Ezekiel 1-2  The prophet, Ezekiel, had been taken into exile to Babylon.  It was there, by a river, that he received his "calling" as God's prophet.. a dramatic and unusual call, for sure. 

Ezekiel tells us that after 5 years of exile he had a vision.  In this vision, he saw "the heavens" open up before him. The first thing he describes is the great lights.. fire flashing, glowing figures, bright lights.. and more fire.  Then, in the midst of this light and fire, he sees the four "living beings".  Ezekiel describes these beings in great detail.. unlike anything we have ever seen.. but similar to what Isaiah and Daniel had once witnessed.. and like John saw on the island of Patmos.

What Ezekiel sees next is what is even more amazing, for he sees the crystal sea and the throne above it.. and the glorious appearance of the Lord.. "Then I noticed.. there was a radiance around Him..."  At this vision, Ezekiel falls on his face in worship. 

The Lord speaks to Ezekiel, calling him "the son of man" and fills him with the Spirit. "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people, who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.' " 

Ezekiel is given a mission to speak to the "stubborn and obstinate" people.  He needed to know that his mission did not depend on whether or not the people listened.. but whether or not he spoke what God gave him to speak. "But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not." 

Ezekiel was given God's words in a most unusual way.. he was given a scroll and commanded to open his mouth and eat it. We are told that the scroll was "written on the front and back; and written on it were lamentations, mourning, and woe." 

Father, what do You want to say to me... to us.. today through this Word?   I hear You reminding us of Your greatness.. far above what we know or can even imagine.. of how utterly transcendent and holy You are.. and yet, You willingly interact with us.. calling us to be Your people and to share Your message.  I also hear You telling us that we must speak what You give us.. Your words of Life.. even to those who are rebellious and stubborn.. and who may or may not listen.  I hear You say, that the words that we share are not all happiness and joy.. but "laminations and mourning and woe... " May we grasp what You are telling us through Your word today.. Your overwhelming greatness.. Your commission to speak the word You give us.. and Your command to speak to those who may not listen because of their rebellious and stubborn hearts.  Come and fill us Spirit of the Living God.. and use us to share the words of life.. without fear, without hesitation, and with full obedience.  We pray this in the Name of our radiant and powerful Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 II Corinthians 13 Paul has some final words for the church...

"Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses"..  is a vital principle for the way of dealing with each other... It is the way of justice and truthfulness. The goal is not condemnation.. the goal is restoring and  building up each other in Jesus. 

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!" It is much easier to condemn another person.. than it is to condemn yourself sometimes.   Jesus taught that we need to take the logs out of our own eyes before we examine the speck in someone else's eye.  Paul seems to be teaching the same principle... and he was including himself in this.. " but I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.."  Paul and his fellow workers can stand up under the scrutiny of these brothers because they stand on the truth.. "For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth." 

Paul's prayer is that the church would be "made complete".  that they would be fully restored and built up in faith and in surrender to the authority of the Lord.  "Finally brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 

We can do no better than this.. to treat others with such love and grace.. to carefully examine ourselves and our motives.. to build up each other in faith and truth.. to restore those who have slipped or fallen.. to rejoice with those who are restored.. to find completion and unity and peace in the power of Christ. 

Father, let Your will be done.. Your kingdom come.. and Your Name be hallowed.. lead us in righteousness, fill us with spiritual and physical bread.. with forgiveness and love for one another. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. amen. 

 II Corinthians 12  Paul talks about the highest and the lowest places in his spiritual walk. The highest point being a vision or experience that was beyond his understanding.. for he didn't know whether it was a physical or spiritual visit in "Paradise".  What he did know was that he heard "inexpressible words which a man is not permitted to speak."  

In contrast, Paul's lowest point was "a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him"... which he felt was allowed by God to keep him "from exalting" himself.  Paul prayed for deliverance from this "thorn", but received only the marvelous words.. " My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 

This is the amazing thing about our God, isn't it, that He does even more in us at our lowest points than at our highest!  Paul testifies, " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 

It is the example, not only of Paul's testimony, but of the Lord Jesus too.  As we have been reminded so often this Christmas season.. Jesus "emptied Himself"... stepped down from His heavenly throne.. and became a man.. born in a stable.. the most humble of births.. Then He came to "His own".. and they did not see Who He was.. but rejected Him, accused Him, abused Him.. and nailed Him to a cross.  It was at His "weakest" point that He was most powerful.. conquering sin, death, and hell!

Paul's experiences of "insults.. distresses.. persecutions.. difficulties.. for Christ's sake.." revealed the power of Christ in him.. "for when I am weak, then I am strong." 

Paul would not come to the church in Corinth as others had come.. he would not come as one in a powerful position.. even though he could have.. as "a true apostle".  But, he would come as a father who felt "responsible" for his children.  He wanted to build them up... he wanted to find them faithful to Jesus.  He was afraid to find "strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.. impurity, immorality.. and sensuality." ( v20-21)  He would come to them.. in hope that the words that he had written to them would bring the sinners to repentance and the church to completion in Christ. 

Father, we confess our weaknesses and rejoice in Your all sufficient grace. May the power of Christ be found in us.. for we so desire to be found faithful and true.. made righteous in Him.  We pray that we will be built up.. together in our churches.. so that in times of trouble and distress.. the power of Christ will all that will be seen.  Oh Lord, may we be sincere in faith, repenting of those things that cause strife and tempers.. slander or gossip. May we keep filled with Your Spirit, walking in truth..no matter if we are experiencing the mountaintops or the valleys in this life. Jesus, we are Yours.. have Your way in us we pray.. Amen. 

 II Corinthians 11  You can hear Paul's heart in this letter to the church.. his burden for them to stay true to the gospel and not be led astray by the false teachers.. especially those who came in the name of Jesus, but preached lies..  Paul compared himself to these false teachers.. but prefaced it by saying that he would not "boast beyond" what the Lord had "apportioned" to him. 

Paul was jealous for the believers.. he wanted them to stay faithful to the true Christ.. in "simplicity and purity of devotion.."  He wanted them to know that he, himself, would not take advantage of them as the false teachers did.  He would not ask them for wages.. he would not expect them to provide for him.. instead, he relied on those who gave willingly to help him on his way. 

Paul did not want to boast in anything.. he considered it "foolishness".. but he needed them to understand that he knew what he was talking about.. his background and his experiences testified of his own devotion to Christ.. through being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and more.. he remained faithful to Christ, and he wanted them to do the same.  He was willing to be weak. .he was willing to be humble... and he was willing to sacrifice himself, for the sake of the true gospel.  They would not find that true of those who did not really know Jesus Christ as their Lord. 

A question I read from a devotional yesterday struck me.. and seems to fit this study.. " Who is Jesus to you?"  I have been thinking of this since early this morning.. fitting for Christmas day.. I think.  Maybe those of you who read this will ponder it too... there are infinite answers to that question, but let me share a few:

Jesus is my Savior.  He is my Master.  He is my Friend. He is my Comforter. He is my King.  Jesus is my Healer and my Helper.  Jesus is my Light and my Life.  Jesus is my constant Companion and my favorite place of Refuge.  Jesus knows me, loves me, and holds me close.  Jesus is my hope and the reason that I celebrate Christmas!

I hope you all have a Blessed Christmas and maybe you can ask yourself this question too.. Who is Jesus to you?

Father, thank You for the incredible gift of Jesus Christ, the Lord.. a child born, a Son given, a Savior who made a way for us to come home to You. All glory and honor and praise to You. Amen!

 II Corinthians 10 Paul desires to imitate Christ.. in meekness and gentleness.. as he ministers to the church, but he doesn't want them to underestimate his authority as God's servant.. the one who actually brought the gospel to them in the first place. He is bold when necessary.. desiring the best for every believer. 

Paul takes a courageous stance against those who are criticizing and defaming him.. He calls it a "war".. not "according to the flesh".  Spiritual warfare..  His weapon is  "divinely powerful". .. for the "destruction of fortresses".  As he wrote to the Ephesians.. "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." ( Eph. 6:12)  

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ... " 

Speculations.. imaginations, computations, and human reasoning.  Lofty things.. pretensions.. arrogant, prideful ideas and thoughts... These are destroyed by the diligent and intentional action of turning every thought over to Christ Jesus.  What a powerful prayer and practice.  

