SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV - For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

OBSERVATION:
There are two types of sorrow, godly and worldly. Both are vastly different.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance. It is grieving over one’s sin and realizing that I have sinned against God.

Worldly sorrow is being sorry for having been caught. It often leads to asking how we can do this and get away with it.

One leads to salvation, and the other leads to death. Literally, life and death are in the balance. Not so much physical death, for sin can lead to that, but ultimately a spiritual death.
If this were the end, how pitiful would we be? How much angst and depression would we feel? But Paul brings a glorious word into the equation. REPENTANCE.
 
Repentance (Greek: metanoia) is a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in behavior. It involves recognizing one's sins, feeling sorrow for them, and turning away from them to seek God's forgiveness.

APPLICATION:
Romans 2:4 NKJV - Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
 
Acts 3:19 NKJV - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Remember, God’s goodness leads us to repentance. If it were not for the goodness (grace and mercy), we would not be able to repent, not unto salvation or unto restoration.

Repentance must ALWAYS be seasoned with grace, mercy, and the kindness of God, for that is the very nature of God.

John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Do you need to turn from your current direction back to the Lord today? Repent, turn back, and experience times of refreshing from the Lord. Repentance is not a bad thing. It is truly a glorious thing.

PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for the kindness You show us daily. Thank You for refreshing what comes with refreshing. May I learn to walk daily in Godly sorrow, not a sorrow that I got caught, but one that leads to change.

SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NKJV - We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

OBSERVATION:
If today is the acceptable time, the day of salvation, we should actively share the grace of God with those around us.

Paul says, “as workers together with Him.” The work God has for you and me to do is not works unto salvation. That is the work of grace, freely given at the cross. This work is not a continuation of salvation, as if grace only saved us and works keep us. No! It is a work of sharing the Good News with a world that is lost, just as you and I were lost.

Paul goes on to say, “We then, as workers together with Him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Is it possible to receive the grace of God in vain? Yes!
Is the grace of God bearing fruit in your life? Not fruit unto salvation, but fruit as a result of salvation. By grace, we can bear fruit.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God has good works for you and me to walk in.

Have you and I grown stale, barren, and fruitless in the Lord’s service? If so, let it be a sign that we need God’s grace once again in our lives. May it rejuvenate, revive, and motivate us to share His grace with those around us.

APPLICATION:
If you find yourself stale, barren, and fruitless in the Lord's service, take heart, for Paul quoted Isaiah 49 in these two verses.

"In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The amazing thing about grace is that it is not dependent on you or me. It’s dependent on Jesus Christ. He will never stop giving it to us. We need to embrace it, live it, learn it, and let it guide us each day.

He has heard you and helped you. Today is the day of salvation!

May every day be a reminder of this Amazing Grace that God has given us! May we, like Paul, work together with HIM to share it with a lost and dying world desperate for God’s salvation and grace.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I am found. I was blind, but now I see.

PRAYER:
Jesus, may I never receive YOUR grace in vain. May it always be a truth that holds me and keeps me.

SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

OBSERVATION:
In this chapter, Paul is describing what our future will be like after death. He states that a heavenly one will replace our earthly tent. Why would he say this? Is there something wrong with our earthly tent? Yes!

We are born into sin, corruption, and death. When we enter heaven, we will no longer know sin, corruption, or death. We have this guarantee from the Lord Himself.

2 Corinthians 5:5 NKJV - Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

How was God able to give us this guarantee? Paul tells us in today's verse. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Because of the work of Jesus on the cross, when we receive this gift of forgiveness, or, as Paul calls it, 5 times in this chapter, reconciliation, we are given the guarantee of a new heavenly body! One that will no longer experience pain, suffering, corruption, death, or sin.
The word reconciliation is important for us to understand. It describes what Jesus did in verse 21.

To reconcile means “to bring into agreement or harmony, to resolve a difference, or to make someone accept something, whether it's an unpleasant situation or a disagreement with someone; to settle or resolve.”

In accounting, it means to “check (a financial account) against another for accuracy; to account for.”

Jesus did this! He brought us back into agreement with the Father, resolved the difference, and accounted for our sins. He reconciled the account, which means he made it balance. If you read the end of verse 20 with verse 21, this is what you get!

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NKJV - …on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Because of the work Jesus did on the cross, we can be reconciled to God. Earlier, I said that Paul used the word 5 times in this chapter. The number 5 is associated with grace. Because of grace, we are reconciled, and our debts have been resolved!

APPLICATION:
What is our role in all of this? Paul tells us in verse 7.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV - For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Trust the Lord and walk by faith, not by sight. He sees us as complete. We see all our imperfections.
 
Philippians 1:6 NKJV - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

One day soon, because of what Jesus did on the cross, we will see Jesus face to face and enter the Kingdom of God with new glorified bodies, because we have been reconciled in Christ!

PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for reconciling me! Thank you, because of the cross, my sins are forgiven, and my account has been settled. Thank you that I will enter Your Kingdom in a new, glorified body.

SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NKJV - For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

OBSERVATION:
Often, God is seen in the wrong context. Even men teach that God is just waiting for you and me to mess up so He can punish us. Yet this very premise is the opposite of what the Bible teaches.

Paul says in verse six that “God who created light out of darkness,” the creator of all things, including light, is the one who has revealed or shone Jesus in our hearts. This light that has shone in the heart of man, revealing Jesus, has also revealed the “glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.”

