How you doin? 1 Corinthians is AWESOME!!!!!!! I feel like I say this about every book in the Bible. Maybe not Leviticus... that's just good for now. I'm finding 1 Corinthians to be very instructional and empowering. Paul is telling the Corinthians who they are in Christ. I need to hear this everyday, because the Devil uses the inferior covenant, "the law", to lie to me in his attempts to steal my identity in Christ. God's truth will prevail. That's a good word. I'm really going to try to focus on one thing today. Please read the entire chapter on your own. It's wonder-full. 1 Corinthians 3.
Paul lays down the foundation of his teaching by pointing out the Corinthians weakness and worldliness. He does it with compassion, but also with truth. Paul speaks against remaining immature. He speaks against remaining on milk instead of moving to solid foods. The first 15 verses sound harsh, but for me they are convicting. I find them motivating and challenging. This Scripture makes me look at myself and ask myself hard questions. God has always shown me tremendous grace when I was willing to step out "into the great unknown where feet may fail". COME ON!!!!!!!
Verse 16 asks a tough question, "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" I answer this question correctly sometimes. Not enough to satisfy my desire to answer correctly ALL the time. I deal with identity theft WAY too much.
Verses 18-23 are great instructions and encouragement. Verse 18, "Do not deceive yourselves". That's pretty straight forward. The rest of verse 18 is , "If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise." This speaks to which standard I uphold. Being wise of the ways of the world or of this age is foolish to God. Verse 19, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight." My comparing myself to others or seeking acceptance and reward and wisdom of this world is "foolish". My Bible defines foolishness like this, "lacking good sense; behavior befitting a fool". Fool is defined, "one who is lacking judgment, sense, and understanding". All these words do not line up with God's nature or character. I'm created in His image. COME ON!!!!!!!
Verses 21-23 are such encouraging truth, "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." WOW!!!!!!! If your not feeling encouraged and empowered... check your pulse. We are gifted with great teachers, men, and women of God, but most of all we "are of Christ, and Christ is of God". SO GOOD!!!!!!! People supply me with milk, but the Holy Ghost gives me solid food. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! God's word is solid food. This Scripture speaks a tremendous word to my identity. All things are mine, because I am "of Christ and Christ is of God". SO GOOD!!!!!!! I've tasted this solid food. The lingering old covenant or "the law" allows Satan to shoot fiery arrows at me. The new covenant or grace allows me to be victorious over ALL things of this world. Not because of me, but because of Jesus. AWESOME!!!!!!!
Receive the promise that you are in Christ today.
PS The Bible is POWERFUL!!!!!!! Verse 20, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile". Here's a tough question, "Do I truly seek God's wisdom or do I use the world's wisdom to fit God into my life/plan?" God knows better then I do. I've heard different people say, "The difference between me and God is... God's not trying to be me or think like me". Now that's a good word.
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