Father, we live in a world where imaginations and speculations are more than prevalent.. they seem to rule over so much of our every day lives.. through the airways.. in the heart of finance and government.. Arrogant and prideful thinking is everywhere we look.  Help us, Mighty God, to turn our every thought to Jesus, the One who holds all things together.  Cloth us withYour truth, Your righteousness,  Your salvation, Your  peace, and the Word.. the sword of Your Spirit.. and teach us to pray and pray and pray some more.. Let Your divine power destroy the fortresses.. the rulers, the powers, the darkness.. and all wickedness!  Let Your Kingdom come!  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

 II Corinthians 9 Paul did not want the church in Corinth to be embarrassed or to embarrass him by not being prepared with the promised gift.. "a bountiful gift".  He reminds them of this principle, "he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.." 

Paul teaches us some more truths about giving.. 

v7  We are to purpose in our hearts what to give.. "not grudgingly or under compulsion."  We have a God who loves it when we give cheerfully!

v8 We have a God who "is able to make all grace abound" to us.. that we will have sufficient and will be able to help others out of our "abundance ". 

v10  We have a God who Himself has supplied "seed for the sower and bread for food..."  He is the One who will "supply and multiply  [our] seed for sowing and increase the harvest of [our] righteousness." 

v11  When we give.. we are the ones "enriched in everything for all liberality which through us is producing thanksgiving to God." 

v12 God is glorified by the gracious act of giving liberally. 

v15 "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 

Father in heaven, all we have been given is from Your Hands and we are so thankful. Thank You for giving us the opportunity to give liberally out of the abundance that You have supplied. I am mindful that we have, here in this country, so much.. having seen the great need in other countries in Africa and other places. May we give liberally.. cheerfully.. bountifully. Multiply the gifts that we are able to offer.. whether little or much.. that others would know Your grace that abounds and give You thanks. Be glorified Lord Jesus! Amen. 

 II Corinthians 8  In this chapter Paul addresses giving... in particular a gift that that the church had pledged to give to the "saints".. to the church in Jerusalem which was in great need.  Paul wanted to let them know that Titus and others would be coming to them to collect what they had gathered, adding it to what the churches in Macedonia had given, and he wanted them to be ready. 

The churches of Macedonia were commended because they had given out of their "deep poverty".. "with liberality"..  and "according to their ability".  They had given themselves  "first.. to the Lord" and "to us by the will of God."  This was a great example to the Corinthian church as well as to us. 

Paul calls this a "gracious work" that he desired to see them complete.. "in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you.. "  Earnestness and sincere love.. along with "readiness" are the best motivations to giving.  As Paul explains.. giving out of  "abundance" to supply the "want" of others is a way of bringing "equality".  At other times they could find themselves in need and may receive from those that they had once helped.  It is a precious opportunity of blessing for the gift givers and those who receive.. bringing them into fellowship with one another on a deeper level. 

Paul also gave instructions about those who would be coming to receive and take the gifts to Jerusalem.  He chose men that he knew well and in whom he had "great confidence."  Men found to be diligent and honorable. 

As we think about this passage, may we think about our own "gracious" works.. are we giving ourselves "first to the Lord"?  Are we giving with earnestness and sincere love?  Do we have a desire to give, but not the follow through?  Are we giving out of our abundance and according to our abilities?  Are we giving in a way that shows the proof of our love.. to God and to those in need?  Are we careful to give through honorable and diligent men or organizations?

Father, we desire to be Your faithful servants in every way.. including in our giving.  We are inspired by those in Macedonia and in Corinth.. that gave out of their own poverty to those in even greater need.  Help us to be more determined.. more earnest.. more ready.. and more gracious in giving.  Let our hearts be sincere in love for Your servants in need.. and help us to be gracious and faithful givers.. as we first give ourselves fully to You.  In Jesus' name we pray.. Amen. 

 II Corinthians 7 "Therefore having these promises.."  The promise that God will dwell in us and walk among us.. that He will be our God and we will be His people.. that He will be a Father to us.. because of this.. "let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."   

"Perfecting holiness" ?  That seems an impossible goal.. how do we even begin?  Paul tells us to start by cleansing ourselves from "defilement".. filthiness, immorality.. "of flesh and spirit".  Peter put it this way.. " As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.. " ( I Peter 1:14-15)  Peter goes on to write this.. "since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls... love.. "  Perfecting holiness does not come without our surrender.. to obey the truth.. to choose His ways.. 

We have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.. "redeemed.. with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.." ( I Peter 1:18-19) It is in His power and His provision that we "perfect holiness".  We surrender all.. we rely fully.. and we obey the Truth.. 

Paul continues to speak to the church about the sorrow that they had because of his previous letter.. and the comfort that he received when they repented and obeyed the word. "Godly sorrow".. Paul tells us "produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation.. "  Sorrow is something we do not desire.. yet we recognize that it is a part of our lives here on earth.  Yet, when it produces the good that our God desires.. in this case repentance.. then it is something we can be thankful for.. " And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" ( Romans 8:28)  His purpose.. that we might be "conformed to the image of His Son.."   We will not regret having sorrow.. when we put it in God's hands and allow Him to use it to make us like Jesus!

Father in heaven,  I know.. and I can testify that You have taken my sorrows.. and You are doing a good thing.. in me.. and in those I love.  Thank You for the great promises of Your Word.. thank You that You will do that complete work in me.. perfecting holiness.. in my flesh and in my spirit.  I am Yours, Lord God, Your servant.. Your daughter, and I desire to walk in Your ways... in complete obedience.. in holiness.  Fill me with Your Spirit and help me, I pray..  in Jesus' name. Amen.

 II Corinthians 6:11-18  Paul exhorts his readers to first of all, open their hearts to him and his fellow workers as they have opened their hearts to them..   Do we do this?  Do we know the love and concern and grief of those who lead us in our churches?  Do we open our hearts to them?  Perhaps there are times when we know that kind of deep fellowship and "oneness" with our brothers and sisters in Christ.. and perhaps there are times when either we.. or they.. hold back, for whatever reason.  Either way this is something that we should pray for in the church... for a unrestrained affection.. within the fellowship of believers where God has placed us. 

Secondly, Paul exhorts us to "not be bound together with unbelievers".. Do not be "yoked" together is the older translation... coupled or obligated to... Picture an old balance, with a pair of scales bound together with one connecting beam.. that is the yoke.  When we want to be the same "weight".. the same as an unbeliever in worth.. in unity.. then we will take on the same characteristics of lawlessness and darkness. 

We are called instead to be righteous and light.. We can not have harmony with the world and harmony with our Lord at the same time.  We make a choice.. 

"For we are the temple of the living God;"  We are called to  "come out.. and be separate" .. We have a greater Yoke.. a greater connection to the Father.. as His sons and daughters.. connected by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus Christ the Lord who became sin..."on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  We want no other yoke.. to be bound to no other person or thing, but to be united fully with You in Christ.  Help us Holy Spirit to be filled with Your Presence as the Temple of old was so filled that none could even enter.. we are the temple of the living God!Be exalted in us we pray.. Hallelujah! and Amen!

 II Corinthians 6  Paul was "an ambassador for  Christ".. He wanted all those he ministered to.. to be "reconciled with God"... changed.. restored in relationship with God.   He was not doing the work of ministry on his own but "working together with Him.. " he urged the believers to receive the grace of God, fully and completely.. not "in vain"... not empty promises but in the fullness of Christ Jesus.

Paul did not want to cause "offense".. but he did want to exhibit himself only as a servant of God.." in everything."  In everything includes:

" .. in much endurance,

 in afflictions,

 in hardships,

in distresses,

in beatings,

in imprisonments,

in tumults,

in labors,

in sleeplessness,

in hunger,

in purity

in knowledge,

in patience,

in kindness,

in the Holy Spirit,

in genuine love,

in the word of truth,

in the power of God,

by the weapons of righteousness...

by glory and dishonor,

by evil report and good report,

regarded as deceivers, yet true;

unknown yet well-known,

dying, yet behold we live; 

as punished yet not put to death,

as sorrowful yet always rejoicing,

as poor yet making many rich,

as having nothing yet possessing all things." ( Verses 4-10)

Which of these things describe your situation today? I can name several.. and so I pray:

Father in heaven, I ask that I will be seen as Your servant in "everything".. in every hardship.. in every labor.. in sleepless nights and in times of bad reports and good ones too.  Father, let Jesus be made known in my life.. by Your power.. in the word of truth.. according to Your will and purposes.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

 II Corinthians 5:11-21  Over and over.. in these verses Paul uses the word "therefore" or "that". He wants his readers to get this!  We are trying to see the "unseen".. we are walking by faith.. trusting God to provide the "eternal.. dwelling" that He is preparing for us.. we are making it our "ambition" to please Him now.. and then.. 