All this is to say that God had a plan. He is indeed NOT angry with us, nor is He waiting for us to mess up so He can punish us. If that were the case, NONE would be worthy. Those who want to preach that God is an angry God have missed what Paul is saying in these verses.

Jesus was the light, the plan of God in flesh, to fulfill what God had planned.

John 1:3-5 NKJV - All things were made through Him [Jesus], and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
 
John 1:14 NKJV - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus was THE SPOKEN WORD of God in the Flesh. He was the image of God Himself. John said He was “full of grace and truth.”

If Jesus came in the exact image of God, how can anyone preach that God is angry with humanity and waiting for humanity to mess up so God can destroy them? That is contrary to grace and truth.
 
Since Jesus came to be the final payment for our sins, this proves that God is no longer waiting for us to mess up, because Jesus has atoned for our sins, past, present, and future. The only people who will face God’s wrath and judgment are those who reject the gift of grace from Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s plan.

APPLICATION:
To God be the glory! We have seen this light, and it shines in our hearts. Not only in our hearts, but Paul says, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

God has chosen to place this treasure of the gospel in man. Despite all his efforts to be worthy, man remains an earthen vessel. God knows man’s heart. He often reminds us of this in His Word.

Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV - “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?

God is not angry with you. On the contrary, (John 3:16-17 NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

God's very nature is SALVATION, not JUDGMENT.

Walk in the light of Jesus today. Be that earthen vessel that brings honor and glory to God the Father, who showed His unfailing love to you and me through Jesus Christ.

PRAYER:
Thank you, Father, for Your tremendous love. Thank you for the forgiveness I have received through Jesus. Thank you that You are not angry but full of grace and truth. None of us is worthy, but You are. Because You chose to save rather than condemn, we can one day stand before You.

SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NKJV - And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

OBSERVATION:
Paul uses a word in these three verses to drive home an important truth. The word he uses is sufficiency.

Sufficiency is the condition or quality of being sufficient or adequate. Sufficient means enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end.

As a young man, I used to have the words Sufficiency in Christ embossed on the front of my Bible. Most people have their names on the front of their Bibles (which is not a bad thing), but for me, I knew I needed the reminder. It’s about Jesus’ work, not mine. I struggled greatly with who I was in Christ. I always felt I couldn’t measure up, wasn’t worthy or holy enough, and spent many years trying to become something I could not be. One day, while reading this very section in 2 Corinthians, the light turned on. My sufficiency is in Christ.

For years, I struggled to overcome the thought that I wasn’t enough. Much of this stemmed from what happened in my life as a child. I often had nights when I lay in bed, crying out to the Lord in desperation. I had been told so many times, for so many years, that I was not good enough that it became who I was. It was not humility; it was pride! I had let it become who I was and would not let myself see myself through God's eyes. But glory to God, he rescued me and showed me who I am in Christ!

APPLICATION:
Like me, you can come to the understanding that our identity and all was in Him, and that He is enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end.

Paul would encourage you and me with the words he used to encourage the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NKJV - Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Find your sufficiency and your freedom in Christ. Through His Spirit, allow Him to transform you into what He wants you to be, into what He already sees you as! We may only see in a mirror dimly, but through the Spirit, you and I can realize that our sufficiency is in Christ!

PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for being my sufficiency. Thank you for the reminder of this truth today. May I walk in You today, knowing You are my all, my everything. You are faithful and always will be. Though I now truly understand I am NOT worthy, I know without a doubt You are more than enough to meet any need or achieve any proposed end.

SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NKJV - This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

OBSERVATION:
It is believed that 2 Corinthians is actually the third letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church. The second letter is believed to have been “harsh” because major problems in the church needed to be corrected. Unable to attend in person, he wrote the letter, and as a result, the necessary correction took place. This is why Paul would speak of his next visit not with harshness, but with encouragement.

Our Bibles today contain two letters to the Corinthians. If there was a third letter, it was intended only for Corinth and was not included in the canon of Scripture. Whether there were three letters or not, Paul will address the “excessive” punishment inflicted on the immoral man mentioned in 1 Corinthians.

This raises a question. When does church discipline go too far? Paul had rebuked the church and told them to deal with this man. They had obeyed, but they had taken the punishment too far.

Paul says, “Forgive and comfort.” The punishment was sufficient; it was time to restore. The man was repentant; forgiveness was a must!

Our aim in church discipline should always be to restore. They were instructed to treat the man as an unbeliever. We are instructed to hate the sin and love the sinner. Love is what draws the unbeliever.

Paul would go on to say, “lest he may be overwhelmed with grief.” The purpose of discipline is not to bring hopelessness but to bring repentance. For repentance brings times of refreshing, not overwhelming grief.

Lastly, Paul would say, “Reaffirm your love to him.”

APPLICATION:
Remember, we were granted forgiveness and comfort when we were overwhelmed by grief and sorrow over our sin. Every day, Jesus reaffirms his love for us.

When we are wronged or have to participate in church discipline, remember that when one repents, we should restore and forgive. That is what Jesus does for us daily!

PRAYER:
Father, give me Your heart to restore those who have fallen and those who are lost, for I have been both. I was lost and often fell short. Help me live out G. Camble Morgan's words, "Love never slights holiness; but holiness never slays love." May I be motivated by love because You first loved me!

SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 1:2-4 NKJV - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

OBSERVATION:
In the opening of the book of Second Corinthians, Paul uses his standard greeting. Grace and peace appear in all 13 of his letters. Yet each time he says it, there remains a deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness. It was not just a phrase that Paul would say, but a TRUTH he would live out daily.

We cannot have the peace of God or peace with God without grace. We cannot know the grace of God without first experiencing both the peace of God and peace with God.

Think about this for a moment. Paul says, “We have received “Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’” If you really dive into this, you understand that we, by nature, are not children of God. We are not by birth but by adoption; not by nature but by election; not by right but by redemption. It is only through the Work of Jesus – Grace and Peace!

Not only is God the Father of Jesus, but also the Father of Mercy. Mercy is simply not receiving what we deserve. Through Jesus, we have been given grace, peace, and mercy. All of this comes from God.

What does this tell us about God? His nature, His very essence and character, is grace, peace, and mercy. If that were not enough, Paul reminds us of God's comfort.

He is not merely a comfort but the source and embodiment of all comfort.

Our Father is truly amazing. He has granted us peace, grace, mercy, and comfort.

APPLICATION:
Paul brings home the point of his greeting. That we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Have you received God’s grace, peace, mercy, and comfort? If not, how can you offer comfort to those in need? We must first receive before we can give.

Do you have peace, live in grace, and walk daily in His mercy? Have you experienced His comfort? If you cannot answer “Yes!” what are you waiting for? Receive them today! They are freely given; all we need to do is receive. Get under the fountain where blessings pour out. Come to Jesus and be refreshed today.

The world longs for peace, grace, mercy, and comfort. We CANNOT share them unless we first experience them. Live in His comfort today!

PRAYER:
Father, thank You for Your grace, peace, and mercy! Truly, I do not deserve any of them, yet I find great comfort in knowing that this is who You are. Your very character and essence. Thank You for being a God of ALL comfort. May I comfort others with the truth of the Gospel today.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 16:13-14, 20, 22-24 NKJV - Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. ...All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. ...If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

OBSERVATION:
Paul ends the letter to the Corinthians with a subtle yet not-so-subtle message. Love!

Paul devoted an entire chapter to the subject. Chapter 13 is known as the “love chapter.” It was Paul’s crowning statement in the letter. Greater than knowledge, gifts, and self-sacrifice is Love. Why? Because Love NEVER FAILS! Remember, Paul said all of these would eventually fail and even cease, but Love will not.

In his final “exhortation,” he encourages the Corinthians to “watch, stand fast, be brave, be strong.” All of these terms are military in nature and origin. Paul says all of this needs to be done, but the warning is – “Let all this be done in love.”

APPLICATION:
Paul will use the word "love" multiple times in his conclusion and greeting at the end of this book.

First, he uses an example: Greet one another with a holy kiss. This Jewish custom and early church tradition were widely practiced as greetings in that culture.

Second, he says, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” In preaching the return of Christ, let it be motivated by love. If anyone does not love the Lord, he is already cursed, and there is no hope. But because there is still hope, Jesus has not returned, and many are still “cursed.” Let us bring the message of love and hope regarding the return of Christ!

Finally, he says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Without the Love of God, we would never experience GRACE! Remember, grace stands for God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense! Love is with us ALL who are in Christ Jesus. Let us go and share this love with the world, as we “watch, stand fast, be brave, be strong.”

Philippians 2:3-8 NKJV - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Remember, love is an action, not just a word!

PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You that the summation of the book of Corinthians is love. It is the summation of who You are and what You want us, Your children, to do and show to the world around us. May we be strong and brave, stand firm in the faith, and share the glorious hope of Your return, all in an attitude of love and motivated by love. For You, LOVE, will never fail. 

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV - "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:
In chapter 15 of Corinthians, Paul spends more time on the resurrection than in any other chapter of the book. He takes 58 verses to lay out the importance of the resurrection and where we would be without it.

The argument among those with great knowledge was that there was no resurrection. The common phrase of the day was “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (vs 32). If there is no resurrection, then why worry about eternity? Death was the finality of all.

Paul would conclude differently!

1 Corinthians 15:16-17 NKJV – For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

If Christ had not died on the cross and the resurrection had not happened three days later, we would still be under the heavy burden of atoning for our sins!

That sting of death would always haunt us, knowing that death would be the end. Sin would reign in our mortal bodies. The Law would prove (as it is intended) that none is righteous, no, not one. We cannot, nor ever will be able to keep it. What hope would we have if there were no resurrection?

Romans 6 tells us, “The wages of sin is death!” If that were the end of the verse, how pitiful our lives would be! But because of the resurrection of the dead, Jesus rose! He rose to set the captive free. The rest of Romans 6 says, “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

APPLICATION:
For you and me, because of the resurrection, we no longer have to face the sting of death or be bound by the power of sin!
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have victory in Jesus! In Christ, you will see heaven and be allowed to enter. What amazing grace Jesus has given!

We also, because of the resurrection of Jesus, have the victory He had over sin and death, which means we no longer have to be bound to sin. We can have victory because He was victorious!

That sin you and I struggle with does not have to be your master. It has been defeated! Let us walk in His victory.

Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.
He loved me 'ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the work You did on the cross. Thank You that because You rose, I know I can live in victory over sin and death. One day, I will see You face to face, because death is not the end. Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever!

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 14:7 CSB - Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds -- whether flute or harp -- if they don't make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?

