Wednesday Thought – November 30, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)

People in New Testament times were not so different from people today and the issues they faced were not so different, either. Immorality was rampant then, just as it is today. The temptation to sexual sin was very strong. As a suggestion for overcoming the temptation to sexual sin, Paul recommends marriage. What he says about marriage indicates that the issues married couples faced then were also the same as the issues married couples face today.

The primary difficulty in today’s marriages is selfishness. Husbands and wives hurt their marriage relationships by focusing exclusively on their own needs, rather than being equally concerned with the needs of their spouse. As Paul says, that is true in the sexual relationship of marriage, and it is also true in every other aspect of marriage.

The key to a healthy marriage is to recognize that you’ve entered into a relationship in which you have taken responsibility for the needs and desires of your spouse. Her needs are now to be your needs. Her desires are now to be your desires. And the same is true from the wife’s perspective.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 29, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Everything is permissible for me’ -- but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ -- but I will not be mastered by anything. ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food’ -- but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 19-20)

Paul starts this passage by quoting some popular sayings of the day -- and he didn’t deny their truthfulness. We don’t live according to a legalistic code of conduct. We’ve been freed from that in Christ. “Everything is permissible for me.” But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to do “everything.” While permissible, there are many things that are harmful to our physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual lives. We’d be foolish to give ourselves to things that are harmful to us or others.

While permissible, there are many things that are dangerous, that lead to being mastered. Sexual immorality is one of them. How many people have been trapped by sexual sin because they have given in to pornography or in other ways started down the road to what the world calls sexual “freedom.” Drugs and alcohol fall into that category, too. Many people have been trapped in chemical addictions as they started down a road called experimentation. In seeking freedom, they have become slaves.

“Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food.” But that doesn’t mean we should live for eating! There is more to life than the fulfillment of our physical desires and needs. In fact, those physical desires and needs are only temporary and to give our lives to them is very short-sighted and foolish.

Our physical bodies and how we use them belong to the Lord. He bought us -- body, mind, and spirit. Our goal is to honor Him -- body, mind and spirit! For the price He paid for us, He deserves all of us!!

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 28, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. That is what some of you were. You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

I don’t know what kind of past all of you have, but there aren’t very many of us who don’t have some sordid stories to tell about the things we’ve done. You can charge some of it off to youthful passions. You can charge some of it off to immature foolishness. You still have to charge all of it to human sinfulness -- our sinfulness. None of us can say that we have escaped it. No one does!

That’s the way God found us -- sinful, broken, guilty. What we deserved was punishment and death. What we got was grace and mercy and salvation! He took the guilt of our sin and put it on the account of Jesus. He took the righteousness of His perfect Son, Jesus, and put it on our account! What a deal! What love! What grace! Everyone of us who has come to Christ has experienced it. All of us came from the same place and came in the same way -- from sin to God by grace.

Though God found us in the guilt of our sin, He is not content to leave us there. All who come to Christ have been implanted with the Holy Spirit. One of the Holy Spirit’s works is transformation. Everyone who comes to Christ gets transformed. Not overnight. Not without a great deal of pain and discomfort. Not completely in this world. But transformation does happen, just look back at your life and you can see it.

God will take you just like you are – it’s the only way you can come to Him. But He won’t leave you that way! That’s His promise!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 25, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The saints will judge the world? If you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? We will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? Instead, one brother goes to law against another -- in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.” (1 Corinthians 6:2-8)

Paul’s message makes me think about how important the church is meant to be in our lives. We should turn to the church to find help in trouble. We should go to the church when we are discouraged and hurt and find comfort there. We should share our joys among the church family and find people rejoicing with us and sharing our sorrows. It is to the church that we should bring disputes and find wise counsel for settling them.

There are few Christians who follow Paul’s advice about disputes. Ours is a litigious society and even Christians are quick to take disputes into the courts. The courts deal only with the dispute and not with the relationships that surround it. The relationships are more important than the matter being disputed. The dispute is a temporary matter that affects only the things of this world. Relationships are eternal, people matter beyond this world.

If you find yourself in a dispute with someone else, think about the value of your relationship with that person and handle the dispute accordingly. Even if you have to let go of your rights, it may be the right thing to do. Try looking to the church to help bring peace between you and the one with whom you disagree. You may be surprised at the wisdom you find there.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – November 24, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people -- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. Now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

It seems like there are many people so trapped by sin that they are beyond salvation. That is a wrong impression! God is in the life-transformation business. He has demonstrated His ability to change lives by what He has done in the lives of those who are His children.

