Tag: tested by fire
The Day of Judgment tests our works
Scripture reading for August 29th: Isaiah 23-25, 1st Corinthians 3
1st Corinthians 3: 10-15 “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw–each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through the fire.”
Paul explained the life of following Jesus Christ like building a house. Jesus Christ was the cornerstone of any true building for God. Each person who built upon that foundation would use various types of building materials to finish the structure. Some would use the gold of faith or the silver and precious stones of works of righteousness. Others would use materials that would not pass through the fire of judgment. Wood, hay or straw were self-centered works or life-styles that would be burned up. As long as Jesus Christ remained the foundation, all would be saved but some would loose their reward.
1st Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.”
Prayer: Father God, I have placed Jesus Christ as my cornerstone at Your Word. As I have gone through this life, I have sought to live by faith and apply Your Word to all situations. Forgive me for the times I have failed and used inferior building materials. Help me to remember that all believers are Your earthly ‘Temple’. May I always build up Your church and never destroy it by my actions or attitudes.
Isaiah 24:1,3 “Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate, and He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. . . . The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the Lord has spoken this Word.”
The Church’s One Foundation!
Scripture reading for July 09: 1st Corinthians 3
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. Your are still worldly. for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?” (1st Corinthians 3:1-3)
Paul called out this church for their lack of spiritual maturity, accusing them of being infants. It is alright to be an infant when you are first born, but the normal way of life is for babies to grow up! Babies need milk because they cannot yet eat and digest solid food. Paul suggested that these Corinthians were in the same infant state.
The reason Paul said this was because of their quarreling and jealousy towards each other. These believers were following different spiritual leaders and boasting about those who taught them. They were in competition with each other. Paul explained that spiritual leaders were only servants of the Lord, picked by Him for their task. This did not make them people to be followed and exalted! “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building!” (1st Corinthians 3:9)
Taking the building analogy, Paul explained that by God’s grace, he laid a spiritual foundation for the Corinthians by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He acted as an expert builder, but now others were building on his foundation. “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1st Corinthians 3:10-11) The only foundation for a strong spiritual building is Jesus Christ! When Jesus Christ returns, the Day of His coming will test the quality of each man’s work! Is your spiritual house resting on Christ alone?