Therefore... 

V. 11  .." knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God.. "  Since we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.. to be "recompensed" for our deeds "whether good or bad".. all the more, we desire to be about His work of sharing the good news of Jesus.. persuading as many as we can.. that Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life.  May our lives show forth His Light..

 V. 14-15  "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."   May this be the bottom line of our lives' ambitions.. to know the love of Christ.. to be constrained and consumed with Him.. no longer living for ourselves.. but for our Wonderful Savior! To make known this great salvation.. that Jesus died for "all"!

V. 16 "Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; "   We need to start seeing the "unseen" in others too.. Not their outward appearance.. their status or wealth or beauty.. or lack of these.. but to look at their hearts.. rejoicing with those who know Jesus.. praying for those who don't. 

V17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."  What wonderful news!   Let us live in this truth.. for our own sakes and for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ.. May we recognize Christ in them.. and may Christ be seen in us too!

V. 18, 21 "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."  How thankful we are for the Word and work of Jesus Christ!  Our trespasses are no longer held against us! "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

V. 20 "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ..."   We are given the opportunity and the responsibility to make known this Wonderful Savior.. begging.. entreating.. praying.. that others will also be reconciled to God through Jesus.. 

Father, teach us.. fill us.. be made known in us and through us... in Christ Jesus.... that others may also be saved, made new, reconciled with You. May the love of Christ control me.. may the Words of Christ fill my mouth.. may my eyes be opened to the unseen in others.. that I might minister Your love and compassion and grace to those who need Jesus.  Father, let Your will be done in me.. in us.. Your people.. that all we do and all we say will be pleasing to You and  that others will come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! It is in His name we ask this.. Amen. 

 II Corinthians 5:1-10  Paul takes us past the "light afflictions" of this life.. to that which is "unseen".. and "eternal. "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

What is mortal.. the "home" that we know.. our bodies.. will not last forever.  We know this very well.  Paul tells us to not worry about that.. for what God is preparing for us.. an eternal dwelling.. will be so much better.  ".. be of good courage.. "  walk in faith.. know that first of all:

 ".. He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.."

 Secondly, know that absence from this body means we will be HOME with the Lord! 

"Therefore".. because of this.. "we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."  Why?  Because.. we will "all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 

Father in heaven, help us to walk by faith in Your Truth.. help us to be courageous through the momentary troubles, knowing that You have a plan and Your purposes will be completed.  You will bring us home.. to be with You!  You are preparing for us eternal, immortal.. forever bodies, that will not groan anymore!  You have given us Your Spirit.. a "pledge".. a downpayment.. a first taste of the eternal, making us "new creations" in Christ.  By this we know Your grace and love that will fulfill every Word.  Thank You!  Let Your will be done.. on earth.. in these bodies.. as it is done in heaven.  In Christ we pray, amen. 

 II Corinthians 4  Paul had noted the transformation of the believers in Galatia.. that Christ was manifested in them.. showing that his ministry was not in vain.. but that the Spirit had given them life in Christ and was continually moving in their lives.. from"glory to glory".. as they were being transformed into the image of the Son.  It is for this reason that he proclaims.. " .. we do not lose heart". 

Paul has carefully preached the Truth of the gospel..without "craftiness or adulterating the word of God.. " Those who still could not understand the plain teaching of the gospel.. being "veiled" as it were.. were those who were "perishing".. because the "god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 

What an important verse!  May this be our prayer.. that God would give sight to the blind.. that they might see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ!  

Like Paul, may we only preach Jesus Christ as Lord! May we pray for the God who spoke light out of darkness.. to shine in our hearts.. "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." And that His light would shine ever brighter as our lives are transformed into His image. 

Paul says that we carry this great treasure... this wonderful truth of the gospel that Jesus the Light of the World has come.. in "earthen vessels".   We are weak that His strength may be seen.  We are poor so that His riches will be made known.. we may be, like Paul, "afflicted.. perplexed..persecuted.. struck down.." and even "delivered over to death".  But, because of the treasure within us.. "we do not lose heart"!"   We are not "crushed.. despairing.. forsaken.. or destroyed... "  but by faith.. we proclaim, "He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus... "  

Yes, as we all can testify.. "our outer man is decaying.. " but thanks to the Lord.. "our inner man is being renewed day by day"!  How thankful we are that this life.. with all its struggles.. these "light afflictions" are "producing for us and eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."  Hallelujah!

Father, our prayer is for the Light of the World to be manifested in us. We also  pray for those who are blinded by this world and by satan..  that You would open the eyes of their hearts that they might see Jesus . We pray for lives to be saved, transformed from darkness to light... from death to life.. from sinner to forgiven and cleansed children of God. Father, fill us with the Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that He will be made known through our lives.. even though we are weak and afflicted and struggling.  We are earthen vessels.. and You are the great treasure within us!  Be exalted in us today we pray.. with thanksgiving for Your wonderful grace and love.. amen. 

 II Corinthians 3   Paul asks a question.. ".. do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?"  Paul wondered if the church needed to be introduced to himself again.. did they need an outside recommendation.. had they forgotten that he was there first, giving them the gospel of Jesus Christ?  

"You are our letter.. " Paul proclaims.. the believers that had been taken from death to life.. from idolatry to Christ.. from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.  "You are a letter of Christ", he tells them.. "written in our hearts, known and read by all men.. "   

A life changed forever by Jesus Christ.. where the "Spirit of the Living God" had written His Name in their hearts.. that "manifested" the Presence of Jesus.. by the power of Jesus.. this is a letter of commendation that everyone should be able to recognize.  If they were changed at all.. by knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.. it would be made known by their very lives!  

"And such confidence we have through Christ toward God." Paul's own life had been radically changed when he met Jesus.. he recognized that transformation in true believers too.  Just as we, also, recognize the Spirit of Christ in the lives of other believers. 

Yet, Paul is careful to say, " Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God."   His ability.. his competency.. to be a servant of the new covenant.. was from God.. not himself. This was a Spirit given ministry.. a life-giving.. glorious ministry.. a surpassing.. unfading.. eternal ministry .. able to remove the veil between God and men.  The ministry of Paul that changed them and was still changing them.. "from glory to glory".. transforming them by the Spirit of God.. this was the proof.. the "letter of commendation".. the only thing they needed to know.. 

Father, thank You for the transforming.. eternal .. surpassing power of the Holy Spirit.. Who writes the Name of Jesus on our hearts.. and changes us from "glory to glory" as He is manifested.. made known in our lives.  May we be letters of introduction.. letters of commendation.. that others will see Jesus clearly in us. Fill us once again, Holy Spirit, that we might overflow with love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control.. that Jesus will be glorified !  We ask this in His wonderful Name.  Amen. 

 II Corinthians 2 Paul expresses his sorrow and love for the church in Corinth.. seeing that they obeyed his instructions.. he now urges them to forgive and restore the one that had been living sinfully in their midst. Forgiveness.. we all need it and want it.. but it is sometimes hard to be the ones to forgive those who hurt us with their sins. Paul says, " But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ."   Forgiveness restores fellowship.. unity.. and this is vital for the church.. any church!  The man who had caused the problems repented.. and the church, which had allowed the sinfulness to continue.. also repented.  Paul tells them to "forgive and comfort"..  first, so that he would not be "overwhelmed by excessive sorrow".. and secondly, " in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes."

A church that preaches repentance...that practices forgiveness and comfort..is a church that will have joyful fellowship and wonderful, Christ honoring unity... 

 Paul talks about his journey.. going to Troas and then on to Macedonia..  He is restless in his spirit.. but finds reason to be thankful...  "But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."   Here is another truth.. "we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.. "  We won't always be received with joy.. for sometimes the message of the gospel has an "aroma from death to death"... to those who refuse Him.. But, hallelujah, sometimes the aroma of the knowledge of Christ brings "life to life".   We do not control how someone hears or receives the good news of Christ Jesus.  What we do control is our sincere words of truth.. spoken "in Christ in the sight of God." 

Father in heaven, help us to hear Your words today.. to live for You.. according to these truths, by the power of Christ in us.. before You. Give us understanding of how these words can be applied to our church and our individual lives.  Help us to walk in sincerity and love. Manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ in us.. no matter where we go. Let, the life of Jesus in us.. bring life to others who need Him.. We ask this in His wonderful, powerful Name. Amen.

 I Corinthians 1 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."   Yes, this is what we need this day, Father..  Your all- sufficient grace.. Your peace, that passes all our understanding.  We are indeed blessed with the comfort that You have provided.. "abundant through Christ". Thank You!

Father, may we share Your comfort with those who are suffering today.  May we have grace to reach out to those who are "despairing even of life".  What great truth we find here.. ".. that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."   You are our God, great in every way.. and You hold life and death in Your hands.. no peril can befall us.. no illness can defeat us.. no enemy can destroy us.. because ultimately we are delivered by Your abundant grace and kept in You abundant peace! Hallelujah!

Father, "we have set our hope" on You!  May our prayers join other.. giving help to those in need.. bringing others to set their hope on You.. on Jesus, the one who is "yes and amen"!  Thank You for the many promises You have given us in Christ. Thank You for establishing us in Christ and anointing us with Your Spirit.. given to us in our hearts... "as a pledge".. 

Father, we are thankful for Your Word that brings us comfort and peace, that reveals Your grace and truth. Thank You for the Spirit who abides in our hearts and fills us with Your Presence. Help us to stand firm in faith, setting our hope on You. Guide our steps, our choices, our thoughts, and even our feelings today.. for the glory of God and the praise of Jesus Christ our King. amen. 

 Lamatations 4-5 ".. for the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom.. " Think about that.. 

What sin is He talking about?  Rebellion. Unbelief. Idolatry. Shedding innocent blood. These sins.. that are the same ones filling our country today.. brought about destruction of a nation.. a nation that belonged to the Lord, the Almighty God and Creator.  "The Lord has accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger." (v11)

Jeremiah gives us a heart-breaking description of Israel.. of starving babies.. of mothers who "boiled their own children".. of "skin.. shriveled on their bones.. " .. of complete desolation and reproach upon a once chosen nation.. "The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our heart is faint; Because of these things our eyes are dim;"

Father in heaven, You rule forever! Your throne is from generation to generation.  You will not forget Your people forever.. for You have promised to restore them.. when they return to You.  May they do so now, Lord God.. in another season of desolation, destruction, and punishment.. may Israel turn back to their God.. confessing and repenting from their sins. May we also return to You Father.. recognizing the sinfulness of our own nation.  Bring repentance and salvation to us once again.. as we celebrate this season of Christmas..reveal Jesus to the nations.. May His kingdom come..  and may He reign forevermore! Amen. 

 Lamentations 3:40-66  Jeremiah expressed his anguish and depression.. and his faith in God's mercy and faithfulness.. He has encouraged us to "probe our ways".. to "lift up our heart and hands toward God in heaven.. " and to confess our trespasses and rebellion.. and now he leads us in prayer. 

"Thou hast not pardoned.. thou hast covered Thyself with anger.. with a cloud.. so that no prayer can pass through.. "  Lord, sometimes we feel this too.. like our world is so evil.. how can we ever find You?  We are like "refuse".. "Panic and pitfall have befallen us, devastation and destruction.. "  We watch the news and see this before our eyes.. we know this in our own lives at times.. our tears "pour down unceasingly" just like Jeremiah's "because of all the daughters" of Your city... for the lost and devastated all over this globe.. 

"Until the Lord looks down and sees from heaven.. "  Ahh Lord we are not without hope.. for our hope is in You.. " I called on Thy name, O Lord, out of the lowest pit, Thou hast heard my voice, do not hide Thine ear from my prayer for relief, from my cry for help."   Mighty God, we pray this for the people of Israel.. especially for those still held captive.. and those whose loved ones are in harm's way.  "Thou didst draw near when I called on Thee; Thou didst say, ' Do not fear!'"  Thank You Lord!  For what You did for Jeremiah.. You have and  will do for us.. 

"O Lord, Thou didst plead my soul's cause; Thou hast redeemed my life."  Oh what wonderful truths!  You, Yourself plead our cause.. You are our Redeemer!  Jesus Christ, the Mediator is for us!  He came that we might be saved. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, we bring these pleas before You.. for ourselves and for Jerusalem.. for our families and for our neighbors who need You.. Come O Come Emmanuel.. come and hear our prayers. .come and open the Kingdom doors for the lost and forsaken.. Let the Good News of Jesus Christ be told on every mountain and in every valley! Draw us closer into Your Presence.. into Your heart today, we pray... in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Lamentations 3:1-41  The first 18 verses are Jeremiah's lament for himself.. " I am a man who has seen affliction.."  It has come.. from the Lord's hand, Jeremiah confesses... "because of the rod of His wrath.."  

Jeremiah feels abandoned.. he is walking in darkness; his flesh and skin are wasting away; he is broken, bitter, and desolate.  "So I say, ' My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the Lord." (v18)

There are times in our lives when we can truly relate to these feelings.. out of strength and out of hope.  

But, as desperate and dark as it was for Jeremiah, he chooses to remember:

"Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me, this I recall to my mind; therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is His faithfulness.. "

"The Lord is my portion, says my soul." He is my inheritance, my allotment, my lot, my ration.  "Therefore I have hope in Him."  Jeremiah reminds himself that God is good.. that He will have compassion on those who wait for Him and who seek Him. 

All that has afflicted Israel and Jeremiah, himself.. came because of sin.  Yet, God does not willingly bring the affliction.. He is Just and Faithful. 

"Let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the Lord. We lift up our heart and hands toward God in heaven."

So here we have a dark, desolate and depressing situation.. hopeless.. the city is gone; the people are either dead or in captivity; those left have made Jeremiah even more miserable because of their hatred and persecution.. yet.. he sets his mind on God's faithfulness and compassion!  And, in doing so, gives us a passage that has helped thousands of us to find hope again in our darkest hours!  Praise the Lord!

Father, thank You for being a good, good Father...who hears us when we cry out to You; who comes to us when we wait upon You.  We join in Jeremiah's proclamation.. You are our portion and therefore we have hope! Whatever we face.. this day.. this week.. or this year.. may we recall to mind the truth that Your loving kindnesses never cease.. that Your compassion never fail.. and that You are always faithful! Thank You, Lord!  All praise and glory and honor to Your holy Name. Amen 

 Lamentations 2  This chapter, like the first is an acrostic poem.  The theme here is God's awful anger that has been poured out upon His people.. "the daughter of Zion".   God's anger over sin is not a small thing.   We need to take heed of this.. 

V1.. His anger is vast.. "How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger! He has cast from heaven to earth the glory of Israel and has not remembered His footstool in the day of His anger."

The Lord's anger.. swallows up habitations; throws down strongholds; profanes kingdoms; cuts off strength; and burns like a flaming fire.. ( v2-3)

The Lord's anger is personal.. "He bent His bow.. He has set His right hand like an adversary.. The Lord has become like an enemy... He has swallowed up Israel.. "(v4-5)

The Lord's anger is all- inclusive.. palaces, strongholds, and His own tabernacle are violently destroyed.  Kings and priests.. elders and children.. virgins and young men...all are affected by God's anger, for all have sinned against Him. 

Oh how this breaks Jeremiah's heart.. "My eyes fail because of tears, my spirit is greatly troubled; my heart is poured out on the earth, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. When little ones and infants faint in the streets of the city.. as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom... O virgin daughter of Zion.. for your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?" (v11-13)

The enemies of Zion gloated over her ruin.. but the truth is that they were not the cause.. "The Lord has done what He purposed; He has accomplished His word which He commanded from days of old. He has thrown down without sparing. And He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the might of your adversaries." (v17)

Can we read this and not think of Israel today? The Lord is angry over the sins of His people.. His desire is repentance.. His purpose is to bring His people back to Himself.  But, if they.. if we.. refuse God's grace, in the persons of Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself all the sin.. all the shame.. all the wrath of God.. who swallowed up sin and death.. then God's vast, violent, destroying anger will be poured out upon us too. 

Wonderful grace of Jesus.. greater than all my sin.. thank You for taking my punishment.. for saving my soul from the eternal wrath of the Father. Thank You for the victory purchased upon the cross.. Your blood poured out.. Your body broken.. Hallelujah, What a Savior!

