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This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who cannot see the video, click here.

This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who cannot see the video, click here.

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1 Corinthians 12-13 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:13.

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways” (1 Corinthians 13:11).

I’ve often read this and talked about putting away the childish thing in this passage. However, today the other side of this passage struck me. What must I embrace in order to put on manhood? Love. “The greatest of these is love.” No wonder Peter caps off the list of Christian growth in II Peter 1:5-8 with love.

That’s right. The #1 way to be a man is to love. No, not to have sex. That’s what the world says. God’s way for manhood is to love. To see people as people, not objects of lust. To know they have hopes and dreams, fears and doubts, failures and victories. Then to seek their best and help them accomplish those things. To freely sacrifice self for others, not to gain anything from them or because of a sense of obligation, but simply because their good is our goal.

That’s what Jesus did for us by growing to the cross. He was a real man. I need to follow in His glorious footsteps.

Grow up! Be a man! Love!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click the following link to add your input: Click Here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Jude (ESV) by Wordle*

1 Corinthians 1 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Jude 1-25; 1 Corinthians 1:1-31.

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 1:4).

I can hardly believe this statement. We all know that the Corinthian church is the example of weak churches. They had division, misunderstanding, immorality, weakness, confusion, questions, sin. If you want to find a church with problems, Corinth was the place to go. I’ve heard preachers rail against Corinth. I’ve heard preachers rail against churches like Corinth. And yet, Paul said, “I give thanks to my God always for you…” WOW!

I’ll tell you what I get out of this. Even as a child of God, I’m kind of messed up. I still struggle with weaknesses and sins. I have confusion, doubts, questions. Yet, this tells me that Paul would still give thanks for me. Why? Because I’m great? No, because I’m in Jesus and His grace is working on me. I’m not perfect. But I am better. And that isn’t because of me. That is because of the grace of God given me in Christ Jesus. If Paul could give thanks for me, I guess I can too.

I am so glad to be reminded of that today. If you are in Christ Jesus, I hope this is a good reminder to you as well.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.