OBSERVATION:
1 Corinthians 14 highlights the importance of order over chaos. Paul discusses two spiritual gifts – tongues and prophecy – to show how they can work together to do the “right thing, the right way.” In verse 7, he uses musical instruments as an analogy, showing that they can produce noise or, when played skillfully, create beautiful music. The same principle applies to spiritual gifts: exercised with love, they please God and uplift the body of Christ; improperly used, they lead to chaos and confusion. Paul concludes chapter 13 by stating that the greatest gift is love, then opens chapter 14 with a call to ‘pursue love,’ emphasizing its importance.

1 Corinthians 14:1 CSB - Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.
 
Why would Paul tell us to pursue love?

The word 'pursue' is interesting because it carries two distinct meanings and implications. One is to pursue in a hostile manner, while the other is to seek eagerly or strive earnestly to obtain. Paul teaches us that the Corinthians focused on one gift over another—tongues. Although the gift of tongues itself is not wrong, overemphasizing it is. In their pursuit of this gift, they became somewhat hostile, chasing after it for the wrong reasons—to appear more spiritual than others. Nonetheless, Paul advises us to ‘pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.’ Our goal should be to love sincerely and eagerly, rather than to elevate ourselves. Today, Paul uses the example of a musical instrument played alongside others to create a beautiful symphony. However, when played alone and poorly, it results in chaos and noise.

APPLICATION:
Today, the focus isn't so much on theological debate over the proper timing and use of tongues and prophecy, but on pursuing love in our daily lives, whether through our spiritual gifts or in everyday interactions. Are we simply making noise—like a trumpet—or harmonizing and creating music with the other instruments in the symphony?

Let us do all things decently and in order (vs 40) and pursue love.

Psalm 133:1 NKJV - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

PRAYER:
Jesus, in everything I do, may I do it correctly and in order through the filter of love—Your love. In areas where I may sound more like ‘hot air’ blown through a trumpet, help me to join the symphony of love, not chaos. May I, like You, think of others more than myself and see You glorified.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB - Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.

OBSERVATION:
As we conclude the month of “Love,” as the world and commercialism tell us, we realize that the love we are told to celebrate is a partial love… it is love, but not love in its fullest. We quickly realize that in the English language we have one word for love… Love!

I can love my dog, ice cream (I do love ice cream!), and my wife… Do I love them the same? I hope not! No, I love my dog, but not the way I love my wife. And don’t I love ice cream the way I love my dog (I won’t eat my dog, no matter how good she tastes)?

• In Greek, there are four words used to describe love:
• Eros - Erotic love, referring to sexual love.
• Storge – Family love: love between parent and child, or among family members.
• Philia – Brotherly friendship. A deep friendship and partnership. The highest love a person can attain without God’s help.
• Agape – Love that loves without changing. Unconditional Love.

Paul is telling us that Love is the most important thing… so pursue it… learn it… live it…

APPLICATION:

Paul tells us that the greatest is love… it is one of the three that will “remain.” Faith and hope are needed for us today. We need to have faith in Jesus that His promises are true, and we have the hope that one day we will see Jesus face to face. When that day comes… we will no longer need faith and hope… we won’t need them in heaven, for we will have reached the very thing for which we had faith and hope. But love will always remain, because it is the very nature and character of God… For God so LOVED…

If love does not remain… There would be no heaven, no faith, and no hope. God is love!

Today, let us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, pursue faith, hope, and love… Let our love be the Love of God… Agape… It’s a love we CANNOT produce, yet its results are fruit we cannot live without. The blessing of Agape Love is that it completes the other three forms of love. Pursue love today!

PRAYER
Jesus, help me love the way You love. I am incapable of it without You. I can only love so far… and it’s not enough. Your love is what endures.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 12:31 CSB - But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

OBSERVATION:
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul provides guidance on ‘spiritual gifts’, reminding the Corinthians that these gifts are not meant to make anyone feel superior to others. However, the gifts are unique because they serve the entire body. All are necessary, and none is more important than the others.

We have no control over the gifts we receive; it is the Holy Spirit's decision. We might choose the things we deem more important, or, even if we don’t want to admit it, those that attract more attention—not to God, but to ourselves. That’s why I believe Paul told the Corinthians not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV - Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 CSB - Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:

Different gifts, one giver who works through the various gifts to serve the entire Body of Christ—the Church.

Paul continued in the rest of the chapter to discuss the ‘Body Ministry’, emphasizing that no part is more important than another and that even if a part is more visible, it isn't more important than those that are hidden.

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 CSB - But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

APPLICATION:
Charles Spurgeon was deeply convinced of this body mentality and believed that everyone should contribute to Christ's work, as he stated:

Body ministry is essential, and the Holy Spirit gives us gifts to strengthen others, not for personal recognition.

1 Corinthians 12:26 CSB - So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:31 CSB - But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and empowers us to use them to build up the Body of Christ and glorify Jesus. He gives the gifts, and we should pray for the best gifts—those that will bring the greatest honor and glory to Jesus and best serve the Body of Christ, the Church.

Paul would add the closing statement – ‘And I will show you an even better way.’ The greatest of these is love – love keeps us humble in our gifts and guides us to bring greater glory to God through them.

1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB - Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.

PRAYER:
Jesus, please empower me with the greatest gift of love—Your love and heart to serve the Body of Christ. In that love, may I be guided and strengthened with the best gifts to bring about the greatest ministry to the church and glory to You.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB - Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

OBSERVATION:
Paul, at the beginning of chapter 11, provides us not just with a statement or clever saying, but with an example of what true imitation is all about.