The Apostle Paul was a persecutor of the church, throwing some in jail, perhaps even murdering some. If anyone was beyond God’s grace Paul was. God transformed Paul!

Mary Magdalene was a prostitute! It’s hard to believe that God can take someone that far into sin and turn her life around, but that’s what He did with Mary!

Zacchaeus was a thief and swindler. He was so trapped by greed that he hurt his own countrymen in order to line his pockets. God turned a greedy thief into a generous giver.

Your story and my story also they contain sins. Maybe our sins weren’t quite as open and obvious as Paul’s, Mary’s, and Zacchaeus’s -- or maybe they were -- but all of us were trapped in sin. God has radically changed our lives, and He keeps on working to change them more!

Don’t give up on the people around you. They may seem beyond God’s grace, but they aren’t. Be patient with them. Share with them as God provides the opportunities. Don’t give up on them. Expect that God can change even them -- like He did you!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 23, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:18-21)

The Corinthians had a choice. Paul was willing to come to them with harsh discipline (characterized by a whip), if that was what was required to get their attention. On the other hand, he was willing to come with loving and gentle correction if they were willing to listen to that. There was much in the Corinthian church that needed to be corrected, as evidenced by the things Paul wrote in his letters. God would provide the correction. It was the Corinthians’ option as to how painful that correction would be!

The same is true for us. All of us need correction throughout our lives. It is a part of the growth process. It is a part of being human and dealing with the innate tendency toward sinfulness. It is God’s desire to see us grow. In fact, He promised that He will complete the growth work that He has begun in us.

In fact, if the Lord does not correct and discipline us, there is something wrong with our relationship with Him. The Hebrew writer declared, “The Lord disciplines those he loves.” (Hebrews 12:6)

The choice of what kind of correction we receive and how painful it is for us, is up to us. God is willing to come with the most gentle and loving correction, if we are willing to listen to it. If necessary, He is willing and able to come with the harsh discipline of the whip.

The choice is ours, just like it was for the Corinthians.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 22, 2106

Good Morning Friends,

“For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.” (1 Corinthians 4:9-13)

The apostles were not second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. Of course they weren’t, they were among God’s most beloved and honored servants. Yet, they suffered significantly because of their work for the Lord. They were ridiculed and mocked. They lived in poverty and need. They often had to support themselves even though they were giving themselves to others in preaching and teaching about Christ. They were slandered and physically abused. All of these things happened, not because they did anything illegal or wrong, but because of their work for the Lord.

The point -- serving Christ does not guarantee a life blessed by earthly standards. In fact, serving Christ may contribute to life’s pain, not ease it.

How did the apostles respond to the ill-treatment they received? They did not return insult for insult or pain for pain. They continued to bless those around them. They patiently endured the suffering without fighting back. They did not respond with hatred, but with kindness, even to those who hurt them. They modeled the same kind of attitudes seen in the life of Jesus.

Sometimes serving the Lord brings difficulty -- but He’s worth it! The difficulty we experience does not give us license to respond in ways that do not reflect the grace and kindness of the Lord toward those around us, even those who hurt us.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 21, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.  It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”  (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)

I would not make a very good judge. I often attribute motives to what people do that really aren’t there. Sometimes I read into what they do in the most negative way possible. And at other times I read into what they do in the most positive way possible. I’m just not a very good judge. I can’t see into people’s hearts and minds. I don’t really know why they do the things they do.

I’m not even a very judge of myself. There are times that I am harder on myself than I should be. And there are other times when I let myself off the hook because I’m blind to what’s really going on in my heart.

I’m glad I don’t have to be the judge. That job is already filled. It’s filled by One who has a much clearer picture of what’s going in my heart and what’s going on in the hearts of others, too.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 18, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’ So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future -- all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

There is an amazing amount of wisdom in this world that has enabled man to do things that would have been unimaginable a few generations ago. Man has walked on the moon. We can transplant hearts. We are capable of drilling thousands of feet into the earth to extract valuable resources hidden there. We can harness the energy of the sun and the wind and the atom. And you can probably think of other inventions and feats that are equally astounding.

