of Abraham. There is no Biblical evidence that he was a follower of God before he was called to relocate his entire family. He was just one of a crowd of people in the bustling town of Haran, where the majority of people (including Abraham's father) worshipped the moon-god.
But God knew Abraham's heart, and he knew that he could mold Abraham into a man of great faith. Step by step he instructed Abraham in the right way to worship, and God tested his faith with a variety of means -- relocation, circumcision, impossible conception, and sacrificing his own child. Abraham made lots of mistakes, many serious, but God hung in there with him to create a level of faith that will be remembered eternally.
Isn't it amazing to know that God could do the same with us? We, too, are ordinary people, nobodies, even. Yet day by day God tells us how to grow in our faith. We will make tons of mistakes, serious ones, yet God will patiently correct us and prod us in the right direction if we will only trust in his love.
We may never be famous here on earth, and we will most likely never be written about in books read around the world, but our tasks are just as significant as Abrahams'. God will develop our faith and use the skills he's given us to make a significant difference in his kingdom -- if we will only trust him.
It is overwhelming to think that he will use a nobody like me to make a difference. I pray that I will be up to his task!
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