There is much discussion about whether this verse is the last verse of chapter 10 or the first verse of chapter 11. While chapter 10 emphasizes that whatever we do should be for the glory of God, not for ourselves, it also offers a great lesson on considering others. Meanwhile, chapter 11 addresses authority structures, divisions, and the importance of thinking of others in our actions. You could say this verse belongs to both verse 34 of chapter 10 and verse 1 of chapter 11, as the context shifts in both directions. This helps us understand that when this letter was written, it wasn't divided into chapters and verses. Paul was continuing his thoughts.

Paul uses a word that can carry both positive and negative meanings. Imitation can be genuine or fake. We've all at some point fallen for a “cheap knockoff” of something we thought was real or a good imitation, only to realize it’s worthless. On the other hand, we’ve bought items knowing they were copies, only to find they were even better than the original.

The word "imitate" is a verb meaning to follow as a model, while "imitation" is a noun that refers not only to the act of using as a model but also to an object meant to simulate or copy something else. The key is the word “intended.” One refers to an action, the other to a thing.

All this to say, are we genuine or fake? Are we a “cheap knock-off” or the “real thing” when it comes to following Christ in Paul’s example?

Paul not only taught this but also lived it. One of the first things he told his young protégé was to be an example. How often do we tell our children this yet fail to follow through ourselves? One of the most dangerous messages we can send, not just as parents but as followers of Christ, is “Do as I say, not as I do.”

APPLICATION:
1 Timothy 4:12 CSB - Don't let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

No matter our age, we are called to be examples, to imitate Christ! It's no small task, but it's possible. The question is whether we want to.

It begins with the Holy Spirit’s leading. We must learn to hear, listen, and obey His leading. Paul said we need to “walk in the Spirit.” It starts with His empowerment, then His leading.

If this weren’t such an enormous task (though entirely possible), Paul says, think of others first. Be like Jesus!

Philippians 2:1-8 CSB - If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death -- even to death on a cross.

I often quote Oscar Wilde's words and reflect on them, without realizing how profound they are when applied to Jesus.

The phrase means that when someone copies you, it shows they admire your actions and qualities enough to imitate them. It suggests that their imitation is a greater form of praise than mere words because it directly reflects respect, inspiration, and, in light of Jesus, obedience.

Imitation: Genuine or Fake?

PRAYER:
Jesus, becoming more like You is my prayer. Nothing less, nothing more. May I not be a “cheap knock-off” but a faithful, genuine imitator of You.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NKJV - Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

OBSERVATION:
In Chapter ten, Paul addresses the question of eating meat offered to idols. The issue had become divisive in the church. You had two camps, those who saw nothing wrong with it (Corinthians 10:29-33) and others who took offense.

Paul said in chapter eight, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” The point was that love should compel us, not knowledge. “We should not be a stumbling block to the weak.”

In chapter nine, it says, “We should be all things to all men, that, if possible, all might be saved.” There are three things we can practice to be ALL things: doctrine, behavior, and approach. While our doctrine should never change, our behavior and approach may need to.

The answer to the question was given in verses twenty-five and twenty-nine.

1 Corinthians 10:25, 29 NKJV - Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; ..."Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?

APPLICATION:
Paul is not talking about offending others' legalism… But he is talking about doing everything for the glory of God. Be sensitive… to both sides.

We should do as Paul said in chapter eleven.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV - Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

There are many questions about whether Paul was referring to chapter ten or eleven. Was this verse a continuation of “Follow my example as I seek to bless others instead of pleasing myself,” or was it in context with “Follow my example as I respect God’s order and authority in the church”?

Either way, both have their place. When we seek to follow Christ, we will not have to say, “Don’t look at me; look at Jesus.” Paul was not afraid to say, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Are we?

Let everything be done for the glory of God, not for us. That alone will resolve many arguments!

PRAYER:
Jesus, may I follow You so that as others follow me, they see YOU! May my life reflect You in all I do, in word and deed. May I become all things to all men for the gospel’s sake.

Paul’s heart and passion were to see people saved, both Jews and Gentiles. He was willing to do whatever it took to make this happen. This was not Paul’s license to sin but a means to win people to Christ. He would do this by changing not his doctrine but his behavior and manner of approach.

The question we need to answer is, “How do we become all things to all men without compromising?”

APPLICATION:
Paul gives us three things to be ALL things: Doctrine, Behavior, and Approach.
The doctrine of Holiness and Sanctification is of utmost importance. We have been set apart for holiness. We are to be different, yet we remain part of this world.
What behaviors do we need to change to win ALL to Christ? Maybe it’s an attitude or an action that turns people away from Christ instead of toward Him. This can be either a positive or a negative behavior.

Maybe we need to change our approach. There is time to share in the coming judgment and time to share in the unfailing love of Christ. Both have their place and purpose. The point is to know your audience. Remember, salvation has come to ALL! Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).

Let us be… “all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake” (Apostle Paul).

PRAYER:
Jesus, whatever needs to be changed in my behavior and approach to win others to Christ, change me! May I never compromise my doctrine (beliefs) to compromise the message of HOPE! May I be all things to all men to win all to You! It’s all about You, not about me.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NKJV - Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

OBSERVATION:
Paul is going to address legalism in the Corinthian church. He begins by addressing those who are offended by those who eat meat sacrificed to idols, and those who eat it without any problem.

The argument boils down to knowledge. Who is right and who is wrong? Neither! The true answer has always been and always will be love.