But man has barely scratched the surface of knowledge about the creation of God. While there are many things we understand and many things we can control and accomplish, there are still very many things that are beyond our grasp and that are still hidden from our minds.

The book of Job contains the best of man’s wisdom at that time in trying to help Job understand the suffering that he was experiencing. But the wisdom of Job and his friends didn’t begin to grasp what was truly happening. God put Job in his place in the final chapters with a series of questions that exposed Job’s ignorance and left him in awe of the Lord.

It is that same place that Paul seeks to bring us through his Corinthian letter. We think we know so much, but we’ve fooled ourselves. Although our knowledge is marvelous, it is nothing compared to the Lord and His knowledge and wisdom! He’s the One with whom we should be amazed and the One whom we should praise!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – November 17, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. Each one should be careful how he builds. No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

There will be a test at the end! Talk about a serious test! It will be a test by fire. What we have done that has eternal value will survive the fire. What we’ve done that has only earthly value will be destroyed.

Motives will will make a difference. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that if what we do is done only to be seen by others, then that’s all the reward we’ll get. We may get some earthly praise, but in eternity it will go totally unnoticed and unrewarded. If what we do is for our own benefit, it doesn’t count with the Lord! What’s done out of a heart of love for and a commitment to the Lord and to others, that will last. God will be pleased with those things and reward us for them.

Focus will make a difference, too. If what we’ve done on earth is about material things -- accumulating wealth, gaining possessions, etc. -- those will be burned up in the fire. If what we’ve done is about praising God and helping people, those things will last. There are very few things in this world that will last into eternity. The Word of God will last into eternity. People will last into eternity. Those things done which are focused on things that last will be rewarded by the Lord.

So, the question is – will what you are doing last or  will it be destroyed!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 16, 2106

Good Morning Friends,

“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe -- as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

The Lord makes the assignments. That is His prerogative as Creator and Ruler and Lord. He can use His servants in any way He chooses in order to accomplish His purposes. He doesn’t have to ask our permission and He doesn’t have to thank us for doing what He demands. He is Master and we are servants.

Not only does the Lord give the assignments, He also gives the abilities and strength to fulfill them. We don’t operate in our own strength, but in His as He supplies what we need.

And there’s more -- He not only gives the assignments and supplies the abilities and strength, He also works to make us successful in what we do for Him. He is the one who causes fruit to come from our efforts.

The point is, it is all God, not us. So, why does God reward us for what we do for Him? He promises to do it, but we don’t deserve it and haven’t earned it. He rewards us simply because He loves us and He wants to do it. He gives the assignment, He gives the strength, He gives the success – and then He gives us the reward.

Isn’t God amazing!

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 15, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The marks of worldliness that Paul saw among the Corinthians were jealousy and quarreling. The root of both of those sinful attitudes is selfishness.

When we act with jealousy, we demonstrate dissatisfaction with what we have compared with what someone else has been given. Rather than unselfishly rejoicing in their gifts, we are frustrated that they have what we don’t. That’s not a characteristic of God, but a characteristic of the world. God calls His followers to ever increasing selflessness, seeking the best for others around us, not just looking out for our own interests.

When we quarrel, we seek our own way, what we want, even at the cost of damaging relationships and hurting our witness. How much is what we want worth? Is it worth the cost of a relationship that is damaged or destroyed? Is it worth the cost of turning someone outside of Christ away from Him because of the way you act? Again, it goes back to selfishness -- I want, so I’ll fight to get.

They were acting like mere men! But what else can we act like? That’s the point, God is calling us to a higher calling, to become like Jesus, to act like Him -- to give unselfishly, to seek the best for those around us, to sacrifice to help others.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 14, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“As it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ -- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)

Who could possibly have thought up the Gospel story? It is incomprehensible that God Himself, the Creator and Ruler of the universe would become a man, walk on the earth, teach, heal, and do all the things that Jesus did. No man could have come up with the story of Jesus’ life and all that it meant. That’s why the world turned against Him, because it just couldn’t understand Him. They killed Him because they did not know who He was and could not even fathom His real identity.

What Jesus did here on earth is just the beginning of what God has prepared for those who come to Him! The life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. The very presence of God Himself, indwelling us by His Spirit. The opportunity to reign with God. The glory and majesty of heaven’s eternity. An eternity around the throne of God. The angelic majesties that worship and serve Him there -- and here. All of these, and much more, cannot be understood by men in all that they mean. All of these things, and more, God has prepared for us because we love Him.