 Lamentations 1 ...Thought to be written by Jeremiah, this acrostic poem is a mournful lament of the fall of Jerusalem.  The writer portrays the city of Zion as a "princess" who has become empty.. widowed.. desolate. She feels abandoned and betrayed by all her friends and lovers.  She regrets her sinfulness and realizes that she is suffering the consequences for her own decisions. 

She knows that this has all happened at the hand of the Lord:

v5 "For the Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her transgressions."
v12 "..Which the Lord inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.."
v14 "..The Lord has given me into the hands of those against whom I am not able to stand."
v15 "The Lord has rejected all my strong men in my midst; He has called an appointed time against me."
v18 "The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against His command." 

Recognizing her own rebellion.. Zion groans and weeps.  "She did not consider her future; therefore she has fallen astonishingly;" (v9)

Over and over again, Jeremiah tells us, that what he longs for.. what Zion longs for... perhaps what we all long for and need most is a "comforter". 

V9  "... She has no comforter". 
v16 " For these things I weep; my eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, one who restores my soul.. "
v17 "Zion stretches out her hands; there is no one to comfort her;" 
v21 "They have heard that I groan; there is no one to comfort me.." 

Comfort.. "parakaleo" - to call near; invite; exhort; invoke; pray; implore; console; 

We sing of "comfort and joy" this time of the year.. finding that we, like Zion of old, are in great need of a Comforter.. Praise be to our Father who has given us great comfort and joy through Jesus Christ the One who came that we might draw near.. for we have been invited and encouraged, and consoled by His Spirit, the Comforter who has come to dwell in us!  John 14 has much to say about this great gift, sent by the Father.. He is the "spirit of truth".  He will teach us "all things".  He will give us peace.. and we will not be left "as orphans".. not deserted and not desolate..  like Zion.. ever again!

II Corinthians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 

Father in heaven, thank You for the Comforter who has come to dwell with us and in us!  May we find consolation and encouragement in the Word, as the Spirit of Truth teaches us all things. Thank You for  not leaving us or forsaking us.. for giving us hope and joy in Christ Jesus our Lord. Help us to walk in faith.. in the truth.. in righteousness.. to honor Your holy Name and to bring Your comfort to those around us that also need comfort in their afflictions.  Have Your way in us.. do this work of comfort through us.. in the Name of Jesus we pray.  Amen. 

 I Corinthians 16 Paul closes his first letter to the church in Corinth with some personal thoughts.. his desire to come to them... Timothy and Apollos perhaps coming to them also. Encouragement  is found in others and greetings are given.  Then.. right in the middle of all this is this gem.. "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 

What a great verse to pray.. Lord let me be on guard.. stand firm, act courageously and be strong.. in love; in the Word; in the church; in my family.   Lord, may my family, my church, my friends.. also be on guard... to not allow false ideas, disagreements, or anything else keep us all from the most important things..  And, Lord,  especially give us the gift of  love that edifies.. builds up faith that will stand firm in this age and forever! Father, may we have courage to speak up.. boldly and patiently.. declaring the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thank You for this Word today. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 15  Paul addresses one more problem that was causing confusion and division in the church at Corinth.. the issue of whether or not there there is a  resurrection. 

Paul always goes back to the firm foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ... "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance.. that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

Paul goes on to logically discuss the fact that Jesus appeared to the apostles after He was risen.. and that He appeared to him also. So.. ".. If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised.. and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain, your faith is also in vain." 

No resurrection.. no savior.. no forgiveness of sins.. no hope. 

"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep."  Good news! Because He lives.. we can live.. because of Him we can take off the mortal and put on immortality.. we can take off the natural and put on the spiritual.. We are not without hope, for Christ has come to reign.. and we are His forever. The resurrection is true!

There will come a day.. "in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.. and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."  Death will be defeated. ".. thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.. " 

Father, may we be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" .. knowing that our lives, our faith, and our work.. "is not in vain in the Lord".  Reveal Christ to us and in us.. transforming us daily.. from glory to glory.. that we might bear His image and You may be glorified! Help us to receive the truth of the Gospel, fully surrendered to Your will, and rejoicing in this great salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord. We are waiting eagerly for that day, Lord, when we will be "raised imperishable.. changed" forever. Thank You for this living hope we have in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 I Corinthians 14  "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.. "  

The message.. of inspiration, exhortation, and revelation.. is meant for the "edification.. exhortation .. and consolation"  of the church. This is the purpose of all spiritual gifts.The Corinthians seemed overly zealous to speak in tongues.. Paul wanted them to rethink their desire for that particular spiritual gift..  The confusion and competition among brothers and sisters in Christ does not edify the believers  nor does not make clear the Gospel for any unbelievers that come in to the church.  Prophesy does.. the speaking forth the Word of God.. is the greater gift, if love accompanies it. 

The Key Word Study Bible commentary gives some interesting background information about Corinth.  Nearby, in Delphi, there was an oracle.. a pagan temple.  The people would come with their sacrifices to receive an oracle which was delivered by a priestess.. a woman, usually over the age of 50.  This woman would prepare herself by purifying herself at a certain fountain, drinking a certain drink, and eating a laurel leaf. She would then be seated on a tripod which was placed over a chasm.  There were fumes that came up from the chasm and she would become intoxicated and "utter incoherent sounds" which would be interpreted in an obscure and general way.  The fact that newly Christian women wanted to speak in tongues was concerning.. for the danger was that they were imitating this Delphic priestess.  So, this commentary says, perhaps this is where Paul's command to not allow the women to speak in the church, originates.  The problem that Paul is addressing is the confusion caused by the disorderly conduct of those who did not have true spiritual.. Spirit given.. gifts. 

Again, he repeats his main point, " Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy and do not forbid to speak in tongues, but let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner." ( v40) 

Father in heaven, may we walk in the Spirit, serve the Son, and bring You glory.  May we pursue Your love.. deeper and deeper into the sea of Your unfailing love and grace.  May we walk in Your Light and live by Your Truth. May Jesus be revealed to us, in us, and through us.  May our lives be continually transformed so that You may be glorified because of us. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 13 Paul is still addressing the church in Corinth.. filled with factions.. divisions.. the same ones that were dragging each other to court; judging each other for their opinions; thinking of themselves as better than their brothers or sisters in Christ.  He is still addressing the truth about spiritual gifts.. God given grace-gifts that are supernaturally provided for the edification of the church.  He wants them.. and us.. to remember that these gifts are from the Holy Spirit. They are not earned.. they are not bought.. they are given as He chooses.  He wants us to remember that the purpose of every spiritual gift is all for Jesus! He wants us to know that only as God works through the gifts that He has given.. are they effective at all. 

So, when Paul begins to teach this next section.. what we call the Love Chapter.. it is in this context.. everything that he has talked about.. divisions.. sacrifices...self-centeredness.. spiritual gifts.. knowledge and liberty... everything dims in light of the fact that LOVE is what matters the most.  

Without love.. every gift is worthless.  I can hardly think of anything else to say... this is a striking thought. 

This love.. agape love.. is the "self-giving divine love which emanates from God and is to be seen reflected in believers. It is the love which is concerned for others rather than self and which should govern the practice of spiritual gifts." ( Key Word Study Bible)

Without this love.. we cannot serve.. we cannot be used by God.. we cannot be patient or kind.  We will act arrogantly and jealous.. unbecomingly.. seeking our own way; easily provoked.. holding grudges.  

This kind of love will be seen in us as we rejoice in the truth; as we bear all things.. believe all things.. hope all things.. and endure all things..

This kind of love does not fail. This kind of love will never pass away.. for all of eternity.  It is the greatest gift of all!

Father in heaven, one day we will see You face to face.. and we will know fully.. just as You know us now. We need Your love to fill us, Father. Direct our hearts in pursuit of this gift of love. Fill us Spirit of God with the divine love that will not fail... may we love as Jesus loves us.. may we love so that You can work through us to bring others into the blessed Kingdom of Your love. We ask this in the name of our gracious and loving Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 12 Spiritual gifts.. God's grace in man.. (Key Word Study Bible)..the indwelling of Christ's grace within every believing Christian.. according to the Father's will and by the power of the Spirit.  This definition is given in this reference - ".. a spiritual gift .. an instantaneous enablement by God in the power of the Holy Spirit to do or say something beyond one's natural ability in order to fulfill a specific purpose of God in the time-frame in which God permits it." 

