I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:23

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.  Here, Paul builds on the text from vv1-18 (see post yesterday) where the salvation of others is of "first importance" for not just pastors but all believers.  This is reinforced by Paul in v23 where he writes how he does "it all for the sake of the gospel." The all is described in the previous verses vv19-22 where Paul meets non-believers exactly where they are, and it is in this humble posture where love is demonstrated.  As believers, we are no better than any one else and we must check our ego each time we engage with others such that we demonstrate love, patience, (fruits of Spirit) etc. Others are watching us and they will of course see us as hypocrites should we profess the love of Christ but not act in a way that demonstrates the love of Christ.  In vv24-27 Paul then pivots to how believers are to act as like athletes/runners that practice both self-control (battle against destructive habits, temptation and sin) and self-discipline (i.e. practice positive habits of Bible study, prayer, corporate worship, etc.). There is also an implication of a vision and a plan as Paul refers to avoiding "running" aimlessly or boxing "as beating the air" (v26).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - even when I have fallen down and not acted with humility.  Thank You Jesus for this grace and compassion.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Daniel 12

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. Daniel 12:1

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 12:1-4 as I lean on my commentary for this text.  The commentary emphasizes how Daniel's vision here, which extends from 11:2, points to end times, and here in chapter 12, in light of this, "teaches us how to live as faithful exiles in a world, a context, that is not our home. It helps us answer the question, How can we live as kingdom citizens, dedicated disciples, in a land that is strange and even hostile toward us?" The whole of chapter 12 provides "nine marks of eschatological discipleship", including those found in v1-4:

• we are to be comforted by God's protection: just as the angel Michael arises in v1, "[God's] angels are on your side, and they are busy at work on your behalf."
• the hostility believers face now is just a foretaste of what is to be expected at the end times so we must be ready, "[p]urifying ourselves, cleansing ourselves, being refined by the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit[.]" v1
• believers name are written in the book of life - v1 - and we can count on God for our salvation; rest assured and be comforted
  
• v2: just as Jesus rose from the grave, so too will believers
• v3: we should "live wisely and point others to Jesus"
• v4: we should treasure God’s Word and grow in [our] understanding of it" 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your mercies are new every morning and Your blessings about as a demonstration of the love You have for me and all Your children - thank You Jesus for the comfort, peace of mind, confidence, etc. You provide!  Amazing indeed!  I am not deserving of such blessings and of my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. v9

Peter's words remind me of Isaiah's words:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Peter is preventing us from being suckered by false teachers and by Satan himself who is trying to goad you into disbelief and to weaken your faith.  Yet Peter is firm and he encourages us to be firm in our faith and to bring others to Jesus...and the 2nd sentence of verse 9 to me says it all:

Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is good - and He demonstrates this in part by being patient and by being merciful and compassionate.  He is patient with us (although I am reminded that His patience is not unlimited - I will die and the world as we know will come to an end perhaps during my earthly life - either way I must be ready) so we must repent and turn from our ways to His ways.  We must also bring others to Him.  We exist to glorify Him and to bring others to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God full of patience, compassion, and mercy for me - although I am completely undeserving of such blessings!  Thank You that You bless me so, but please forgive me Jesus for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You instead.  Transform my heart and my life Jesus and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me bring others to Him.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.

2 Thessalonians 2

He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. v9-10

The forces of evil and Satan are real and at work in and around us.  Although Paul's message emphasizes how unbelievers are influenced and will be punished, this message is important for believers as well as it both comforts us that we will be saved on the Day of Judgement, and that we should be helping spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world - we should give everyone an opportunity for the love, grace, and power of Christ.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God that You came to save me...in fact, You chose me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  How great You are!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I am weak, broken, quick to anger, slow to listen, selfish, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway and for all the many, many, incredible ways You bless me.  I love You Jesus.  I need You desperately in my life.  Please forgive me for my sin of anger, etc. and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me take comfort that I am saved but at the same time help me grow in my faith and share the Good News with others such as my family.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength and comfort.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Colossians 4

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. v5

Paul knows that we exist to glorify God and to bring others to God.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20

Opportunities exist all the time so we must KNOW God, PROCLAIM God, then ACT OUT God so that others do not see us as hypocrites.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

...

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

Lord help me be bold.

My Prayer:  Jesus, You are the way, the truth and the life....pure, holy, and blameless.  All Your ways and Your deeds are perfect and You know everything about me, including my sin...Yet You suffered and died for me anyway.  I am deeply grateful for such an undeserving gift!  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for my lack of action and laziness.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Please help me be bold on Your behalf.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 9

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. v22

Lord, You came to seek and save the lost and Your charge all of your servants to do the same.  Here Paul encourages me to meet people where they are.  We should not be someone we are not but we should be in relationship with people and not an "outsider" to the extent that we cannot fully appreciate the circumstances in which people find themselves.  To win the hearts and minds of unbelievers we must be in relationship with others and appreciate their circumstances...so we can talk into their lives where they are.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus...what an awesome God You are.  You knew everything about me...sin and all...yet You chose to come for me...to suffer and die for me.  You continue to serve me daily and I know You love me more than anyone on earth ever can.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and sacrifice...I am lustful, harsh with my thoughts, words, actions, selfish, etc.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and everyday.