BibleTrekToday.com

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  • Undivided devotion to the Lord

    Scripture reading for July 15: 1 Corinthians 7

    “I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

    Life has lots of issues that call for our attention and cause us to worry. Married life complicates each person’s life because we must continually be seeking the other person’s well being and good. We may be devoted to the Lord, but now in devotion to the Lord we must also give attention to our spouse and their needs and any children that may come. Paul was offering advice but not necessarily strict rules of conduct. He was seeking their highest good and calling. He himself was married and could speak from experience.

    What God wants for each person is their highest good. Each person has a calling and gift to either marry or stay single. Paul noted that those who were single could give greater attention to how to please the Lord. Their attention was not divided with care of a spouse. He also was promoting God’s order in the church and world. Faithfulness to marriage was also a calling and blessing. Singleness was not a curse, but an opportunity to fully commit to pleasing God and doing His will. In whatever state of life relationship, we should seek to please God and put Him first.

    Have you ever struggled to keep the Lord first as a person with a spouse and family? Do you feel that our culture and even the church looks down on those who live singly? Does this passage help you understand God’s view of your life, either as a single or married?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for this insight on marriage and singleness. Help me to live with grace as a married person, pleasing my spouse and our Lord. I want to live with Your divine order and blessing on my life and to fulfil Your calling on my life. I also applaud those who choose to remain single. Amen.

  • A deceptive world view!

    Scripture reading for July 14: 1 Corinthians 6

    Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, not thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, your were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

    Many people, even in the church, have bought into the idea of universal salvation. They posit that God is a God of love and mercy and He wants no one to be lost. They love the idea of grace as they see it. To them, God’s love causes Him to overlook sins like idolatry and sexual immorality and drunkenness. They profess to believe that Jesus paid the debt for all sin, and a one-time confession is your ticket to eternal life in God’s kingdom. It was no different in Paul’s day and he wrote to the church to enlarge their world view with the truth of Scripture.

    Paul taught them that no unrighteous person would inherit the kingdom. He went on to define ‘unrighteousness’ as sexual immorality of all sorts, greed, drunkenness, thieves and swindlers, and the like. He emphasized that all people were involved in these sins of law-breaking and unrighteousness. The only way anyone could be freed from these sins was through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and the washing of His blood that brought justification. The Holy Spirit brings the conviction of sin and our need of righteousness and the coming judgment. That same Spirit indwells believers and leads them in the ongoing process of sanctification. We respond in humility and faith and are given the gift of righteousness in Jesus our Lord.

    Have you ever held the world view of universal salvation? How do you presently view those in our culture involved in gross immorality, drunkenness or greed? How do you think that Jesus might direct you to reach out to those who are under deception and a sinful world view?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You that You do want all people to be saved and come to the truth in Jesus Christ our Lord. Reveal any deception in my life today and draw me to repentance and faith. Use me to illustrate righteous living for those in darkness deception. May none be lost but all repent. Amen.

  • Righteous judgment

    Scripture reading for July 11th: 1 Corinthians 5

    “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the Name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5

    Following Paul’s instructions not to judge church members for their ministry and faithfulness, (1 Corinthians 4:5) Paul gives instruction to those leading the Corinthian church concerning a church member involved in gross sexual sin. This person, if allowed to continue in the church, would cause harm to the church and the cause of the Gospel. The person, if not dealt with, would become comfortable living in sin and could lose his salvation through blasphemy of the Spirit. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for being arrogant instead of mourning over this person and seeking repentance and a return to godly truth.

    Paul, who had planted this church, told them what he would do if present. He would have ascertained the truth about the charge that this man was living with his father’s wife and confronted him. (Matthew 18:15-20) If true and he would not repent, he would have put the man out of the church. In doing so, this would deliver him over to Satan. In Satan’s realm, destruction of his flesh would result. The prayer of the mourning church for this man was that in the end, he would be saved before the final ‘Day of the Lord’ when Jesus would judge all by truth. This was Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ teaching on dealing with sin or offense.

    Do you think there is a tolerance for gross immorality in our culture today? Are these principles of dealing with sexual sin being applied in the church? How does this teaching change your world view concerning dealing with sexual sin in your life and the church?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking clearly concerning the responsibility of church leadership to confront gross sexual sins. Help Your church today to apply these principles and not compromise with our culture. Give us hearts that mourn over sins and desire all to be saved and included Christ’s kingdom. Amen.

  • Judging faithfulness

    Scripture reading for July 10: 1 Corinthians 4

    “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord Who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

    Judging our effectiveness and faithfulness to Christ is not possible with our natural senses or abilities. In this passage, Paul instructed the church at Corinth as to how they should view him and his team of evangelists and church planters. They were merely servants of Christ Jesus. They had been entrusted with the mysteries of God and the truths of the Gospel so that they might share them as God enabled them and opened hearts to receive. Sometimes these servants were dragged before courts and charged with sedition against Rome or Jewish religious laws. Paul stated that this was a small thing in comparison to standing before Christ one day.

