2012 Day 172 – 1 Corinthians 4

20 Wednesday Jun 2012

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All that I have has been given to me as a blessing from God. There is nothing I have received that I can truthfully boast about. In verse 7 it says, For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? We are to be thankful and must refrain from being boastful by all the things God has provided to us. It is tough to think along those terms because I want to brag about all I have and all I don’t, but Paul reminds us that it is all from God and we should always turn the glory back to Him.

2012 Day 171 – 1 Corinthians 3

19 Tuesday Jun 2012

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We are nothing without God. There is no question that God is the reason behind all that we are. We can claim no glory over for what we do. In verse 7 this point is made clear, So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. We must be faithful to accept and follow His leading in our lives, but He is the reason for the growth. Verse 8 goes on to talk about purpose, The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. We must remember that God created us uniquely. We must use the gifts He has given us and leverage it against the gifts He has given to others. As much as I would love to sing like and angel, I will never sound like Sarah Munsell… that would just be weird!

2012 Day 170 – 1 Corinthians 2

18 Monday Jun 2012

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I always like to tell people that if I am ever the smartest guy in the room we are all in big trouble. I am not trying to be clever, I’m just being honest about my limitations on an intellectual level. The same thing applies to my spiritual life. I will never be the smartest on in the room when it comes to understanding and being able to explain God’s Word and the spiritual importance of His message. The good news is that I don’t have to be a genius. In verse 12 it says, We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. God’s Holy Spirit helps us to understand all that we need to know. Even Paul, who was a pretty smart and well educated fellow, understood the importance of allowing God to be the message and not our own understanding. Paul expresses this in verses 4-5, 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. The important thing to me in these verses is how Paul makes sure that men’s wisdom rests solely on God’s power.

2012 Day 169 – 1 Corinthians 1

17 Sunday Jun 2012

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God has more power and more wisdom than we could ever hope to have. In verse 25 it says, For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Paul wrote this verse because he had just previously talked about how the Jews needed miracles and the Greeks needed wisdom to believe. God is not in the business of performing for us in order to prove himself to us. He is in the business of meeting us where we need Him. He is all the power and wisdom that I need and I can see that more and more each day as I build my relationship with Him.

2012 Day 168 – Acts 19

16 Saturday Jun 2012

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I know this is basic information for most Christians, but verse 4 is a key verse to our faith. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” The act of baptism is one of repentance and shows that we acknowledge our sinful nature. Baptism of the Spirit is the acceptance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and allowing Him to lead us. We are never perfect at listening and allowing ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, but there is definitely a difference in our lives after He has entered the picture. I thank God for giving me the Holy Spirit to lead me and influence my life.

2012 Day 167 – 2 Thessalonians 3

15 Friday Jun 2012

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Two verses stuck out to me in today’s reading. The first one was verse 5, May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. I love this verse because it reaffirms that I am directed into God’s love, not commanded to it. The beauty of God’s love for us is that it is not forced upon us. He wants a relationship with us, but He also wants us to chose Him. Notice that it also says that Christ has perseverance. He never gives up on us right up to the end and He never requires us to love Him back; though He anxiously waits for us. The second verse that struck me was verse 13, And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. In an attempt at transparency, let me say that sometimes I just want to be able to let loose and not worry about what is right and what is wrong. This verse reminds me that I should never tire of doing what is right. I should always look to do what is right and honoring to God, no matter what the cost.

2012 Day 166 – 2 Thessalonians 2

14 Thursday Jun 2012

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There is a quote I read last night by Mark Twain that says, “The two most important days in your life; the day you were born and the day you find out why”. It really hit me between the eyes especially since I had just read verses 13-14 in today’s reading, 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s desire is that we share in His glory because He chose us. Too often I take it for granted that God actually chose me to share in eternity with Him. There are so many times that I lose sight of the riches God has in store for me because I chose the temporary riches of this world. I know this sounds silly, but I need to remind myself daily that God deserves so much more than I give Him and yet He still loves me and blesses me. Father, remind me of my place in your heart and that my purpose is to serve you and not my selfish personal desires.

2012 Day 165 – 2 Thessalonians 1

13 Wednesday Jun 2012

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In today’s reading we see that Paul is writing a second letter of affirmation to the church in Thessalonica. They are facing persecution and Paul is encouraging them to persevere through faith. I really like the way Paul ends the chapter by telling them how much he is continually praying for them. In verses 11-12 it says, 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s prayer is not just about giving them strength to survive through their trials but that they may be called ‘worthy’ of God’s plan. Verse 12 is also powerful as Paul reminds the Thessalonians about what is important, which is for God to be glorified in them. God’s ultimate purpose is that we become like Christ. This is not something that fully happens until we see Him face to face, but it is a process that happens gradually as we build our relationships with Him and allow Him to be glorified in us.

2012 Day 164 – Psalm 125, 127, 131

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

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Psalm 127 is a great reminder to me that nothing really matters if it is not centered around God. Verse 1 says, Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Whatever I do outside of God’s protection and leading is done in vain.

2012 Day 163 – 1 Thessalonians 5

11 Monday Jun 2012

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One verse hit me between the eyes this morning. Verse 19 says, Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. I am guilty of this more times than I’d like to admit. For many reasons, but mostly because of my past upbringing and, quite frankly, it makes me uncomfortable, I have in the past dampened the Holy Spirit’s movement in my life. A great example of this is during worship in church. I grew up in a very conservative denomination and I have a very hard time raising my hands. I know this is silly, but my mind goes back to a place in my past where outward expression in church was unacceptable. Over the years I have gotten better; at least now I’m not uncomfortable when people around me are able to do it. In fact, I am now envious of people around me who are able to fully let go and let the Holy Spirit move in them… Maybe one day I’ll be able to join them.