1 Corinthians 12:22 - Weaker vs. stronger parts of the body

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

The other day I watched a movie/documentary about a group on the "Camino de Santiago" which is a pilgrimage/walk through Spain ending at the possible site of the grave of James the Apostle. The scene from this movie which is stuck in my head is when the group realizes they all have to start walking together. Up to this point, the stronger people would just walk on at their comfortable pace and leave the weaker walkers behind. When they all started walking together, they realized it made them all stronger. It was easier for the struggling walkers to keep up and a harder for the stronger walkers to slow their pace and help their weaker brothers. The work evened out. This stronger realized they needed the weaker to make this walk more meaningful.

Lord, thank you for making each of us an important part of your body. Please help us to respect others in your body work together. Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:5 - Spiritual Gifts

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

This passage is referring to spiritual gifts or talents. I am not convinced that today these talents are received miraculously as they were in the first century, but almost all of the gifts listed are talents which can be studied and learned (healing, languages, etc). People who move into these fields often have a natural ability which leads them in this direction. I think this is just as much a gift as it was in the first century and has the same purpose of the common good (v.7). So, whatever you are good at, whatever you have studied and mastered, it is a gift from the Lord. Use your gift to serve him!

Lord, thank you for giving us gifts and opportunities to serve. Please help us to use our gifts to your glory and for the common good. Amen.

1 Corinthians 11:28 -The Lord's Supper

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

What is the Lord's Supper? It is a fellowship meal, not in the "potluck" sense, but it is a common "meal", shared by brothers and sisters in Christ in his remembrance. A time to examine ourselves and realize that we are all equal at the foot of the cross. In this passage the Corinthian church apparently had it wrong. They were partaking in a "potluck" meal and calling it the Lord's Supper, and they weren't even eating all together, but were divided by social class.

Lord, thank you for having your son implement a time of communion between believers, Please help us to take it in a worthy manner. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:23 - Choices

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

We have freedom in Christ, but just because we can, doesn't mean we ought to. Sometimes we restrict ourselves from various foods or activities based on reasons of health, conscious or religion. As long as our decision to do or not do something seeks the good of others and to glorify God, we can feel comfortable with our choices.

Lord, thank you for the freedom you give us. Please help us to make choices which seek the good of others and glorify you. Amen

1 Corinthians 10:21 - Two worlds

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

Demons here refer to idols. Idols are anything we place above the Lord. We can't serve two masters or live in two worlds. We have to choose who we will serve. Which is our sovereign prince, our liege lord?

Lord, thank you for making it clear for us where our loyalty needs to lie. Please help us to place you above all other things of this world. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - The power of the Word

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

This verse is very important to me. Not only is is a powerful message, but it is one of the verses I memorized in the study which began my regular (almost daily) bible study and blog. I find it interesting that although I had learned this (and other) verses independently, coming across one of these verses in my study of a book really solidifies it's location in the bible for me.

Lord, thank you for your Word. Please help us to memorize and retain passages of scripture. Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:25 - Self-Discipline

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Last night I blew it. I had to work yesterday, so I guess I felt sorry for myself and decided to eat pizza. Normally I eat very healthy on "pizza days" to compensate. Not yesterday. I way overate. Very much "disobedient eating". I was so tired, I had planned to go to bed at 8 to get a good night's sleep to be ready for today, but after overeating like that, I was so uncomfortable, I did not get to sleep until about 1 am. Obedient eating will give me a dual crown; one of a healthy body and one that will last forever.

Lord, than you for the good food you give us to eat and make our bodies healthy. Please help me to eat obediently today. Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:19 - Using our Freedom

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

As Christians, we are free. As Americans, we are free. We have the opportunity, as Paul does in the above passage to use our freedom for the greater good.

Lord, thank you for my freedom in Christ and my civil freedom. Please help me to give up these rights as needed to secure the liberty of others. Amen.

1 Corinthians 8:9 - Freedom vs. responsibility

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

We are free in Christ. A person who has been a Christian for a long time had gained knowledge about those freedoms, but a new Christian may have not. This passage is about meat sacrificed to idols. Because there really are no other Gods, a Christian may understand that there is no harm in eating that meat, but a new Christian, especially one who was influenced by the idol or god the meat was sacrificed to, would feel like eating that meat was a sin. So, the long time Christian should not eat this meat when they are with the new Christian. I think drinking alcohol may fall into this category. Can you think of other freedoms we may need to give up for the sake of a weaker brother?

Lord, thank you for our freedoms in Christ. Please help us to limit ourselves in those freedoms if it will cause someone else to stumble, Amen,