Paul writes that he wants the brethren to be aware and not ignorant of these gifts.  They are important to the church as a whole. "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." ( v4-7)

Every grace gift is given by the Spirit.. "the same Spirit works in all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." 

"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..  and we were made to drink of one Spirit.." Paul explains. God places the members as He desires.. He composes the body as he chooses.. the weak and the strong.. the "seemly" and the "less honorable"..  And He desires that "the members should have the same care for one another" no matter what.  "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it." 

God appoints the "apostles.. prophets.. teachers.. miracles.. gifts.. helps.. administrations.. etc" as He chooses. 

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all involved in this area of spiritual gifts as Paul points out to us.   It is important that we understand this.  It is through the Spirit that we can even say "Jesus is Lord".  It is by Him that we are baptized into His body.. it is the drinking of this "living water" given to all who believe in Jesus, that gives us true Life in Christ. This same Spirit gives the spiritual gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith.. healing.. etc.  These gifts are for the "same Lord".. many kinds of ministries but all for Jesus!  And, above all, it is the same Father who "works all things"..  He is active, He is efficient. He is effective.. He shows Himself. .in us.. through these gifts of grace. 

Father in heaven, teach me Your ways.. teach me and help me to understand what this means for me. Let me serve Jesus according to the grace You have given to me.. Show Yourself in me.. as I willingly serve others.  May we each desire to build up the "body" of Christ Jesus... caring for one another according to the ministries You have given us.. to the glory and honor of Your Holy Name. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 11  Paul writes to the church to "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." Just as Paul made an effort to not offend others for the sake of the Gospel.. the church needed to imitate him.  

Paul had addressed several issues that were causing divisions among them.. this chapter addresses another issue.  The Greek custom was for men to uncover their heads when praying or prophesying.. but the Jewish tradition was to cover their heads.  The Greek tradition for women was to cover their heads whereas the Jewish tradition was to uncover her head.. having long hair. 

Customs and traditions differ according to where we live.. Paul is helping the church to see that the problem is not which tradition they hold on to.. (as long as it was not contrary to Scripture.)... but the real problem was that they were being divided and contrary to each other... judging one another. 

When they come together as the church, brothers and sisters brought together in Christ, there should be a unity of the Spirit.. not judging one another, but respecting and honoring and caring for one another.. in spite of differences of opinion. 

Paul uses the "Lord's Supper" as another illustration.  Some people would come with much and others with little... some would overdo it by getting drunk or overeating.. leaving others without anything. This led to "factions".. who judged each other negatively... destroying any spirit of love and unity among them...the exact opposite of what the Lord's table was meant to do!

Paul teaches them the true meaning of the Lord's Supper.. to remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.. His body broken.. His blood shed.. for our sins.  Examine yourself, he says, judge yourself and not your brother or sister.. "But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged."  If we don't look at our own attitudes and acknowledge our own failures, flaws, and sins.. then we should expect to be "disciplined by the Lord". If each person would do this.. they would not worry about what the other person was doing.. they would be able to bear with one another and love one another instead. 

Father in heaven, teach us to love as Christ loves.. with patience and compassion.. with selflessness and kindness.  May we yield all to You.. for our own lives.. and for the things that others are dealing with.. especially those things that might divide us and not unite us in Christ.  We are His.. saved by His blood and made new in Him. Open our eyes Lord, that we might see clearly the path that You have for us, that brings us together..  to edify one another and not judge and tear down one another.  Help us to lay down our rights and opinions and listen to Your voice.. to trust and obey.  We look to You.. call to You and know that You are faithful and You will answer.  Hallelujah and Amen!

 I Corinthians 10:14-33  Paul again turns to the problem of idolatry in Corinth.  He is teaching in a pagan city that was filled with idols.. where meat markets were filled with pagan sacrifices.. where the streets were filled with idol worshipers.  It was common.  It was their "culture".  The new Christians had much to learn... 

"Therefore my beloved, flee from idolatry.."  It would be a temptation to fall back into the false religious practices that they had known.. but they had God's promise that He would give them a way of escape if they would trust in Him.  

Paul explains that Christians share in a greater sacrifice.. "the blood of Christ".  and in "the body of Christ".  We are all partakers of the One sacrifice that matters.  To then share in a sacrifice to an idol is to want something more than Christ alone.. and that is of the devil.  It is the same temptation that Adam and Eve failed to resist in the garden. 

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."   This was the sin of Israel that resulted in so many dying in the wilderness.. and later being exiled from their homeland. 

Yes, Paul says.. the law has been fulfilled.and "all things are lawful.." Yes, you can be thankful for whatever God provides.. but there is a time for restraint.. especially when it harms the conscience of your friend or neighbor.  He sums it up this way.. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 

Father, help us to humbly and patiently consider our actions.. even what we eat or drink. Help us to be fully surrendered to You and listen for the voice of Your Spirit as we walk among our fellow countrymen.. knowing that we don't need to put ourselves and our rights first.. but to share the love of Jesus in ways that will build others up and not tear them down.  Take all my actions, Lord... and lead me in Your ways I pray. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 10:1-13 Paul uses the example of Israel in the wilderness to teach his readers to avoid the same outcomes that they faced.. 

Although every Israelite that left Egypt, following Moses, experienced the Presence of God in the cloud and the power of God as they walked across dry land with the Red Sea piled up next to their path.. although they all ate the "spiritual food" and drank the "spiritual drink".. the manna and the water from the Rock.. "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased;" 

"Now all these things happened as examples for us... " 

They craved evil things.. may we not do the same... Lord, may we want only You..seeking first You and Your righteousness. 

They were idolaters.. may we never worship idols.  Father, You alone are God, maker of the heavens and the earth.. we worship You alone!

They acted immorally.. may we never choose such a life. Father, keep us faithful and true in all we do. 

They "tried" the Lord.. let us never try Him.. Lord, help us to trust You fully, no matter what. 

They grumbled.. may we put away any grumbling and instead have grateful hearts! Father we give You thanks with grateful and blessed hearts. 

All these things happened, Paul repeats, so that we might learn from their example. All things things led to their downfall.. all but a few died in that wilderness.  They had every opportunity to enter the promised land.. but failed miserably in their sin-filled ways. So, Paul warns us.. "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.. "  Take heed.. pay attention to this lesson!

We all have to face temptations. Are we tempted to grumble?  to test the Lord?  to sin against another?  Probably more than we want to admit.. but we have this precious promise.. "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." 

Father in heaven,  we are leaning on Your faithfulness!  Help us to stay true to Your Word, to walk according to Your commands.. in Your Spirit.. following the example of Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom are all things and through whom we are saved.  We are Yours.. keep our hearts pure and our eyes fixed on You. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 I Corinthians 9  Paul's message in chapter 8 leads into this next teaching.  Knowledge that is arrogant does not edify.. it tears others down instead of building them up.. therefore using your knowledge to take liberties with things such as food offered to idols.. is not good if it causes another to stumble.  Paul gives himself as an example..  "Am I not free?"

As an apostle, one who had seen Jesus, one that brought the gospel to Galatia in the first place..  he had the right to "eat and drink.. take along a believing wife.. refrain from working" ( outside of the evangelism he was doing).  He had every right to financial support from those he served.  "If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ." (v12)

He had every right to that support, but he did not want to depend on it.  Instead, he says, "I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel."  He was free.. but he chose to be a "slave".  He chose to do whatever it took to win others to Christ.  He did not stand on his liberty.. his freedom.. but gave it all up so that others might come to Jesus. ".. to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews.. to the weak, I became weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some."

He compares his dedication to preaching the gospel to a runner who's aim it is to win the race, or to a boxer who trains hard in order to win the match.. He was willing to do whatever it took so that God's purposes would be done in and through him. " And I do all things for the sake of the gospel that  I may become a fellow partaker of it." 

Likewise, Paul exhorts us, "Run in such a way that you may win."  Be willing to give up liberties and rights.. to give your whole self.. "for the sake of the gospel".  

