From: August 4, 2024
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV).
Perhaps more than any other epistle, Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was corrective. He had heard that there were divisions among them based on who had baptized them, claiming superiority by some fleshly view of spiritual lineage. But Paul would have none of it. He reminded them that it wasn’t who baptized them that mattered, nor was it important that the preacher who had led them to Christ was the most eloquent. What mattered was the simple yet powerful message of the cross of Christ.
The Corinthians were lovers of Greek culture and rhetoric. They seemed more enamored with the quality of the preaching, than with the power of the message. Paul made the point that it was the simplicity of the gospel that was key to its power.
The point of preaching the gospel isn’t to make the preacher famous, but to make Jesus famous! The hope isn’t that people would line up to say, “Good sermon, Preacher.” But that the message would have the spiritual power to bring them to repentance.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to declare the simple gospel. Open the eyes and ears of those who hear that they might repent of their sin and believe in Jesus. Help us to always lift up Jesus and not ourselves. For He alone is worthy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 4, 2023
“The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” (Psalms 27:1 NLT).
David wrote these powerful declarations of confidence in the Lord, revealing how he faced his fears. He wrote them as rhetorical questions, challenging himself to overcome his fears by faith. For David, like any man, had fears, yet he overcame them by faith in God. There are at least three fears implied here, all common to man, that David chose to overcome by trusting the Lord.
The first is fear of the unknown. David countered this mysterious fear with the declaration that the “LORD” (All caps = “Yahweh”) was his “light.” David declared that God was his light when darkness pressed in.
The second is fear of death. David overcame this fear by declaring that God was his “salvation,” his rescuer and defender. No giant was too big or powerful compared to the size of David’s God!
The third is the fear of powerlessness. This is the fear of not having enough strength nor sufficient resource to endure. David overcame this fear by declaring that God was the “stronghold” of his life, the One who protected and sustained him.
What fear are you facing today? You can overcome your fear by declaring your faith in the Lord. Instead of naming your fears, name the attribute or promise of God that can overcome your fear. Instead of focusing on your fears, focus on the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has overcome sin, death and the grave!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we acknowledge our fear, but we look to You as our light, our salvation and our strength. We choose to trust You rather than our fears. We want to be faithful, not fearful. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit today, so that we can live fearlessly for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 4, 2022
DOES THE LOCAL CHURCH HAVE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS IT NEEDS?
Paul told the Corinthian church that it already had every spiritual gift that it needed. Is this true for every church? Does God give every local body of believers every spiritual gift that they need to stand faithful until Christ’s return? Perhaps it is an overstatement to answer in the affirmative, since Paul was speaking specifically to the church at Corinth.
But what if it is so? What if every local church that has Christ as its Head, has received every spiritual gift it needs to accomplish its God-given mission? It this is so, then why do so many churches seem to be lacking? Perhaps it is because the gifts are present, but not being exercised. Maybe it is because an over emphasis is placed on certain gifts, so that others have atrophied. It could also be a lack of discipleship in the church, so that those with gifts, aren’t being trained to exercise them.
Perhaps we should remember God’s word to Moses, who claimed to be lacking in the gift of leadership. “What’s that in your hand” (Ex. 4:2)? God asked, referring to his shepherd’s staff. Do we already have in hand the spiritual gifting we need, but have not been willing to use it for God’s glory?
PRAYER: Father, thank You for giving us every spiritual gift we need to stand strong until Christ’s return. We know that You will not withhold good from us. For You did not spare Your own son but delivered Him up for us all, how then will You not also with Him freely give us all things? The fields are white unto harvest. Send us workers who will exercise their gifts in the gospel fields. And if they are already present with us, energize and activate them for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 4, 2016
The Lord continually sent prophets to warn Judah of their disobedience and of the coming judgment on their nation if they didn’t repent. Yet, they not only didn’t heed His word, they mocked and despised it. It was God’s love and compassion that moved Him to warn them, but they would not listen. So, judgment fell. And the king of Babylon conquered them, destroying Solomon’s Temple and carrying off both the people and the riches of Jerusalem. It was their rejection of God’s Word, that caused them to receive His wrath. A people who mock and despise God’s Word, and scoff at His preachers, will not long prosper.
From: August 4, 2015
Among our phobias, fear of the unknown, or of something that overpowers or overcomes us, or of our own death are prominent. David said that God was his “light” (exposing the unknown), his “strength” (empowering and supplying his need) and his salvation (saving him from death). In this way God gave him faith in the place of fear. What do you fear today? Replace your fears with faith. Look to a specific character trait of the Lord and choose to focus on Him rather than living in fear.
From: August 4, 2014
What a wonderful life goal David had! To live in the Lord’s house, to delight in His perfections and to meditate on Him. It is the fulfillment of this goal that Christ promises to make possible in John 14:1-3 when He speaks of preparing a place in the Father’s house for us. Some people wonder what they would do in this eternal abode, but David didn’t. He understood the eternal and ever-engaging nature of God’s “perfections” and looked forward to spending eternity delighting and meditating on them. If we can spend lifetimes considering God’s creation, then what wonders must await those who dwell in the Creator’s home and delight in Him.