So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God....And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus[.]

 1 Corinthians 10 and Colossians 3

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God....And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus[.] 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17a

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today - as we move close to the start of a new year - encourages believers to not live aimlessly but to live with purpose. John Piper shares: "God’s revealed will for you is that when you get up in the morning, you don’t drift aimlessly through the day letting mere circumstances alone dictate what you do, but that you aim at something — that you focus on a certain kind of purpose."  Piper uses the analogy of leaves blowing randomly across the backyard, pushed around by the wind to describe how God does not want us to live aimlessly.  Piper states that "[i]t is crystal clear in the Bible, including these texts [in 1 Corinthians 10 and Colossians 3], that God means for us to aim consciously at something significant in our days." Piper concludes the devotion by sharing: "God did not create humans in his image to be aimless, like lifeless leaves blown around in the backyard of life. He created us to be purposeful — to have a focus and an aim for all our days."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that gives all of His children gifts and talents to be used, shared, and to bring value and good into the world - thank You for how You knit all of us together to share these talents into our various communities at work, at home, church and elsewhere.  You are an awesome God for how You bless us.  Yet I am undeserving 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.  

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

1 Corinthians 12

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. v22-23

This chapter focuses on spiritual gifts and this morning I think about Dustin and his purpose and his gifts - I believe purpose and gifts are connected in that our purpose is to use (steward) the gifts God has distributed to us to serve one another - inside and outside the church.  See also John Piper on What is a Spiritual Gift - using 1 Peter 4:10 as a means to help us better understand this topic.  I also believe that people do not necessarily have to exercise any effort to use their gifts as these gifts are part of their unique design by God.  Dustin serves me in many ways by helping me become more patient, more compassionate, etc. I am blessed beyond imagination by such a gift - who does not want to become more patient and compassionate.  "[T]hose parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable"...indeed.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me with others such as Dustin who serve me with THEIR spiritual gifts - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed beyond imagination and beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish as I often fail to use my gifts or don't want to use my gifts out of selfishness, etc. 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.

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” v18-21

Matthew 12

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.  He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” v18-21

Jesus has a purpose - to fulfill Old Testament prophecy of a coming Savior who was to save us from being a slave to the (ceremonial) law.  See also the reference here to Isaiah 42:1-4, as well as post yesterday.  He makes a new covenant with us based on the shedding of His blood on the cross.  Just as Jesus could not be distracted from His purpose, Jesus gives us a purpose and we are not to be distracted.

Psalm 139:13-16 
Ephesians 2:10 
1 Corinthians 12
Hebrews 12:1

Jesus, please help me stay focused on Your mission for me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You died for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love...I daily miss the mark.  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. 

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

Arrival
Psalm 139

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

God knows me, even better than I know myself.  He of course, then, knows what is best for me - His will and purpose for me is perfect, as is everything about God.  Paul refers to life as a race (1 Corinthians 9), with the prize being Heaven and eternity with Jesus.  I must submit to Him and His will for my life - this is my race.  When I do, He promises to bless me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - I know You are with me every day and all of the time.  You are with me when I sit and when I rise.  You know everything about me, including my sin...and You are for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me 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.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please cure and heal Lisa of her cancer, including all of the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.