I Corinthians 14-15 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 14:1-15:58.

“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (I Corinthians 15:42-44).

The congregation with which I work has been focusing on confident living in Jesus Christ. We want folks in Christ to be confident about their salvation. We are convinced that confidence in God’s love is much more likely to produce love in us that constant doubts and worries (cf. I John 4:19). We are convinced that confidence in God’s working is much more likely to produce working out our salvation than doubts about God’s presence (cf. Philippians 2:12-13).

Paul reminds me that confident living is one thing. Confident dying is another. But where is my confidence if I’m not also confident at death. We have nothing to fear regarding death. Look at these pathetic, pitiful, perishable, dishonorable, weak, natural bodies. These are going to get put in the ground. We get to shed these bodies like a molting lizard. For those of us in Christ, we have hope beyond hope (earnest expectation, not wishful thinking) of our resurrection. This pathetic body is going in the ground but we will come out of that ground again with new bodies, with spiritual, powerful, glorious, imperishable bodies.

When the time of death draws near, why would I desperately cling to this frail flesh. Let’s die confidently, as we have lived, looking forward to the glories that will be revealed to us (cf. Romans 8:18).

Today, while I’m not hastening y death, I won’t fear it either. I’m going to live confidently so I can die confidently in Jesus Christ.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking the following link: 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.

Today’s reading is Romans 5:1-6:23.

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8).

But that is the problem for me, isn’t it? I doubt whether or not I will also live with him. Since I am so wrapped up in how I act and behave and live, even though I died with Him in baptism, I am rarely convinced that I will live with Him. But Paul says I can be convinced. I died with Jesus. I surrendered my life to Him. Yes, I mess up along the way, but I’ve put myself to death and am letting Him live through me. I am going to live with Him eternally.

No, this doesn’t mean I can pursue sin and still have this confidence. But why would anyone think I’m saying that? I don’t want to sin. I came to Jesus to get rid of sin and get out of my sins. That is what He is doing for me. I have died with Him, I can have confidence that I will live with Him.

Today, I’m not going to live in doubt, wondering if I’m going to make it. I’m going to live knowing that I’m going to make it because of Jesus. Praise God!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Luke 3:1-4:44.

“And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone”‘” (Luke 4:4).

What?! I don’t just need bread? Of course, I need eggs, bacon, ham, etc. If you’re just giving me bread, I at least need some jelly. But I don’t think that is what Jesus is talking about.

Actually, I need this reminder often. Life isn’t about this life. Life is about eternity. The biggest question for me today is not what do I need to eat to survive until tomorrow. The biggest question is what is the next right thing for me to do to walk Jesus’ path to eternity. What do I need to do to survive temptation, sin, and Satan. I need to remember that my spiritual life is hanging in the balance today. Follow my own path and death awaits. Follow Jesus’ path and life, liberty, joy, and serenity will comfort me. What will I choose today?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Romans 7:1-8:39.

I hadn’t read 5 verses before I was given some direction for today. Paul said, “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4).

Why did Jesus redeem me? Why did Jesus die for me? Why did Jesus save me? Not so I could carry on with life as usual. Not so I could sit on my thumbs in His name. Not so I could go to church every week. Not so I could keep on sinning but get forgiveness with a prayer every night. Jesus did all this so I could bear fruit for God. While living in the flesh, my sinful passions worked in my members to bear fruit for death (Romans 7:5). I must not continue in that.

I have two options today, submit myself to the slavery of sin again or submit myself to slavery to God. Today, I need to bear fruit for Him, not just sit on my thumbs thinking I’m saved just so I can lounge about.

I’ll put a question to you, what can I do to bear fruit for God today?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is I Corinthians 14:1-15:58.

As I concluded today’s reading, a contrast caught my attention. I couldn’t help but think of Romans 1:16-17 as I read I Corinthians 15:56-57.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:56-57

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” — Romans 1:16-17

The law was the power of sin. This is explained even more in Romans 7:7-12. It was the law that caused sin to come alive. It is fixation on the law that caused obsession with sin and then killed us. That sin, like a deadly scorpion, stung and killed us. However, there is power in the gospel. It is the power of life. It’s healing hand produces salvation. The law was the power of sin, but the gospel is the power of God. 

I’m so glad we are under the gospel today and not under the law. Knowing the gospel today is what allows me to walk by faith, endure through hope, and overcome with love as we read yesterday.

***Question: Why are you glad to be under the gospel?

Keep the faith, and keep reading,

ELC

DEATH!

The word strikes fear in the hearts of most people. Yet, it didn’t strike fear in Paul. In Philippians 1:21, he said “to die is gain” (ESV). Why? Because death was the doorway to being with Christ for Paul (cf. Philippians 1:23). Paul has accomplished here what few seem to be able to do.

We hear so much about living by faith. We also need to learn to die by faith. No doubt, I could probably write reams and reams and reams on what it means to live and die by faith. However, Paul actually gives us the key in Philippians 1:21. He wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (ESV). He saw two options. If he died, he would have personal gain, going to be forever with Christ. If he lived, that would benefit Christ and Christ’s plan because he would have fruitful labor helping the lost be saved and the saved be strengthened.

The fact is, the only reason “to die is gain” for Paul was because “to live is Christ” for Paul. If the first half of that statement were not true, then the second half would not be. If we want our death to be gain, then we need our life to be Christ.

Therefore, we need to ask, “What is my life? Is my life about Christ?” If living is not for Christ and has no fruitful labor for Him, then dying will not be gain for us. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t live our lives totally for ourselves pursuing our own goals, following the desires of our flesh, seeking our own pleasure and entertainment and then expect death to be about Jesus. It just won’t work.

If we want our death to be gain, then our life has to be Christ. What is your life about today?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC