The Cross

1 Corinthians 15: 3-8  -   For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

The death…burial…and resurrection of Christ….it is the hinge point of our faith.  Paul …in one of his most eloquent moments ….writes this short…but very powerful summary of the reason Easter is so important to any one who considers themselves a Christian. These few verses give us hope beyond hope…Christ is alive…sitting at the right hand of the father….and celebrating his victory over death…so that you and I can join him one day.

I too was abnormally born….I was born into sin…and walked lost for 14 years.  Thanks be to God that others who believed…my parents…family…church….friends…they all taught me about this great man Jesus…and the hope he gave each one of us through his sacrifice of love on the cross. Thanks be to God that he touched my heart when I was 14 and allowed me to ask him to become one of his children. 

I stopped and read part of this chapter more than once…something about the words in verse 31….they put my brain in a reflective moment….Paul said, “ I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We really have no clue just what Jesus’ death felt like….even if we imagine our worst earthy pain…it could never compare to the agony Christ suffered for us on that cross.  I do need to die to my sin each and every day…to ask God to wash me clean each morning from the sins of the day before…so I can be his humble servant…so that he could heal me of my abnormal birth.

It made me think also of the message from our Good Friday service yesterday.  Tears came to my eyes…almost to the point of physical sobs…as a watched a graphic video of the torture…the physical pain he endured.  As he fell from the weight of that heavy cross…all my sin came to mind.  All my sin…added to all the sins of every other person alive on the day of his death…and the sins of every one to ever be born ….all that sin made the cross very heavy….and Christ was already physically spent. Yet…he kept walking toward his death…and allowed his pain to become the greatest gift to mankind ever known. 

I not only need to die every day to my sins…I need to take up that cross of Jesus myself. Luke recorded these directions…the very words of Jesus… in Luke 9:23,  “Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” This Easter celebration is not just a time of remembrance….it is a call to service.  Even if we have taken up that cross …we tend to put it back down when it becomes heavy.  We need to ask God to strengthen us…to make our cross heavier…so that we can walk with that cross in front of the lost and confused of this world.  So that we can keep that cross on our shoulders… and not put it down again.  So that we can be his vessels to spread the great story of his love for us. …his servants….putting others even before ourselves.

Father…I thank you for Jesus…and I thank you that your love was so great that you allowed him to come to Earth… to teach us how to live humble…even sacrificial lives.  Help me this Easter to really internalize the love you gave me through your son’s death.  Help me to live a more loving…sacrificial life for others.  Give me the tools I need to carry your cross to others….to never throw it off my shoulders again…but embrace its pain and suffering…to allow your love to build me into a vessel of your service.  Help me to die today and every day to myself…to my selfish human nature…and allow you to fill me new each day with your healing love and mercy. Amen.

Prophecy

1 Corinthians 14: 1-3 -  Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.  For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.   

When I thought of prophecy…..I always thought of the people in the New Testament…the ones who delivered the words of God…like Jeremiah...or Elisha.  These mighty men received the very words of God in visions and dreams….then delivered his message to the people.  It was a hard job….cause most did not listen…they kept on doing the wrong things.  But Paul is saying hear that we can all seek to have the gift of prophecy….to ask God to reveal to us the scriptures…then simply explain them to others!

People were abusing the use of tongues…they were speaking in tongues without anyone interpreting the language….the utterances were only understood by God…not by the people in the church who needed to be taught the scripture.  Paul wasn’t saying that tongues were wrong…never to be used…he was just making the point that it was not teaching the new Christians anything about the scriptures.  He was encouraging the new Church to spend more time in the service explaining the scripture….strengthening their souls with the words and wisdom of God….encouraging each other with bible verses….comforting those who had specific needs with specific words that would speak to their soul….to their pain.

Paul wanted us all to be able to speak in tongues…he knew the value of entering into the presence of God...and speaking with him alone in an unknown language.  But Paul is saying for us all to pray for the gift of prophecy…to be able to hear God speak to us his wisdom from the bible….so we can explain it to others.  We might encounter an Ethiopian one day…riding in a chariot…and God might need us to go explain the scripture they are reading to them…so they can believe…and be baptized …..like Phillip in Acts 8:26-29. 

Paul doesn’t mention it here…but it should go without saying that we should pick up those bibles and study more.  I for one am so very thankful that I started reading the bible again…I have several…that sat dormant for years.  If I did pick one of them up…it was usually just carried to church…to read along with the pastor.  I understood very little of what I read…applied very little to what I did day by day. The journey I started over a year ago…to read the bible with purpose….to ask God every night to open its meaning…to send me some Phillip’s to explain things that just were to confusing for me to get….well…it is beginning to change my very soul.