Father in heaven, You have called us to lay down our lives, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus.. It is a call to complete surrender and devotion to the One who has made us, saved us, and lives in us by Your Spirit.  We are set apart for You.. holy and acceptable.. because of the gospel of Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us.. we have been bought with a price and are no longer our own.. we are Yours forever.  Help us then, Lord, to run the race in such a way that we will win the heavenly prize.. Your words, "Well done, good and faithful servant".  We realize that we cannot do this on our own power.. but we rest our faith on the power of God.. for You work in us.. sanctifying us entirely. spirit, soul, and body..that we might stand before You complete at the coming of Jesus Christ.  You are faithful and You will bring it to pass. Hallelujah! Thank You. amen. 

 I Corinthians 8 This chapter deals with "liberty"... focusing on the issue of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  What stands out to me today is Paul's use of the word "knowledge".. 

The first thing Paul teaches us is that "we know that we all have knowledge".   We are all aware, able to look at and consider that everyone has some knowledge.. even a child will know its name, know its parents, or know that the sky is blue.. This is just a factual statement.  But, Paul goes on.. "Knowledge makes arrogant.. ."  This is also a factual statement.. we see it in our every day life.. those who think they know better.. think that they are better.. whether it is because of their education, their experience, or their success.. knowledge can indeed make one "puffed up"!

"But.."   Paul says.. "love edifies." -  Love builds up.. confirms.. emboldens.. The Greek word is "oikodomeo".. and really refers to building a house.. the root word, "oikos" means a dwelling or a family; a home or household. 

This brings a whole new perspective on this passage for me.. 

Verses 2-3 "If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him."  There are several Greek words used for "know/knowledge/ known"..   Two different ones are used in these verses.. employing those definitions helps clarify Paul's point..  If we think we know (see, are aware of, consider, or perceive)  anything.. we have not begun to "know" ( know absolutely with surety and understanding, feeling, and resolve) as we should.  For what is really the thing that we need to KNOW is loving God.. which is what makes us KNOWN (perceived, absolutely known.. with surety and understanding) by Him

Yes, Paul says, you know that idols are not real. Yes, you know there is only One God. ".. there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him." ( v6) But, some of them were using this" knowledge" in a way that was not loving.. not edifying .. not building up their brothers and sisters in Christ.  This "liberty" was causing some to stumble.. to sin against their own conscience.  This was not loving and so was a "sin against Christ". 

So, what "knowledge" do we have and use.. what "liberty" do we take.. that "puffs up".. makes us arrogant.. instead of building up our fellow Christians?  Paul said he would rather give up meat if it was going to cause his brother to stumble.. what is it that we want to hold on to that is a stumbling block to another believer? What things do we need to do and say that will edify?  

A favorite passage from Proverbs helps us in this.. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding..." ( don't try to support yourself and your arguments based on your own knowledge.. or what you think you know) "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." ( See Him in everything you do, every path you take, observe, recognize, sense, known be aware, discern, discover.. that He is there!)  We lean on our Almighty God and not on what we think we know... 

Father in heaven, how blessed and holy is Your Name.. Lord, God Almighty.. the Lord of hosts.. our Maker.. our Redeemer, we honor You. We desire to live in ways that please You.. ways that build up and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. Fill us with Your great love.  We look to You, recognizing our own lack of understanding. We are leaning on You. Trusting You in all our ways.. acknowledging Your Presence in us, through the wonderful grace of Jesus.  Open our eyes that we might "know" as we should know.. as we gaze at the only One who sees us clearly and truly.  It is in the name of Jesus that we come before You, fully known..  amen. 

 I Corinthians 7  This chapter focuses on some questions that the church in Corinth had for Paul.. questions about marriage.. should they even get married?.. should they divorce an unbelieving spouse? Should they give their daughters to be married?  Also, a question about circumcision and one about slavery... 

In his answer, Paul relates his own opinion as well as biblical truths..  the bottom line to all these questions is found in verse 35 " And this I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is seemly, and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord." 

As believers who want to please God in all we do..we seek to trust Him and obey His word.  Being married or unmarried.. a slave or a free man or woman... being circumcised or uncircumcised..  " is nothing.. but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God." (v19)

We are each called to our own journey with the Lord.. "However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.." (v7)  And verse 17 "Only, as the Lord has assigned each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk.. "  We belong to the Father, we are His.. "bought with a price".. and our first and foremost devotion is to Him. 

Whatever we do.. in our relationships.. in our manner of living.. our priority is always " undistracted devotion" to our Lord. We honor our marriages.. we honor and respect each other.. and in everything..  we remain devoted to the One who laid down His life for us. 

Father, strengthen us by Your Spirit to walk in love and devotion to You, our God and King. May we honor the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ is all we do.. in our decisions.. in our relationships.. and in our daily lives.. for all glory, honor, and worship belongs to You. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 6:12-20  There are three more "do you not know" questions that Paul asks in this chapter.. these three all deal with the body.. 

"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?"    Paul's point is that we have been given these bodies for a purpose.. God's purpose. Therefore, we must take care of them accordingly.  First of all, we need to realize that "not all things are profitable".  We must endeavor to keep from being "mastered" by things outside of God's Spirit.  His example is food..  "food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them."   Secondly, we need to know that immorality is NOT God's will for our bodies.. "Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power." We belong to the Lord.. our bodies belong to Him as well. 

The second question in this section continues this same thought.. "Do you not know that one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her?"   Every part of us has been purchased by Christ's blood.. we are His.. one with Him.  To use any parts of our bodies for sin.. is offensive and defiling to our Lord.  We have joined our selves in "one spirit with Him".  We must not allow sin to stain that which has been made pure. 

"Or, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"  The Lord has come to live in us.  Just like the Presence of the Lord filled the Temple in Solomon's day.. the Spirit of God fills us. Our bodies become a holy place.  Do we truly know this? "For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." Think of the price that Christ paid for you!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, I want to glorify you with my whole being.. body, soul, spirit, mind.. all of me.  By Your mercies, I present my body, a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You.. this is my spiritual service of worship.  I do not want to be conformed to this world, but transformed as You renew my mind so that I can know that which is good and acceptable and perfect.. according to Your will.  May You grace flow into and through my life, that I might bear the fruit of righteousness to the glory of Your Holy and Blessed Name.  This I ask, in the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 6:1-11   There are 6 times in this chapter that Paul asks the question.. "do you not know...?"   These 6 thing that we should know.. and we need to make sure we know.. are:

v2  "Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?"

v3 "Do you not know that we shall judge angels?"

v9 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?"

v15 "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?"

v16 "Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her?"

v19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and that you are not your own?" 

The first three questions are given to address the problem of lawsuits among the church members.  They were taking their disagreements outside of the church, before unbelievers, instead of solving it within the body of Christ.  Just that fact that they even had such serious disagreements was "already a defeat "  Paul says.  Instead they could allow themselves to be wronged.. or defrauded.. to not fight their brothers over these issues. That would be less shameful than taking it before unbelievers!  We do not know what the issues were, but we know that they needed to come together.. to forgive each other, to love one another, and to trust God with the solution. Not always an easy thing to do... 

Verses 9-10  clearly spell out  some of the sins that keep people from the Kingdom.. "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, not the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."  The modern church of America does not want to include this verse.. but it is here nonetheless..  Do we not know?

"And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." 

Amen and Amen!

Father in heaven, thank You for saving us from the sins that exclude us from Your Kingdom.. thank You for the salvation You have given us through Jesus Christ the Lord. Thank You for the Spirit who fills us, living in us, working to bring us into the holy life that You have called us to..  I was a sinner, but now I have been washed.  I have been sanctified.  I have been justified in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord!  Praise God! Teach me to walk in Your ways.. as a saint who will one day judge the world.. who will inherit the Kingdom of God. Help me to KNOW these things and live in these truths, for I ask it in the name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 5  The problem of arrogance had led the church in Corinth to acceptance of "immorality" within the church family.  Paul is very specific of the reported problem.. "that someone has his father's wife".   Paul says that "not.. even among the Gentiles"  would such a relationship be condoned.  This man should have been disciplined, and if not repentant, removed from the fellowship of the church.  Paul went as far as to "deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."  Does that not show us the depth.. the intensity.. the vitalness of dealing with this sinfulness?

The sinfulness of this one man.. had revealed an even bigger sinfulness.. the arrogance and boastfulness of the whole church.  This was like "leaven".. affecting the whole "lump of dough".   Sin of one "so called brother" would spread its evil leaven through the whole body of believers. 

The only solution was to "Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed." 

