June 26, 2017
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Corinthians 1 (ESV)
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord… Continue Reading
*If you click “Continue Reading”, you will leave this page and navigate to “bible.com” where you can read the rest of the chapter. Be sure to come back to this page to share what God has revealed to you by commenting below.
Already registered? Click here to log in.
Not registered? Click here (LHCC members only)
I’m so glad we’re beginning a new book today so I can start fresh!
In the first chapter of 1 Corinthians 1, Paul’s words bring back memories of my own salvation. I’m reminded of the way I came to *believe* intellectually (through worldly wisdom, being both Jewish and Greek in my thinking) that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, and yes, that faith in Him was required to be reconciled to God. But I experienced no transformation beyond the intellectual assent. It was as though I had taken an ancient history class, believed all that I had learned was true as far as we are able to *prove* it, could recite back what I had learned, aced all the exams, and then — nothing. That was it.
Oh, how I wanted the truth of the gospel to be MINE the way it was for Scott and for others I knew who had obviously been made new in Christ! The joy they had! The peace! The strength! The *knowing*!
But salvation does not come by the wisdom of man. The wisdom of man can get you to the threshold, but salvation is a work of God so that no one can boast!!
I remember the moment so clearly…the sermon over (no memory of it at all today), and the church singing “Just As I Am.” My head bowed, praying that God would receive me “just as I am,” and suddenly being struck to the deepest parts of my soul with the wickedness of my pride, and then seeing all my sin unveiled as my pride was stripped away and I saw the truth — my intelligence was my god, my wisdom was my god, and *I* was my god, even when I tried to *obey* God’s commandments. Because I didn’t love Him. I only wanted something (peace, joy, etc.) in return for the obedience I offered, really as currency. But no matter how “perfect” my obedience, it was nothing but an offering of filthy rags. And in that moment, tears running down my face, the Holy Spirit breathed on me and I saw myself in truth — bereft of anything good, anything wise, anything of worth before our holy GOD. And here at my side was my Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for ME, presenting me before His Father and saying, “I want this one.” So clearly. He wanted me, even though — especially because? — I saw I had nothing to give in return. And in that moment, everything changed. I was redeemed, saved, set free and born again, by the will of God, by His grace.
How grateful I am that HE called, HE chose, and HE saved — me!
NO ONE CAN BOAST BEFORE GOD.
There is so much in this first chapter! Here are the verses that spoke loudest to me: First, God is faithful–amazing to try to understand that. Verse 25:” For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Verses 28 and 29: “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not– to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”
I don’t understand the part about choosing the things that are not to nullify the things that are, but I do understand that we shouldn’t boast. Since everything comes from God, we can’t take credit for anything.
“The choosing things that are not” is just another way for Paul to express that God calls the weak (those that “are not” according to the world’s value system) to confound or confuse the strong (those that “are” according to the world’s value system, they are recognized and rewarded for following the world, so in that way they “are”). When we align ourselves with Christ, it is not our strength that shows but Christ’s but only when we set our credentials aside and accept His credentials and power and wisdom. And the less credentials we enter into Christ with, the easier letting go of them are.
Does that help?
Even though I am studying elsewhere, I am going to try to read in 1 Corinthians along with everyone else. In reading 1 Corinthians 1, it is evident that there were divisions in the Corinthian church – following different (reputable) leaders. It’s funny how we can become enamored with “men” and follow different teachers and leaders and lose sight of Christ. Or even get caught up in the minutia of defined doctrine and disregard the complexity of the Word and the simplicity of the Gospel. Our study of the Word should lead us closer and closer to what Christ accomplished by his death and resurrection, not further and further from each other.
Amen, Amy!
9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.❤️
Mind of Christ
As I read I Corinthians 1, verse 5 jumped out at me…”In Him you have been enriched in every way…Who else will say Amen to that!
Then as I read verses 10-17 I thought how grateful I am and we should be that we have not dealt with any serious divisions at Living Hope…at least that I am aware of…and I’m hoping I am seeing that accurately :). But I also thought how important it is for us to be vigilant, to keep our eyes on Christ and resolve conflict in the way that God enables us to…directly and with wisdom and love.
Then as I read verses 18-31 I thought of Ray. He both sought and reflected the wisdom of Christ and was willing to be a fool for it. He saw himself as the foolish and weak one who was chosen to confound the wise. And in his humility he let Christ’s life and wisdom shine!