1 Corinthians 12 - 1.29.26
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4 -31
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 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. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Observation:
I fully believe, that this scripture, can be remedy to insecurity and imposter syndrome that often haunts the body of Christ.
There is so much vibrancy in the body of Christ, because the definition of love itself crafted us, and none of us should miss out on the opportunity of witnessing its dynamic and vivacious colors.
Paul words God’s love for His creation and His creation’s purpose so beautifully, saying that each part of the body of Christ (each of us) does not just merely exist but is deeply needed and intricately created with purpose for the kingdom of God AND with purpose for one another.
A common catch phrase that a friend of mine will always say is, “God loves to do what He loves to do.”
We can see God loving to do what He loves to do in this scripture: which is to proclaim purpose over His kid’s lives, remind us what we are here to do, and from whom we are able to do it from.
We are here to love and serve in unique and incredible ways that He has ordained us to do, through speaking truth in the prophetic, being a vessel for God’s healing hand in a hurting world, pray in the spirit, discern spirits to call out evil, and expose darkness to the light where it cannot survive, and uplift each part of the body as we discover more what we are capable of IN Christ – our one true source who is Christ and the Holy Spirit that is within us.
This passage is a moment of celebration and also a reflection point for each of us. It is celebratory that the body of Christ was created in the way that it was, vibrant, dynamic, and purposeful to this broken and hurting world.
This also being a reflection point for us, how are we viewing our part in the body of Christ and how are we acting on the responsibility we have been given to one another in empowering one another & collaborating with one another to see more of heaven on earth?
Application:
This week, during your quiet time and as you continue to fast and pray alongside our church family . . . I would love to encourage you to ask Christ to increase your love for the things He created you to do within the body of Christ and to help you see His love for your part that He created in the body of Christ.
Ask Him to show you His love for your prophetic gifting, for your prayer language, for the way your encouragement to others is a remedy to their soul. I believe the Lord wants to show each of us His love for what we were created to do and increase our love for acting passionately in our design as an eye or a foot or a hand. By asking for the Lord to show us His love for what He has uniquely designed us and empowered us to do, we can receive His deep admiration for His design and His kids and in turn walk boldly in what we have been commissioned to do by the one who loves us & whom we love right back.
Along with this invitation during your quiet time, I would love to ask you to reach out to someone in your community and remind them how essential they are to what Christ is doing. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us that encouragement has the power to soften hearts as sin hardens them. In this world, it can become so easy to become hardened to the deceitfulness that sin has caused, feeding us the lie that we are not needed in the body of Christ or that our contribution is “just” missing the mark. But according to the LIVING word of God, if we encourage one another, our hearts are softened and healed of the hardness of these lies.
Go encourage your local foot or eye, or hand, chances are they need it.
Prayer:
Jesus!
We love you. So much. Thank you for loving this world so much, that you created purpose in our design that contributes to your plans and action towards redemption for this broken and hurting world. Thank you for bringing us into your plans and empowering us with your holy spirit to not work blindly, but work in the individual and dynamic and wonderful ways you have created us each to work in. It is wonderful to be your fearfully and wonderfully made child, let us never lose sight of that.
Bring to mind those who need encouragement, those who need softened hearts after being hardened from lies and deceitfulness. Help us Lord to receive all the love you have for us.
We love you, thanks for loving us first.
Amen.
- Tess Schrupp
1 Corinthians 11 - 1.28.26
Scripture
I Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Observation
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. What a bold statement from Paul! But this is the definition of discipleship. As we are running hard after God, we should be bringing others with us and training them up.
The Great Commission - Matthew 16:20:
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.”
Application
To me, “follow my example” is a scary statement. I am not worthy to have others follow my example. But we can’t extract the first part of the statement from the second part – as I follow the example of Christ. I am not good enough, or strong enough, or spiritual enough to have people follow my example. And that is the whole point. We need Jesus. We need Jesus to save us. We need Jesus to guide us. We need Jesus to go with us and grow us and mold us in his image. And as we go, we are called to take others with us. As we learn to live and love like Jesus, we are called to help others do the same.
Prayer
God, please help me to live in a way that shows others how to follow You. Help me to be so connected to You, that your light shines out of me. Fill me with your power so I can imitate Jesus daily and use me to help others along the way.
- Debbie Dunn
Proverbs 7 - 1.27.26
Scripture: Proverbs 7:1-5
1 My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
Observation
The wisest man in the world, King Solomon wrote Proverbs 7 as a warning against the dangers of temptation and immorality, stressing the importance of wisdom and following God’s commandments. In these verses he is encouraging his son to read the word of God, write it on the tablets of his heart (memorize scripture), obey God’s commands and guard, protect and cherish God’s words. We need to have a living, breathing relationship to the word of God. We need to truly regard the power of wisdom as a sister or a family member. The wisdom and power of God’s word helps to keep us from the immoral woman (or man). From God’s word we learn the deception and strategy of sin and temptation. We learn the end result of sin and the wonderful benefits of obedience. God’s word imparts the spiritual light and strength we need to obey God in this difficult area.
Application
My first husband, Ron was a Christian man who went to church, lead Bible studies, coached little league, read his Bible but did not cherish and protect the wisdom that was taught by King Solomon. He worked for Disney and they sent him to Hong Kong to help build Hong Kong Disneyland. The women out there loved American men, and being away from home for months at a time, he fell in the trap of seduction, immorality, adultery and sin. He ended up losing his marriage, his family, his children and through years of hopelessness and despair, living a life of regret and addiction which eventually took his life.
Solomon, the wisest man in the world, warns us about the adulterous woman and tells us how we can keep from the trap and the snare of sin.
Read your Bible daily, let it penetrate your heart. Memorize scripture so you can pull it up anytime you need it. Spend time in the presence of God. Cherish and protect the Word of God and OBEY His Commands, so you will live a long and fruitful life. It’s Truth, it’s Real…Live it!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for giving us your word as a Lamp unto our feet and Light unto our path. We ask that you help us to be People of Wisdom and cherish your word. Help us to be obedient to your word and live a life that is Blessed and Fruitful. Let us be people who are hearers of your word and walk in your commands. You are such an Awesome God! Amen
- Michelle Craig