1st Corinthians 4:8-21
Today’s scripture passage, while lengthy, reflects the very special relationship that existed between the Apostle Paul and the Church at Corinth. He could get real with them. Is this the relationship you have with your spiritual leader. Can he say to you what needs to be said without you walking away in a huff? Can he promise to discipline you without you having the question in your mind, “Who do you think you are?”
Click on the link and read about Paul’s relationship with the believers at Corinth. Then access for yourself the relationship you have with your pastor.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Nothing to Boast About
1 Corinthians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation)
6 Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. 7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
Thank you Father God for all the gifts you give us. The spiritual gifts all come from you … we have nothing to boast about.
Our salvation comes from you … the gift of your Son Jesus Christ. We have nothing to boast about.
6 Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. 7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
Thank you Father God for all the gifts you give us. The spiritual gifts all come from you … we have nothing to boast about.
Our salvation comes from you … the gift of your Son Jesus Christ. We have nothing to boast about.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Not Even My Own
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (New Living Translation)
1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
The judgment of others only counts in this life. Even my own evaluations of myself are limited to my today and now. Only what the Lord will say will count for eternity.
So live today as if the Lord is watching and is doing the evaluation. He is!
1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
The judgment of others only counts in this life. Even my own evaluations of myself are limited to my today and now. Only what the Lord will say will count for eternity.
So live today as if the Lord is watching and is doing the evaluation. He is!
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Keep Me Humble
1 Corinthians 3:21-23
New Living Translation
21 So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—22 whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
The Message
21-23I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.
Amplified Bible
21So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future--all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
I was challenged by this morning’s passage. It took more than even these translations that I posted. In the end, the message is very simple.
It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s all about Christ. When you are in Christ, you have everything you will ever need.
New Living Translation
21 So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—22 whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
The Message
21-23I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.
Amplified Bible
21So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future--all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
I was challenged by this morning’s passage. It took more than even these translations that I posted. In the end, the message is very simple.
It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s all about Christ. When you are in Christ, you have everything you will ever need.
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