"You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing." v. 6, from Deut. 25:4 In other words, enjoy the fruits of your labor.
On a personal note, I am extremely tired of my job. I don't mean I'm tired of working; I am physically tired of a job that demands so much from my body, my mind and spirit. So I went to work yesterday with these two scripture verses from this chapter:
"I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some..." v.22
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only on receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." v. 24
I was fully intending on facing my job with a fresh view and seeing it as a place to be a witness and practice my faith in attitude and composure. I failed worse than ever. I don't know but maybe I went to work rather than He that is in me.
Dear Jesus, give me the strength to endure. Let me find joy, again, in my job and let me learn to love my co-workers and to show grace toward them. Let me see where each might need prayer and let me intercede for them. Please give me a physical bounce in my step and face each task with new energy until such a time that You are ready to pull me from this work and move onto something else. Hear my prayer that I would like to do something more in tune with ministry.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
1 Cor. 8
I was surprised to see such a short chapter here in the middle of 1 Corinthians. Three great versus:
"Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies." v. 1b
"...yet for us 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." v. 6
"Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." v. 13
The knowledge Paul is talking about here is the knowledge of the freedom that we do not have to refrain from any kinds of foods to be saved and loved by God. The Jews were still so new to that freedom that many were still following the old laws of what foods were clean and unclean. Love for the person is more important than clinging to the freedom, so if it bothers someone to see you eat the "wrong" thing, don't eat it, for his sake.
The way I relate is more with drinking than food. So many people in the church believe it is some sort of sin to drink alcohol; if I was with one of them, I would not have my glass of wine. Funny though, alcohol - wine - was never an unclean food in the Bible. LOL
"Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies." v. 1b
"...yet for us 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." v. 6
"Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." v. 13
The knowledge Paul is talking about here is the knowledge of the freedom that we do not have to refrain from any kinds of foods to be saved and loved by God. The Jews were still so new to that freedom that many were still following the old laws of what foods were clean and unclean. Love for the person is more important than clinging to the freedom, so if it bothers someone to see you eat the "wrong" thing, don't eat it, for his sake.
The way I relate is more with drinking than food. So many people in the church believe it is some sort of sin to drink alcohol; if I was with one of them, I would not have my glass of wine. Funny though, alcohol - wine - was never an unclean food in the Bible. LOL
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
1 Cor. 7
I've had such trouble with this chapter. I don't know what to write, except to say that our world today does not exactly go along with these principles in marriage.
"The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agrement for a time of prayer..." vv. 3-5
Paul goes on to talk about the positives of remaining single and celibate and the opportunity to give completely to the Lord; because if you are married your time is divided between your spouse, your children and the Lord.
He goes on to say that being married to an unbeliever is not a reason for divorce. One Christian in a marriage brings grace that will spill over to a spouse - maybe someday resulting in their salvation.
"The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agrement for a time of prayer..." vv. 3-5
Paul goes on to talk about the positives of remaining single and celibate and the opportunity to give completely to the Lord; because if you are married your time is divided between your spouse, your children and the Lord.
He goes on to say that being married to an unbeliever is not a reason for divorce. One Christian in a marriage brings grace that will spill over to a spouse - maybe someday resulting in their salvation.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
1 Cor. 6
Two things: Lawsuits with one another and immorality.
"Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?" v. 1
Verses 1 thru 9 are essentially saying, "The most legally untrained believers, who know the Word of God and are obedient to the Spirit, are far more competent to settle disagreements between believers than the most experienced unbeliever, void of God's truth and Spirit." J. MacArthur
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 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 of our God." v. 9-11
"Sin has power, and no sin is more enslaving than sexual sin. While it can never be the unbroken pattern of a true believer's life, it can be the recurring habit that saps joy, peace, usefulness and brings divine chastening and even church disciple." J. MacArthur
The latter I well know. Praise God for His infinite mercy.
Redeemed - how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am!
"Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?" v. 1
Verses 1 thru 9 are essentially saying, "The most legally untrained believers, who know the Word of God and are obedient to the Spirit, are far more competent to settle disagreements between believers than the most experienced unbeliever, void of God's truth and Spirit." J. MacArthur
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 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 of our God." v. 9-11
"Sin has power, and no sin is more enslaving than sexual sin. While it can never be the unbroken pattern of a true believer's life, it can be the recurring habit that saps joy, peace, usefulness and brings divine chastening and even church disciple." J. MacArthur
The latter I well know. Praise God for His infinite mercy.
Redeemed - how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am!
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