1 Corinthians is great manual from Saint Paul. I think what invigorates me from this Book is how Paul dealt with real problems with real people.
So many of our religious concepts are based on things like paintings and murals with people adorned with halos, one hand in the air like they are exempt from any of the everyday things real people face.
I don't say this to simply "slam" religious paintings and concepts, I just can not relate with things that seem so "sanctimonious" to me....ok, I'll get off that kick.
Here in 1 Corinthians 16, Paul is laying out how to act and behave in everyday life. Earlier in 1 Corinthians Paul had encouraged the believers not to get all hung up on their favorite teachers and leaders, like Apollos or Paul himself. I don't think he was saying that because it is wrong to have favorites, rather, these "guys" were taking their "favorites" to the extreme and arguing over them...even leading to divisions among them.
Then, later in the Book Paul spells out that all their quarreling was a result of some pretty selfish and petty behavior. Paul had given them an excellent guideline on how to love one another, with 1 Corinthians 13 being some of the best writing in our Christian Church History.
And, in chapter 6 Paul had heard that these believers here in Corinth were getting all "fired up" with one another over different matters, to the point they were actually hauling each other into the local civil courts. Paul said this was entirely stupid and where is the love of Christ when acting like that?
Also, when they partook of the Lord's Supper, people were getting a "little crazy"....making sure they had enough food for themselves and others getting drunk in the process.
But you gotta' love these believers in Corinth, they were real and authentic in embracing the message of Christ Jesus. Then, nestled in all this are some pretty dynamic verses from chapter 16.
So, here is a Gleaning...from 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14
" Look, you need to be aware, stay alert, keep your eyes open and focused...to what I'm about to tell you.
It is in regard to your personal faith...the one each of you have since you gave your hearts and live to Him. Stand firm with your faith, guard it, embrace it, and let your faith have time to work things out, like attitude adjustments, a different thought on how you treat others, and letting your faith come to you by a continual thought on His Word.
Keep your convictions well-balanced...through examining how you think you should act or react to everyday life, and what God's Word says on how you are to behave. Respect one another, and respect others in regards to their relationship to God. Be courageous and strong with these sentiments as God puts a new set of values in your own hearts...both toward Him and toward one another. Act like true believers, and give Christ Jesus "all you got"...even if it seems so foreign to how you are used to acting...or reacting!
Above all, everything you do, everything you think, and everything you are...let it all be done through the One who has poured His Life out for you...and now into you! Now, you are to take His love that is inside of you and pour this kind of Christly love...into others. Trust me, it is the only way to go...and besides, it works out best for you as well.
God gets a charge out of it too when you respond this way, a "Fatherly pride"..because of your kind and righteous behavior. For then you see you really are a reflection...a reflection of Christ...a reflection of His Love...for always remember this: He has not withheld any...not any...of His love...toward you!
So many of our religious concepts are based on things like paintings and murals with people adorned with halos, one hand in the air like they are exempt from any of the everyday things real people face.
I don't say this to simply "slam" religious paintings and concepts, I just can not relate with things that seem so "sanctimonious" to me....ok, I'll get off that kick.
Here in 1 Corinthians 16, Paul is laying out how to act and behave in everyday life. Earlier in 1 Corinthians Paul had encouraged the believers not to get all hung up on their favorite teachers and leaders, like Apollos or Paul himself. I don't think he was saying that because it is wrong to have favorites, rather, these "guys" were taking their "favorites" to the extreme and arguing over them...even leading to divisions among them.
Then, later in the Book Paul spells out that all their quarreling was a result of some pretty selfish and petty behavior. Paul had given them an excellent guideline on how to love one another, with 1 Corinthians 13 being some of the best writing in our Christian Church History.
And, in chapter 6 Paul had heard that these believers here in Corinth were getting all "fired up" with one another over different matters, to the point they were actually hauling each other into the local civil courts. Paul said this was entirely stupid and where is the love of Christ when acting like that?
Also, when they partook of the Lord's Supper, people were getting a "little crazy"....making sure they had enough food for themselves and others getting drunk in the process.
But you gotta' love these believers in Corinth, they were real and authentic in embracing the message of Christ Jesus. Then, nestled in all this are some pretty dynamic verses from chapter 16.
So, here is a Gleaning...from 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14
" Look, you need to be aware, stay alert, keep your eyes open and focused...to what I'm about to tell you.
It is in regard to your personal faith...the one each of you have since you gave your hearts and live to Him. Stand firm with your faith, guard it, embrace it, and let your faith have time to work things out, like attitude adjustments, a different thought on how you treat others, and letting your faith come to you by a continual thought on His Word.
Keep your convictions well-balanced...through examining how you think you should act or react to everyday life, and what God's Word says on how you are to behave. Respect one another, and respect others in regards to their relationship to God. Be courageous and strong with these sentiments as God puts a new set of values in your own hearts...both toward Him and toward one another. Act like true believers, and give Christ Jesus "all you got"...even if it seems so foreign to how you are used to acting...or reacting!
Above all, everything you do, everything you think, and everything you are...let it all be done through the One who has poured His Life out for you...and now into you! Now, you are to take His love that is inside of you and pour this kind of Christly love...into others. Trust me, it is the only way to go...and besides, it works out best for you as well.
God gets a charge out of it too when you respond this way, a "Fatherly pride"..because of your kind and righteous behavior. For then you see you really are a reflection...a reflection of Christ...a reflection of His Love...for always remember this: He has not withheld any...not any...of His love...toward you!
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