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. 

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 3:17

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper encourages believers to have an aim not just daily but for your life.  We should have a purpose, and it should be big because God not just designed You for this purpose, but equipped You for it. Regardless of whether we have a daily, short term, or long term aim - we can all start each day with an aim to do everything for the glory of the Lord - this is why we exist. John Piper shares how this aim for every day is a good place to start - but we should not end there.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God.  You saved me and give me life - thank You Jesus!  You give me life abundantly and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and bless me.  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.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. v18-21

Building on my post yesterday, this morning Paul reminds us of our identity in Christ, including:
- our hope 
- our inheritance as children of God
- the power in and for our lives and for the the lives of others through us

See also previous posts via tags: .

One of the implications I see is that God desires us to seek big things in our lives (and in our families) so that others can see the power of God in and through us so that others are drawn to Him.  We have an identity, we are Christ's ambassadors, and as His ambassadors we are to represent Him and His kingdom appropriately.  Implications for fathers are great here.  Check out this great podcast on this topic of "Casting a Vision for Your Family".  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has done great things in me, for me, and through me - I am SO blessed by Your Spirit in my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am of course undeserving as my sin is great...and 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.

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Deuteronomy 34

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. v10-12

As I close the chapter of Deuteronomy and reflect on Moses - indeed Moses' greatness is surpassed only by Jesus.  The question in my mind becomes, what is to become of us?  God has a plan for all of us (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29).  God gives us the Holy Spirit - which is a mighty power indeed.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  Ephesians 1:18-21 

 

So if God has a plan for us and He gives us this mighty power - we should have confidence and aspire to do great and hard things - right? 

 

I believe so. 

 

Lord Jesus - help me understand the great power that You have given me and help me aspire to do great things in Your name.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has defeated sin and death on my behalf...and given me this same power so that I can glorify Your Name.  I am blown away by what You have done for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such efforts.  I am often harsh with my words. 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 do.  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.  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.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. v23-24

We exist to glorify God - it is as simple as that. 

 

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands,

for the display of my splendor.  Isiah 60: 21

 

If we exist to glorify God - if our mission is to glorify God, then we should have a vision to accomplish this, and we should seek God's guidance in prayer to ensure that our plan is aligned with His desires.  If we have a relationship with Jesus Christ and we have sought renewing of the mind by studying and knowing God's word, then we "will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).

 

Although we might not welcome tests such as those experienced by Job, we should have no problem asking God to test us, to perfect us, to refine us.  After all, this process will be good for us, pleasing to God and it helps us further our mission which is to glorify Him.

  

God - test me, purify me, refine me.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...even though I very often lack compassion for others.  Please forgive me!  Thank You for Your patience but I am not worthy.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn 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.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. v13-14

God does not hold anything against us in terms of what we have done in the past, nor does He want us to relish in the "glory days" of what we have done [see The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 56560-56562. (Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.)].  Instead, he calls us forward, knowing that He is with us every step of the way, and that He calls us to step out of the boat as Peter does. 

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:28-31

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God creator of the heavens and the earth, and of all of its inhabitants.  You are capable of all things and You suffered and died for me...knowing everything about me including my sin.  You ARE the fruits of the spirit and I know You have incredible and indescribable love and mercy for me.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am weak and lazy.  Thank You that You love me and bless me Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me avoid hindrance from my past and instead cling to You so that I may be pulled forward, boldly, towards You and who You intend me to be.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Please help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.