Man didn’t make it all up, man couldn’t. God’s Spirit has revealed these things to us. His Spirit revealed the Gospel through Jesus. His Spirit provided the Word. His Spirit works in each of those who comes to Him to accomplish God’s work in us and through us. The message doesn't come from man, it comes directly from God.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 11, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

There have been, and are, many people with great wisdom and outstanding oratory skills. But with Gospel of Jesus Christ it is not the quality of the preacher that makes the difference, it’s the message that is proclaimed that has the power to change lives.

Even with Christ Himself, it was not the quality of His teaching that changed lives. Christ did teach with out-of-this-world wisdom! When the Jews heard Him preach they marveled at the authority with which He spoke. “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” (Matthew 7:28-29) But it is not the wisdom of Christ’s teaching or His authoritative preaching that changed lives. It was the power of His cross that changed men and women then and still changes men and women today!

It is only the love, mercy, and grace of the cross of Christ that takes defiled sinners and radically changes us. Only in the cross is there the power of forgiveness. Only in the cross is there the opportunity for reconciliation with God. Only in the cross is there salvation.

The power is in the cross, and in the One who died there! Don’t marvel at the preacher, marvel at the message of Christ. Keep looking to Him!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 10, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written:  ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

The apostles were uneducated, but God chose them to launch a movement of faith that is still strong today. No educated group could have been more powerfully used than were these eleven simple men. Where did they get the power to accomplish what they did? It couldn’t have come from them, it had to come from the Lord!

Zacchaeus was so small he had to climb a tree to see Jesus. He was an outcast and called “a sinner” because of his dishonorable profession. They laughed at his stature behind his back. But something happened when he met Jesus. You can’t explain it through Zacchaeus’s intelligence or his sensitivity to spiritual things. God did something in Zacchaeus’s heart that was so radical that God is the only explanation.

Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. A woman can’t get any more disreputable than that. That prostitute was given the very first glimpse of the Risen Lord. Only God would have chosen a witness like her. Man’s wisdom would have chosen someone more upstanding, someone people would have listened to more readily. God chose one whom He had changed so radically it was almost unbelievable.

The apostles, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, and millions of others are testimonies to God’s power and grace. None of us is a testimony to our intelligence, abilities, and power. The only testimony that is worth giving is a testimony to His wisdom, His gifts, and His power. He deserves all the credit and the praise!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 9, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel -- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” (1 Corinthians 1:17-19)

For thousands of years man has been on a futile journey to find the solutions to the problems of our world. We’ve tried human reason, but the problems of the world are beyond our ability to solve with human reason. We’ve walked down the path of what we called “moral freedom,” but found at the end of that path just continued emptiness. Military might hasn’t solved the problems, it’s just opened the way for more and more powerful tyrants. There used to be hope in psychotherapy, but the more therapy that became available the more problems we’ve uncovered and been unable to cure. Technology seemed to provide possibilities, but it has failed just as miserably as every other path we’ve tried. Political solutions have been equally ineffective. And there are a thousand other paths that have been tried and a thousand other dead ends and incomplete answers.

The place where the answers lie is the one place the people of our world don’t want to look. In Paul’s day, Christ and His cross were a “stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23) They still are in our day, too, not just to Jews and Greeks, but to every nationality of men and women. We’re too sophisticated and intelligent to think that the answers to man’s problems could be found in something so old and so counter to man’s own independence and abilities.

Yet, Christ is the answer that Paul gave. The message of God and the experience of man confirm that He is the only real answer available. A life lived in dependence upon and obedience to Him seems foolish to most, but it’s the power of salvation for those who will trust Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 7, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

Can you imagine anyone arguing over which preacher is better? They actually did that back then, in Paul’s day. Apollos, Cephas, Paul -- they were all great preachers. God used one to reach certain people and another to reach other people. It’s strange how that works. Then there was that group of people who refused to put any man on a pedestal. They thought they were better because they refused to be known as followers of any man. But their pride was just as bad as the other groups. Each thought their group was better. Each thought they had been taught more correctly. Each group looked down on the other groups as somehow inferior.

