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 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 6:7 - Right vs. rights

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

In this passage, the Corinthian church had been having disagreements to the point of lawsuits amongst believers. Paul tells them to have their arguments settled within the church. But even better would be to not have the disagreements. It is better to live in harmony and simply not cheat or do wrong. And on the occasions when we are wronged or cheated, it is better to be "unoffendable" and not demand our rights.

Lord, thank you for this gift of wisdom from your word. Please help us to live "unoffendable," peaceful lives. Amen.

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 - Tolerance

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

In this passage, Paul is telling the Corinthian church not to associate with someone who claims to be a brother or sister in Christ, but does not attempt to live like a Christian. In verse 12 Paul says, "What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church."

Lord, please help us to be tolerant of those outside the church, showing only love and kindness, not judgement. Amen.

Matthew 4:21-22 - James...really

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Ok, I really need to study these guys (James and Andrew) because I got them confused yesterday and listed a verse which spoke of Andrew not James. And, he is John's brother (John the apostle, not to be confused with John the baptist). So...we have two sets of brothers: Peter and Andrew then James and John. Duhhh. That is how they were called and how the song goes. This shouldn't be tough.

Lord, thank you for your word. Please make it clear to me. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 - Family interactions

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

As we go about our lives as Christians interacting with other members of our Christian family...remember these things.

Lord, thank you for giving us a family of believers. Please help us to care for each other. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2:9-10 - The family of believers Part 2

Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

Paul continues to talk about sharing the gospel with the people of Thessalonica. He now compares the relationship to that of brothers and sisters. When we share Christ, we need to aim to be holy, righteous and blameless while not being a burden.

Lord, thank you for teaching us how to share the gospel. Please help us to be a blessing as a sibling to those we are reaching. Amen.

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