    Paul did not even judge himself! Even though he was not aware of any besetting sin, that did not mean he was guiltless. Only God knows the true condition of our heart. When the Lord Jesus comes again, He alone can bring righteous judgment. The Lord will reward each person for their faithfulness, which is the basis of great stewardship.

    Have others in the church judged you for your lack of faithfulness and stewardship? Have you judged yourself as either unworthy or doing a good job? Are you ready to stand before Jesus Who will judge all justly and impartially, exposing hidden motives of the heart?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for this word reminding me of my role as a servant and a steward of the Good News of Jesus Christ. I so want to be found faithful in going to those You send me to and in proclaiming Your Gospel. Help me to never judge others, but to rely on Your grace for myself. Amen.

  • Infants in Christ

    Scripture reading for July 9: 1 Corinthians 3

    “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. And even now you ae not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:1-6

    For teaching purposes, Paul divided up people into three groups. First, there were those who were worldly or carnal people. These people were in darkness spiritually and lived by their carnal nature and appetites and senses. Next there were the ‘infants in Christ’ who had received salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. They became believers but still lived by their senses and the appetites of their flesh. They would be considered ‘carnal’ Christians, saved but still in the baby state. The third group were the spiritually mature believers. They had learned God’s Word and through the Holy Spirit had received understanding of all that was theirs in Christ Jesus. They walked in faith and love.

    The Corinthian believers had come to Christ, but still held on to their fleshly ways. They began to boast about following certain leaders, some following Paul and some Apollos. This caused jealousy and strife among the believers. Paul wrote this letter to instruct them in the basics of growing up to maturity. Although there were different leaders, each one was given by God to aid the church in their spiritual development. God was the only One worthy of worship and following. We learn from this letter that spiritual development takes time and is often a process of trial and error and correcting course. This is very similar to training a child to become a responsible adult.

    Have you ever fallen into the trap of exalting a leader and focusing on that leader above Christ? How does this passage enlarge your spiritual understanding and growth concerning leaders? If you were to evaluate your own spiritual growth and development, in what stage of growth would you place yourself?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing spiritually mature leaders who brought correction and discipline into my life. Thank you for those who provided examples that were not so good that I might grow up. May I provide a good example and sound doctrine lived out for younger disciples. Amen.

  • Spiritual revelation

    Scripture reading for July 8: 1 Corinthians 2

    “But as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him”–these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-13

    The kingdom of God is revealed to man by grace through faith. God’s Word is ‘God breathed’ by the Holy Spirit into our souls and brings revelation of reality that we can not see with our physical eyes or hear with our physical ears, or even imagine in our hearts through our minds. Just as man’s spirit knows man’s thoughts, so God’s Spirit knows God’s thoughts. Carnal man cannot know or comprehend God’s thoughts through his natural mind and senses. But God reveals Himself to those who are humble and teachable. To those who confess their sin and need of grace, God gives the grace of His Holy Spirit.

    The Holy Spirit is the Father’s Gift to those who receive His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we can know the fullness of the things God has given to those who love Him. Through the Spirit, we can know that we are children of God. (Romans 8:15-16) Through the Spirit of God, we are convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8) Through the Spirit, we are guided into all Truth and told things to come. (John 16:13) These are but a few of the many unseen and unknown benefits God has for those who love Him. Paul told the believers that he was imparting these truths to them through the Holy Spirit and that they would interpret them by the Spirit, being now spiritual through His indwelling.

    Have you ever tried to imagine what heaven will be like and what God’s throne might look like? Have you tried to grasp your significance when you view the vast cosmos with many stars? Have you invited the Holy Spirit to reveal what your eyes cannot see or ears hear or mind imagine?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for the amazing Gift of Your Holy Spirit in me. Thank You for all the many benefits that are mine in Jesus Christ. I invite You to continually expand my world view to behold those things beyond my sight, hearing, and imagination. May my vision cause worship and obedience. Amen.

  • Wise for salvation

    Scripture reading for July 7: 1 Corinthians 1

    “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”“ (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

    Paul had founded the church in Corinth and preached there for about a year and a half. He and his ministry team along with Pricilla and Aquila saw great numbers of Gentiles come to the Lord in this pagan city, known for its idolatry and sensuality. Consequently, this church experienced many problems that Paul would address in this letter. He began by reminding them of their original place in that culture. Not many were among those considered wise and powerful. Many were counted as nothing and possibly were slaves. Others may have been sickly or invalids, considered as the weakest of that culture. The world view prevalent in that culture valued wisdom, strength, and powerful positions and titles. It was very similar to this day and our culture.

    But Paul reminded them that God specialized in choosing the weak and powerless and marginalized and giving them a place in His eternal kingdom. In fact, in Christ Jesus, they had received wisdom from God as their Father. He had declared them righteous before Him and set them apart as those marked to rule in His eternal kingdom. They may have had nothing to boast about in the culture of the world they lived in, but in God’s kingdom they could boast that they now knew the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who created all things. In fact, they were now adopted into His forever family! This knowledge unlocked wisdom for salvation and eternal riches beyond all earthly gold and silver or power and position.