There is a place for judgement, Paul tells the church.. it is not to judge those "outside" the church.. but they have a responsibility for those "inside" the church.  Remember the condemnation that came upon Israel's shepherds?  They were saying "Peace, peace, but there is no peace".  They were superficial, unrepentant, and disobedient to the Word and Law of God.  By not addressing a blatant sin in the church, the leaders of the Corinthian church were doing the same thing. Paul steps in and tells them to "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." 

This is a very sensitive issue.. there have been many people hurt because of "judgement" within the church. I have seen in personally. We must have godly, wise, Spirit-filled leadership that will prayerfully and carefully deal with such issues within the church. But, they cannot ignore or avoid blatant sin and allow it to permeate the fellowship of believers in the church. We need to pray for them!

That is the problem in many American churches today, isn't it?  We have become so "politically correct" that we are afraid to call sin "sin".  So, immorality has spread its way through the "church"... more and more and more.. 

O Lord God.. come with power and cleanse us from all that "old leaven".. and make us a "new lump"!

Father in heaven, You see our hearts.. You see our motives and our thoughts.. You know our needs.. especially our need to be fully surrendered to You... and to be willing to take responsibility for our own sins.. and perhaps, if we are in the position of authority.. to take responsibility to deal with those living in sin among us.  It is a hard thing, Lord.  You know how uncomfortable that might be.. but I pray for Your Spirit to lead our pastors, elders, and other leaders to do Your will in all such things.  You have given them a Spirit.. not of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Thank You!  Move in us, through us, and among us today, Spirit of God, that the power and love and truth of Christ will fill our churches once again.  In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord we pray, Amen.

 I Corinthians 4  Paul compares himself and his fellow apostles to the church at Corinth...

 They think that they are wise.. "You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.. " They thought themselves "superior".  They were judging themselves and each other by their own standards.. and thought they were already perfect.. " prudent.. strong.. distinguished.. "

But... Paul tells them that even he does not judge himself.. "but the one who examines me is the Lord." It is what the Lord sees.. in their hearts.. that matters. "Therefore do not go on passing judgement before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God." (v5)

The church was arrogant and boastful.. in contrast, Paul describes himself and his fellow apostles as "spectacles".. "We are fools for Christ's sake.. we are weak.. we are without honor...we are both hungry and thirsty.. poorly clothed.. roughly treated.. reviled.. persecuted.. slandered.. we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now." (v9-13)

Paul wants them... and us... to see that what matters is not the outward success and prosperity.. it is not just  our "words" that proclaim that we belong to the kingdom of God..  that make it so;  it is the "power" of God.. present and at work in the church.. in the individual.. building on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.. with holiness, grace, love and faith.  Without God's power in us.. we are empty..without hope. 

Father in heaven, do not leave us in our self-deception and arrogance.. but lead us into all truth, knowing that Christ alone is our hope and our foundation.  We need the power of Your Spirit at work in us to bring us into all holiness and godliness.  Have Your way in us today, Lord, so that Your Name is exalted and Your Presence is made known. Thank You for this word.. open our eyes to see and our ears to hear.. that we might surrender all to You and rest.. not on our own wisdom.. but on Your power. We pray this in Jesus' name.. Amen. 

 I Corinthians 3   Paul explained in chapter 2 that true faith does not come from.. or rest on.. human wisdom.. it can only rest on "the power of God".  It is a spiritual.. a supernatural..  revelation.. a spiritual wisdom.. that produces spiritual thinking and spiritual words.  In this chapter he looks at the church in Corinth and sees that they are not thinking and acting like "spiritual men".. but as "men of flesh". 

They have been given the "mind of Christ".. but are living in "fleshly" thinking.. which showed up as "jealousy and strife" among them.  Their arguments over whether it was Paul or Apollos or Peter that taught them the truth, were foolish, because it is God alone who "causes the growth".   It was the Lord who "gave opportunity" for them to believe.. It is God's work that produces God's "building."

Paul says that he was able to lay a firm foundation... "according to the grace of God."  The only firm foundation is Jesus Christ. This was Paul's only message! Now, it is up to each individual to build on that foundation.. " with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.."  Whatever work we do "will become evident".  One day, Paul tells us, we each will stand before the Lord and everything will be revealed.. and only that which is not worthless, burned by the fire of judgement, will remain.  Whatever is of worth in the Lord's eyes.. that will remain.. and that will be rewarded. 

Paul goes on.. . "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (v16)  As God's temple.. we are holy.  We belong to Christ.. and in Him.. "all things belong to you."  It is not worldly wisdom, worldly wealth, or worldly thinking that will keep us holy and set apart to Him.  He has done it!  We are His.. we just have to believe it and live accordingly. We build on the foundation by the power of God.. not by our own efforts.. WE Belong to HIM!

Father in heaven, Holy and Almighty God,  You are gracious and merciful to us.. granting us this great salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He is our firm foundation. You have given us spiritual life.. the  "mind of Christ".. so that we can live according to Your Spirit and not according to the flesh.  You have given us "all thing".. every good and precious gift.. every precious promise.. so that we can build on the foundation..with holiness, in a manner worthy of our calling.  Let the work of my hands and the words of my mouth be fully established by You.. fully surrendered to You.. and always glorifying to Your Name. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord, my firm foundation...  Amen.

 I Corinthians 2  Paul reminds his readers that the message he brought to them was not a message that came from his own wisdom or power... it is a spiritual message.. a "demonstration of the Spirit and of power."   It is God's wisdom.. which is far above all human thought or understanding.  It could not be discerned by natural human thinking.. a "mystery.. hidden wisdom... which none of the rulers of this age has understood.. " 

The reason, Paul writes, is "that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."   God revealed this "hidden wisdom".. which "eye has not seen and ear has not heard.. "  He revealed them "through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." Without the Spirit of God to reveal the gift of God.. we cannot know the Truth of God.. Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

".. a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."   Spiritually.. non-physically, supernaturally, divinely understood.. impossible for any man.. but "All things are possible with God"! Hallelujah! My faith rests on the power of God!

Father, You have given us new life through Your Spirit.. life that was purchased by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is a life that is more than physical, more than what we think or do or say.. it is a spiritual life.. a supernatural life.. making us new Creatures in Christ.  You have done in us what we could never do.. this is Your "doing"!  You have called us, chosen us, changed us, completed us.. by Your Power and Wisdom.. Who is Christ Jesus our Lord.  Our faith rests on Him.. He is our firm foundation.. our Way, Truth, and Life.  We give glory to the Lord of Glory and thanksgiving to the Spirit who dwells in us who believe.. What an awesome God Your are!  Amen and amen. 

 I Corinthians 1:18-31  "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 

"Foolish" - without good sense or wisdom; silly; unwise; ridiculous; absurd; humble; worthless; (Dictionary).  The Greek word is moraino - insipid; simpleton; silly; dull; stupid; heedless.  One of the root words gives the idea of shutting your eyes; cannot see far off; 

This is what the lost, the sinner, the unbeliever, the "perishing" think about the gospel of Jesus Christ.. why would God become a man to die a horrible death on a cross.. why? 

But, to us.... "it is the power of God".  The "dunamis" - the force; the miraculous power; the abundant, mighty, wonderful work of God! 

Paul tells us why... "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever.. " This is a quote from Isaiah 29.. God is telling His people that they are doing "religion" with hearts that do not even know Him.. they had forgotten that He was the Potter and they the clay.. they weren't in charge.. He Is!

The wisdom of mankind is what is really foolish.. dull, stupid, worthless, absurd.. for it cannot save.. it cannot sanctify.. it cannot bring righteousness or redemption.  Many try to save themselves by their good works; their great success, their own power, or their many words,  but they cannot.  It leaves them desperate and despondent.. so they turn to whatever they can to bury the pain and emptiness. 

"God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe".  It did not come through wisdom or signs.. it came through the One who is the "power and the wisdom of God." God does not work according to man's ways.. but according to His own will.  He calls us to simply "believe". 

Paul tells us that God calls whom He will.. He chooses whom He wants... "by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption".  So, none can boast.. it is all of God!  God chooses the "foolish things of the world"; He chooses the "weak things"; He chooses the "things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are."  He does the impossible, the unexpected, the unnatural.. the supernatural.. because He is the Potter and we are just clay.. useless.. until He takes us in His hands and works His mighty power in us through Jesus Christ, the Lord. 

Father in heaven, thank You for choosing us.. calling us.. redeeming us through the cross  of Jesus Christ by which we are saved when we simply believe.  Amen