Amazing that people could be so shallow back then. It’s a good thing people today are so much more mature. Or are we? Seems like we still do the same thing. Some people put their current preacher on a pedestal -- the best one around. Others put dead preachers in the place of honor! We’ll call ourselves by the name of someone from the past and develop pride that our group is better than those others. Of course, there’s still a group or two that refuses to say they follow any man. But their pride still gets in their way.

If we could just learn that it’s not about pride. It’s not about exalting ourselves, our leader, or our group. It’s about all of the followers of Jesus working together, each in his or her own corner of the Kingdom. All getting along, all complementing each other’s work and cooperating with each other to accomplish more.

That’s God vision of His Kingdom. It’s mine, too! I hope it’s yours.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 4, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ -- their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

The first verses of the first Corinthian letter are pretty standard stuff. It’s just the beginning of a letter. They talk about the one writing, they talk about the ones being written to, and they share the goodwill of the author. It is pretty standard stuff, but it’s pretty significant stuff, too!

This passage speaks of the fact that both the author and the recipients have been called. Called by God, of course. That says something about the activity of God. What they are about is of God’s initiative. That’s true of you, too. You aren’t a Christian by your own initiative, but by God’s. He called you to Himself. He drew you. He invited you into a relationship with Him.

What were the Corinthians called to? They were called to holiness. God called them to a changed life. And God continues to call people to a changed life. That’s what He’s called you and me to. He doesn’t want to see us stay the way we were before we met Him. He wants to see us different, changed, holy, like Him. Oh, it doesn’t happen all at once, but it does happen. Bit by bit, small change by small change, sometimes almost imperceptible, but God is changing us, He always changes the people He touches.

He has changed me -- and still is. If you have a relationship with God then He’s already changed you, too -- and He is still at work changing you even more!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – November 3, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:16-20)

Last words are usually important. When someone lies dying, we listen with close attention to their final words. Their words often represent a clear glimpse of the heart of the one departing. The words above are some of Jesus’ last words. They do offer a clear glimpse of His heart, of what He considered important.

Jesus’ last words were a challenge and a command to His followers to take His message to others. The command was based upon His authority, an authority which cannot be challenged anywhere. It was all encompassing vision, no nation or people were to be left out. It is to be fulfilled intentionally, the command is to “go,” not to wait for them to come to us. It contained a clear focus, He is looking for disciples, those who will follow Him, those who will unashamedly identify with Him in baptism, and those who will long to hear His will and do it. It offers help to accomplish it, He will be with us as we go.

The Great Commission was deep in Jesus’ heart just before He left this world, and it still is. There remain nations that have not yet been heard the message of Jesus, and people that have not yet responded to it. The challenge and command from Jesus is still before us!

God loves you, and He loves the world.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 2, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” (Matthew 28:11-15)

For an honest person to remain in unbelief he must find a way to deal with the resurrection. If the resurrection is true, then there really is no choice but to follow Jesus. But if you can explain away the resurrection, then you can reject Jesus.

The chief priests weren’t honest men. They didn’t find a way to explain away the resurrection, they created one! Contrary to all the evidence, they chose to remain in unbelief. Why would anyone do that? It comes down to this, what they wanted to believe was more important to them than what was true!

Jesus told Pilate during His trial, “I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37)

Don’t follow Jesus because your parents did, or because your friends do, or because it helps the country. Follow Jesus because it is true -- He is true! Jesus said, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6)

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 1, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.”’” (Matthew 28:1-7)

The greatest event in all of human history, and Matthew tells it in just a paragraph or two! Jesus was crucified, dead, buried. His followers were grief-stricken, hopeless, coming to care for His body. God had other plans! They should have expected it, even His enemies knew He had predicted it and made arrangements to guard against it. But it was so unbelievable that until it happened they could not believe it, and even then it was not easy!

It’s not easy for us to believe it, either. We’ve seen death. We’ve been to funerals, buried loved ones. Death is permanent. People don’t just come back alive again. But Jesus did! History records it. The disciples testified to it. Changed lives confirm it. The church proclaims it. Jesus -- died -- came back to life!

That is the core truth of Christianity. It is the one act of Jesus that divides people. Believe it, and you must follow Him. Don’t believe it, and you cannot follow Him. “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. … But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:14-20)

Christ has been raised from the dead. So follow Him!

His, by Grace, Steve