Love should compel us to eat or not eat. The fences we build in our lives to keep us from the things we struggle with or have convictions about are for us, not for others. We must be careful how we use the fences in our lives. They do not make us more holy than those who do not share the same convictions. The danger is expecting others to adhere to our convictions because we believe we are holier than they are.

Here is an example: I will not shop at a certain store because it gives to organizations I do not agree with or has policies I see as wrong. I choose to boycott because of these convictions. If I hear you shop there, I assume you are less holy and talk down about how weak people are who shop there. I do not stop to think that it is the cheapest place in town to shop and that the other person has a limited budget. Am I wrong, or are they wrong? Neither.

APPLICATION:
Filter all that we do through love! Let love compel us to do or not to do. Let knowledge not puff us up, but let love lead us. We who are stronger should bear with the struggles of the weak. In love, we may help them in their struggles.

Let us not argue over who is holier, but love one another and encourage one another to good works.

PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, that I am not made holy by what I do or don’t do. My righteousness comes from You alone. For none is righteous, not one. May I always live by the rule of love, and may it compel me to take the high road and think of others rather than myself, for You loved me more than I can even try to love others.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 7:23 NKJV - You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

OBSERVATION:
Paul is bringing the principle of freedom to the Corinthian Church. Some were in servitude to others. However, being in servitude did not mean they were not free.

1 Corinthians 7:21 NKJV - Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

Paul would encourage the man in servitude to use it to serve Jesus. This seems so foreign to us. No one is in servitude today. We do not have slaves (for good reasons). But we can all be slaves to something or someone.

Bob Dylan wrote a song in 1979 titled Gotta Serve Somebody. The chorus says:

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

The point is, who are we going to serve? I am not sure Dylan really understood what he was writing, nor do you or I.
 
APPLICATION:
Do not become a slave in the physical sense that another person rules you. Paul said to follow me as I follow Christ.

If anyone says “Follow me” without adding “As I follow Christ,” let that be a warning sign! We are never to place ourselves under the inappropriate control or influence of others.

Do not become spiritually enslaved to anyone. As Spurgeon said, “Follow the Master, not the man.” Follow Jesus, not a man. Men will ALWAYS let us down, but God never will. Jesus taught us this:

Matthew 23:8-12 NKJV - "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The GREATEST leaders are servants, not masters… Paul referred to himself as a bondservant. This was a willing servant, not one forced, but one who loved his master.

Paul understood what it meant that “we were bought with a price.” The price paid to redeem us was more than we could ever pay. It was the body and blood of Jesus, given for you and me!

Live in freedom, for we have been set free. Do not become a slave to ANYONE, but be a servant of Jesus!

John 8:34-36 NKJV - Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for the freedom I have in You. I am no longer a slave to sin, for I am a child of God. Thank you for no longer being a slave to anything or anyone. Instead, I can be a servant of the King of kings, the Master of masters, and the Lord of lords, Jesus, my savior!

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 6:11 CSB - And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

OBSERVATION:
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6 that everyone has a past. Some of our pasts are worse than others, but we all have “skeletons in the closet.” He uses the past tense – “Some of you used to be…” – and our “loose living past” often tries to resurface and haunt us!

It may be that the “past” isn’t really the past. It’s an ongoing struggle that continues when you come to Christ. The more you try, the harder it becomes to overcome, until you finally give in. The battle is real! Often, the very things we struggle with are what keep us feeling unworthy and hopeless.

Paul has an answer, and it's not as hard as you think. It begins in verses 9-10.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CSB - Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom.

1) Righteousness – Paul states that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom. How does someone become righteous? It happens only through the blood of Jesus.

Romans 3:10 NKJV - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

None of us, not a single one, is righteous on our own. We cannot do enough, earn enough, or keep ourselves from doing enough to become righteous.

Romans 3:10, 23-26 NKJV - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The word “propitiation” means that it was the only acceptable sacrifice to make you and me righteous; nothing else is acceptable, including our own works.

Righteousness is imputed—meaning it is credited to us because of Jesus! It doesn't mean we have become perfect, like 'super-saints” who never do anything wrong. God sees us as righteous through the lens of His Son—our propitiation.

2) Don't be deceived – Paul would remind us that we are not righteous on our own and are still sinners, good ones at that. It’s easy to look at this list and “cherry-pick” the ones we are not. The truth is, some of us WERE these things, if not most of them.

Paul argues that these sins should not define us as believers. In other words, we shouldn't be known for them. If the world sees us as one of them, it indicates a problem. God has “positionally” made us right and is “practically” working to remove them from our lives. The world may have known us in the past as a “drunkard” or any of the listed ones, but that is who we used to be, not who we are now. Our lives should and MUST look different.

Romans 6:11-14 NKJV - Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

APPLICATION:
As Paul begins by describing who we once were, he concludes by describing who we are in Christ. You were washed, sanctified, and justified. He uses not only the past tense but also the present and future tenses—meaning He did it, He does it, and He will continue to do it.

• You were washed—cleansed of sin by God's mercy.
• You were sanctified—set apart from the world and dedicated to God.
• You were justified – we are declared righteous before God's court through Jesus' work on the cross, just as if I’d never sinned.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Daily, moment by moment, turn to God as your strength. When you fall short, be like David and run quickly to God. Allow Him to “work” in you and “work out” those things that come back to haunt you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 CSB - Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

PRAYER:
Jesus, work in me and help me remove whatever prevents me from experiencing all that You desire in my life.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 CSB - It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles -- a man is sleeping with his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Shouldn't you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this?

