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!