Paul is saying that WE SHOULD ALL REQUEST THE GIFT OF PROPHECY… that we should all ask God to use us to build up the body of Christ….and speak comfort and wisdom to anyone he sends us to. Oh that I could be a prophet one day….to be one that Paul speaks of later in verse 25…that causes more people to believe and worship God,….. “and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

Father…thank you…thank you …thank you for your precious servant Paul.  Thank you for this reminder that your word must be shared with others…and that we must study ourselves to understand how to use it to encourage others.  Help me this morning to really grasp the meaning of all that you have me read….to be thirsty for your wisdom….to ask you to bless me with the gift of prophecy….and be able to use it to teach and edify all that you send me to explain it to.  Forgive father for all those years I did not listen to Paul’s wisdom…and I did not study…did not try to learn all that I could. But thank you again for your grace and forgiveness….that allows me even now…to put my mistakes in the past…and accept the gift of your death on the cross for my sins.   Wash me new in that precious blood again this morning…and give me strength to keep learning and growing in your love and wisdom. Amen.

Love

1 Corinthians 13: 11- 13  -  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Paul is so right…it is definitely time for me to become a mature Christian…to put childish thoughts and actions away…to really grasp the meaning of the love Jesus showed us through his death and resurrection.  I have lived most of my 53 years more concerned about whether I was being loved …than whether I WAS SHOWING LOVE.  Paul describes love as an action….a decision of the will...it is not just a passing emotion.  Our love is to be unconditional…like God’s love toward us.

He describes this love in great detail…calling us to have patience, be kind, to be content with what God gives us…whatever that may be at any given time.  Paul says that true love is built on humility, graciousness, and sacrifice….giving to others more than we require for ourselves.  And if that is not enough…he goes on to tell us that love requires self control…a sense of calm…a peace …which can only come from trusting the father to do all things for us and through us.  The love God wants to plant in each of us is hopeful…perseverant and eternal…looking always to the source of power we were all given through Jesus.

My faith is to be built on the trust that God will be there to see me through anything he allows me to experience.  He alone can give me hope…help me to not just want his great love…but cherish it ….desire more of it….to anticipate how wonderful he can make my life.  He can give me a profoundly tender….passionately tender affection….that arises from the personal relationship I build with God.  Wow! Paul is a good salesman….what have I been waiting for! 

Father…I thank you for this amazing description of what I should be striving for.  Forgive me for reading this passage so many times and not quite understanding the depth of love you call me to.  Forgive me Lord for walking through 53 years of life and thinking that I ever deserved this kind of love myself…but thanking you fresh this morning for giving me this kind of love anyway.  You are an amazing God and I ask you to help me desire…to really cherish you…every moment.  Help me begin to show this kind of love to others. ..really show your love to all…unconditionally.   Help me to be content with where you have placed me…and trust that you have a plan and a purpose for what you are asking of me now. Amen.

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12: 4-11   -  There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Sorry if you think the scripture reference is too long this morning….I just couldn’t leave any of Paul’s amazing explanation of the spiritual gifts out.  God gives all of us at least one of these gifts…in order for us to more effectively share the gospel with the lost and sinning world.  Some of you may be wise beyond your years…or simply be able to retain the knowledge of the bible more easily than others.  To some of us he grants an ability to believe and have amazing faith in his power and grace.  Others have the gift of actually placing their hands on a person…or through prayer …they can speak healing or do other miracles with his power.  Some have the amazing gift of prophecy…they actually are given a look into our futures….and can discern the spirit within each of us.  Paul also speaks of the amazing ability of speaking in different tongues….and interpreting the message God gives through these strange mutterings.

It is these gifts he gives…this embodiment of the spirit within us that makes his presences real to our lives.  He gives them to each of us to build his church…to win the lost...to catch the runaway Christian and place them back in a right walk with him. We are to use them to keep our faith…our churches healthy.  None of these gifts are more important than the others…they are all meant to work together ….not to build up the person…but to glorify God and show his amazing power in our transformed lives….so that more people will believe.  Only God knows which of these gifts he will develop in us…we just need to use them …when he reveals them to us.

Father…thank you for the Holy Spirit.  I thank you for its presence in my life and the strength it gives me to love and share the gospel through my writings.  I thank you for the gift of faith…and the way you are developing an ability to read and understand your awesome bible.  I pray this morning that you continue to show me how I can maximize your gift …and use it to work…to be your vessel…and help lead more people to believe in you….to help others examine their Christian walk and begin to draw themselves closer to you and your purpose for their lives. Help me to never forget the high price you paid to allow the spirit to give me these gifts…it really wasn’t free to you…it cost you your son. Amen.