OBSERVATION:
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addresses sexual immorality. The question posed to Paul was, “What should we do with this man?” This behavior was apparently justified as an act of “tolerance.” “See how loving we are!” Is it truly loving to confront someone's sin in the name of tolerance rather than in the name of Jesus? The fact that this sin was considered so unacceptable in Greek culture says a lot. Paul understood that this kind of incestuous relationship was seen as taboo even among their pagan neighbors, yet the Corinthian Christians seemed to accept this behavior.

Apparently, this man was engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship, possibly married to or cohabiting with his stepmother (his father’s wife). The woman remains unnamed and may not be a believer, but this man is part of the church. There is a suggestion that this was a long-standing relationship and likely well known.

Paul gave clear instructions on how to handle this man. Again, this was not merely a “one-night stand” or a lapse in judgment. It was openly done and widely tolerated by some in the church. Not an easy situation, but if it isn't addressed, the change, forgiveness, and grace this man needs won't be received.

Tolerance does not mean we're showing love, grace, and mercy. Tolerance implies we know better than Jesus does.

Sin was the very reason Jesus came to this earth. We all have it – it’s terminal without His intervention.

Paul would address a topic that many churches have struggled with throughout history.

1 Corinthians 5:5 CSB - hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

If this were the end of the story, we would think, “How tragic!” The church followed Paul’s instructions. Later, after the man repented, Paul said he should be restored to fellowship.

2 Corinthians 2:6-8 CSB - This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

We must always teach the true principles of Romans 6:23.

Romans 6:23 CSB - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Without understanding that our sin—regardless of size—separates us from God, we would be lost with no hope of salvation. But Jesus offers us forgiveness, grace, mercy, and eternal life.

Handling someone in the name of “tolerance” rather than in the name of Jesus isn't truly loving. It can keep them from experiencing eternal life, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and freedom from their bonds. Think about where you might be today if someone had chosen tolerance instead of sharing forgiveness.

PRAYER:
Jesus, may I always speak the truth in love, remembering that Your kindness leads to repentance. When I interact with people and their sins, may I not label them by their sins but remember that they need Your forgiveness, grace, and mercy. May I always handle them in the powerful name of Jesus, not in the name of tolerance.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 CSB - A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.

OBSERVATION:
1 Corinthians 4 continues Paul’s discussion of maturity. Paul addresses the Corinthians' immaturity regarding who or what qualifies someone as an "Apostle." In a culture that exalts leaders above others, Paul emphasizes the opposite.

Unfortunately, not much has changed. Often, those meant to serve end up asking to be served. We should heed the words of Jesus.

Matthew 20:25-28 CSB - Jesus called them over and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. "It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, "and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul uses the Greek word “hyperetas” to mean “servant.” It refers to a subordinate servant who functions as a free man.

As under-rowers or servants of Jesus, we have a duty to be faithful stewards of the Word of God.

A steward was responsible for managing the household finances and food distribution, keeping precise accounts for which he was accountable to the master of the house.

We have received the Word of God, more valuable than any currency, and we are charged with the responsibility to share it properly and give an account of how we do so. It is indeed a monumental task. Yet, it comes with great blessings!

APPLICATION:
You might be wondering, “How does this relate to me?” “I’m not a pastor or church leader.” You are at your job or in your family.

You may not hold the title of “manager,” but you are called to be a servant and an “under-rower.” Your primary role is to serve your Master—Jesus—and through that service, you will be able to serve those who employ you. As servants, we should aim to be “found faithful” in our work. It should be common for employers of Christian workers to say they are “faithful, show up, serve the team, and do what they are hired to do.” Although this can be challenging, the reward of serving Jesus and those around us is great. The real question is, will we choose to do it?

It's in these moments that we can relate to Paul to some extent.

1 Corinthians 4:10, 13 CSB - We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! ... When we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone's garbage.

Not easy words to swallow, but when we look to Jesus, we, like Paul, can say.

1 Corinthians 4:16 CSB - Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

Let that sink in for a moment!

Philippians 2:1-5 CSB - If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

What better way to give glory to Jesus than by taking on His servant's heart!

PRAYER:
Jesus, help me become a greater servant to You and others. When I am treated as such, remind me of Your great acts of service toward someone who was and is infinitely undeserving. Though I may seem like a “fool” to those watching from the outside, may they see whom I serve—You and You alone.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 CSB - For my part, brothers and sisters, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans?

OBSERVATION:
Is it possible to be an older believer and still be "immature"? Sadly, the answer is yes! We can receive all the benefits of salvation (we are saved, no question about it), yet still be immature in our walk, clinging to the basics of our faith. We all know that the foundation and fundamentals are of utmost importance. Without them, we would never realize that we have been forgiven and that our sins have been paid for through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Athletes never abandon the fundamentals; they always return to them and keep them at their core. They build on and refine those fundamentals, developing mastery. I am not saying we will become experts in our walks – even Paul said he had not arrived at that (Philippians 3:13-14). What I am saying is that there should be growth. We should not remain in the “infant” stages of our walk with the Lord.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul addresses the issue of “immaturity” in the Corinthian church. They claimed that Paul only gave them the basics; his teaching was simple and his speech plain. But Apollos was seen as more intellectual and offered them deeper insights. Yet Paul described them as “infants,” a label no one wants to hear from their spiritual father or mentor.

In a sense, Paul was saying, “Grow up!” It’s time to deepen our grasp of the fundamentals, not to move away from them. Let the fundamentals help you become the mature believer the Lord desires us to be.