    As you consider you own life and how you are perceived in this culture, are you among the wise, those considered ‘valuable’, or the powerful? If you could boast about anything you have or have accomplished, what would it be? Do you have the wisdom offered through Jesus Christ for eternal life?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for the wisdom found in Your Son Jesus Christ. My world view has been expanded and my place in Your kingdom has been revealed. I give myself to You to be used to further Your eternal kingdom and purposes. My boast is in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! Amen!

  • Guard your heart!

    Scripture reading for July 4: Romans 16

    “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Romans 16:17-20

    As Paul closes his letter to the believers in Rome naming many of them personally. He appeals to them as a brother in Christ, assuring them God knows their names. Watchfulness is encouraged because of those in the church that work against the Lord Jesus to cause divisions and create obstacles. Paul’s teaching of sound doctrine and the whole counsel of God would help them identify such threats to their unity and avoid them. They must recognize that there is a spiritual war going on and Satan, their enemy, wants to steal their unity and peace. Those opposing them disguise themselves with ‘smooth talk’ and ‘flattery’ to gain control. Believers keep their focus on the Lord and obey the Word of God taught to them.

    Paul encourages them that the “God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” This statement helps us understand that deliverance from the spiritual battle requires a long obedience and daily walk of faith. This means that they become wise to what is good and stay innocent of evil. God is with them and for them, but they must do the walking out of His Word, trusting Him to defend them and give them victory. It is by faith through grace that we will stand after the battle is over. Paul rejoiced over them even now for their obedient faith. God rejoices with them and us!

    Does your current world view help you understand the spiritual war that is happening each day? Are you gathering with other believers to encourage each other in the need for perseverance? Have you experienced or noticed those in the Body of Christ that cause divisions or deception through flattery?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for spiritual leaders like Paul who love the Church and appeal to believers to encourage them. Give me discernment each day concerning Satan’s attacks and those used by him to cause division and distort Truth. Use me to encourage other believers to press on to victory. Amen.

  • The Gospel Mission

    Scripture reading for July 3: Romans 15

    “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience–by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God–so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the Gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the Gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of Him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”” Romans 15:17-21

    Paul was chosen by God to be an apostle, one set apart for a mission. Paul’s mission was given to him by Jesus Christ directly, to reach Gentiles in places where no one else had gone. The means of this mission was supernatural power through the Holy Spirit. Paul preached the ‘whole Gospel of Christ’ by teaching God’s Word, preaching the Gospel, and being led by the Holy Spirit in signs and wonders. Satan’s grip on people was being broken and through the Gospel souls were saved from destruction and glory was brought to Jesus Christ.

    Paul did not want to take credit for anyone else’s labor. He had an urgency from Jesus through the Holy Spirit to go where the Gospel had never been preached. He had God’s heart for the lost there who had never heard of Jesus and did not understand even that they were lost. His world view was shaped by Jesus’ calling and the Holy Spirit’s leading in his life. God was leading him and working with Him through the Holy Spirit to reap a harvest in the dark areas of the earth. Treasures of darkness brought glory to God.

    Have you ever experienced God calling you to follow Him and reach the lost? How does your view of the world and God’s desire to reach everyone affect your daily activities? Do you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to use you in preaching, signs and wonders, and reaching lost people?

    Prayer: Father God, help me to have vision that gives me motivation and faith to fulfill the mission You have given all believers to go into the world with the Gospel. Teach me how to listen to the Holy Spirit and reach people who have never heard before. May all glory go to You now and forever! Amen.

  • Walking in love not judgment

    Scripture reading for July 2: Romans 14

    “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” Romans 14:13-19

    Paul was addressing those in the church that liked religious rules and traditions. Some believers in Jesus had come out of Judaism and still observed dietary laws. They judged Gentiles who were believers and ate anything. Others kept certain feast days in honor of God and judged those who did not. These outward traditions really did not affect their ability to follow Jesus in themselves. The bigger problem was the strife that this generated within Christ’s Body. Paul taught them not to pass judgment on one another, but to trust that God would straighten it all out on Judgment Day.

    The key verse is, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Life in the kingdom doesn’t consist of rules or outward observances but rather is a matter of our heart. The King, Jesus, has given us His righteousness and now we all enjoy by grace a right standing in God’s family. Through the blood of Jesus, we have peace with God and are to have peace with our fellow believer. The kingdom is marked by the joy of the redeemed who have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and all His gifts and fruit. Because we are all on level ground at the foot of Jesus’ cross, we pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding of each other.

    Have you ever experienced a judgmental attitude from someone in the church concerning your diet, make-up, or celebration of holidays honoring Christ? How did you respond towards that person? In light of Jesus’ instructions through Paul, how can you keep peace and mutually build up others?

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Gift of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s righteousness. Through the Spirit, remind me daily how to walk in love with other believers that may not live in complete freedom in manner of foods or drinks or outward appearance. Use me to keep peace and build up others. Amen.