The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:26-29  -  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.     A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

The Lord’s Supper…the 12 disciples and Jesus gathered in the upper room…they partook of a the traditional Passover meal…and then Jesus tried to tell them one more time about his death on the cross. Jesus explained how his body would be broken and his blood would be poured out for all mankind.  This was not just any meal…this Passover meal ended with a special call for us all to remember the sacrifice of Jesus…how he paid the price for all our sin.

The early church came together more often than at Passover time to eat a meal and then partake of the bread and wine that served as a remembrance of Christ.  But their meetings had lost the true purpose of the meal…they had become divided…rich feasting on the blessings they had been afforded…and the poor being left to their own poverty.  It had become an empty ritual…a means to fellowship and party….for some…a way to gloat.

The church today still partakes of this holy ritual.  Some churches have even made it a part of every service.  Whenever you are honored to be a part of this wonderful way to  remember what Jesus did for us….how he paid the full price for all our sins….we should really think about what it means.   Paul is warning us here to take this simple meal seriously…to examine our heart and life before we eat that piece of bread or drink that cup of juice or wine.  As always…God has perfect timing for me….what better review  for my soul...as we approach the remembrance of our dear Jesus’ death on the cross this Sunday.  Our church will do a special communion service Sunday night. 

Father...help me to examine my heart for any thing that you are not pleased with.  Help me to really examine and ask you to expose any sin that I  still harbor ….any thing that holds me back from loving you as deeply as you intended.  I thank you for allowing your son’s body to be broken for me….a worthless sinner.  I thank you for shedding his  precious perfect blood…and letting him pay the full price for my sin.  I thank you even more for conquering death in his resurrection….and rising to give us all eternal life through your son.  This Sunday...and for that matter ….every day that you allow me life…let me remember the high price of love for your son. Amen.

Sacrifice

1 Corinthians 10: 23 -24 - "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

There it is again…Paul just used this statement in chapter 6…it must be VERY important if he deemed it worth repeating.  In chapter 6, he is using it to help us understand how easy it is to be mastered by the ‘things’ of this world…to guard against letting worldly lusts and coveting material possessions …to not let it become what drives our lives.  But Paul takes it a step deeper here…we should really consider others needs before our own! If we back up a chapter …he begins to talk about this concept in 1 Corinthians 9:19, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”

Self sacrifice….wow…hard advice to follow.  I remember sacrificing for my kids…I may have sacrificed a few things for my husband…but Paul is telling me to sacrifice what I want and think of strangers….to do what always builds others up…not always what I have the right to do.  People watch us you know…some even know us…and they might be lost.  They hear us proclaim our love to the Lord…and they watch us …to see if our talk matches our walk.

I sure fail this test of Paul’s.  I am one of the worst whiners …I can muster up a complaint faster than McDonalds can get you through the drive though window…when I think it is unfair….to me.  I knew deep down whining wasn’t a good practice…very few times do we really need to speak out against a injustice….God knows and judges….it is not really my job!  And I really need to quit trying to find ‘legal’ ways to break the rules…I would be a much better witness for my Lord if I just followed the rule….sacrificing what I want to be obedient.

Father…help me today to try and get this…to learn to sacrifice what I want…and to always do the right thing…because a lost person might be watching me.  Forgive me once again for being so selfish….and thank you that you keep reminding me that it is not about me…but about showing people your love.  Wash me fresh this morning with your love and grace and hold my hand.   Speak to me really loud today when I get the urge to whine…help me accept the things I need to do with the grace you show me….and be a model of your great patience and love for all people.  Amen.

One Amazing God

1 Corinthians 8: 5-6  -   For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"),  yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Paul lived in a world where there were many Gods.  He was preaching a foreign concept to a people who had prayed to one God for love…another one for wealth…another one for children.  I for one …am very thankful that Paul set us straight on this one.  I don’t multi-task very well…and can’t possibly see how I would have pleased any one of these creatures created to receive the credit for what our great amazing God does simply because he loves us.

This must have been an important concept to teach…there are 28 total verses in the bible that tell us that there is but one God….Jehovah….Yahweh ….and he is the one from whom all things are given.  The first one is in Deuteronomy 4:35…Moses pens, “You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.”  The last mention of this concept is in James 2:19. Many believe that the half-brother of Jesus penned these words, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.” 

Father…I thank you this morning that you are God…that there is no other one I have to learn about or pray to.  I thank you for sending your son to die for me…and I thank you for sending your spirit to guide me day by day.  Help me to remember always that everything I have …good…or bad….is from you.  Help me to live through you to the fullest each moment you allow me life.  Amen.