Paul’s response to their argument was direct.

1 Corinthians 3:2-3 CSB - I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans?

Every infant needs milk to start with, not a juicy T-bone steak. They lack the teeth to chew it, and their digestive systems aren't ready to handle it. That's why it wouldn't be wise to give it to them. Instead, Paul brought the “pure milk”—the Good News—and the grace of God. It's essential not only for nourishing us but also for helping us grow.

Somewhere along the way, as the Corinthian believer grew older, they were still drinking milk and had not moved on to the T-bone steak of God’s Word. Paul even says they were not yet ready. Why? Because they had not matured beyond their former worldly state. They still struggled with envy and strife. It must have been like the disciples arguing over who was the greatest.

Before we point the finger too quickly, I think many of us — even you and me — haven't moved beyond this stage. Instead of growing and helping others grow, we keep comparing ourselves to that church or to those people. All the while, we miss what God wants to do among us.

APPLICATION:
How does one grow from immaturity to maturity? First, recognize that immaturity exists in your life. I think that if we all stopped and took the time to take inventory, we would quickly realize we all have immaturity. When that immaturity is made known, allow God to work.

The greatest place where God works isn't necessarily on a Sunday morning but in our daily devotional time with Him. If you want to grow, dive into His Word. Read it, meditate on it, write it down, and pray it in. This is where you'll experience growth in God's Word, guided by the Holy Spirit. This is a promise: growth will come.

Let’s move away from the “spiritual junk food” (that which only satisfies temporarily) and adopt the “spiritual balanced diet” found in His Word.

PRAYER:
Jesus, help me grow from immaturity to maturity. Enable me to desire both the milk and the solid food of Your Word. May I not only hear it but also apply it to my life. Grant me humility, love for others, and a deeper understanding of You.

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV - For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

OBSERVATION:
Paul was a brilliant man. He studied under the greatest rabbis and excelled them all. He had a voracious appetite for knowledge and knew the law inside and out. He was a Pharisee among Pharisees, an expert according to the law. He was believed to be a part of the Sanhedrin (the supreme religious court). He knew how to be persuasive and how to speak in a way that would draw the Corinthians to his words. But his words were not what they needed. They needed the simple truth of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified—to the Jew, a stumbling block; to the Greek, foolishness.

Let us never get in the way of the simplicity of the Gospel, for it is the POWER of God unto salvation!

APPLICATION:
Even the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon, when asked to guest speak, would always preach the Gospel. No matter what text he chose, he moved as quickly as possible to the cross of Jesus Christ.

All three of these men came to the same conclusion, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians chapter three. It would do us well to be reminded of the cross's importance.

Philippians 3:1 NKJV - Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

I have determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It’s not just an old, old story. It is the power of God unto salvation.

PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for the cross. Oh, the wonderful cross! When I survey the cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain, I count it but loss and pour contempt on all my pride… Love so amazing, so divine! Demands my soul, my life, my all!

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 1:8-9 NKJV - who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

OBSERVATION:
The church at Corinth faced many issues that needed correction, but Paul wanted to remind them that God is faithful.

• God was faithful in the grace that was given because of Jesus (vs 4)
• God was faithful in enriching their lives with speech and knowledge of Him (vs 5-6)
• God was faithful to give them spiritual gifts that would guide and encourage them (vs 7)
• God was faithful to strengthen them in their walk (vs 8)
• God was faithful to make them blameless, that they may see the day of Jesus Christ (vs 8)

God’s faithfulness is what keeps you and me, not our own abilities. The Corinthians prided themselves on their wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, as well as their use of the gifts. They had all of this, yet they were divided, lacking the same understanding (mind), the same convictions, and the same speech. They were a Church operating in the gifts (not because they were special, but because God blesses), yet they still showed great immaturity. That is why Paul would write this book.

APPLICATION:
Just because you have gifts, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding does not mean you are mature. These are all things we can hold onto and think are signs of maturity, when they are really gifts given because God is faithful.

Our maturity does not come from within ourselves, but because God is faithful to confirm and make us blameless.

Confirm means to make firm, establish, and ensure. God is faithful to do this in our lives. The question is, are we willing?

Blameless means that one cannot be called into account, unreproved, unaccused. This was and is the work of Jesus. By His Spirit, we are being set apart (positionally complete, practically still being worked out).

Gifts, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are not always signs of maturity. But God is faithful, and He will perfect us. Trust Him, allow Him to sanctify you (set you apart), make you more like Him, and watch how the gifts, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are used for HIS glory, not ours.

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for the work of sanctification that you are doing in me to make me more like You. Thank you, Father, for being faithful. Where would I be without YOU!

SCRIPTURE:
Romans 16:19-20 CSB - The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

OBSERVATION:
In Romans 16, Paul greets many of his companions and friends at the close of this letter. This final chapter reveals the depth of Paul’s personal relationships within the body of Christ and his appreciation for fellow laborers in the gospel.

Yet before he closes, he issues two significant warnings—both deeply relevant to the church today:

1. Guard against Division and Deception (Romans 16:17-18)

Paul warns us to watch out for those who would cause division and offenses in the church. At the same time, be careful not to dwell on them. Rather, dwell on the truth. We can become so consumed by division and deception that we forget the importance of the truth that sets us free.

2. Be Wise in Good, Innocent in Evil (Romans 16:19-20)

Paul calls believers to know good deeply—to be immersed in it. But when it comes to evil, we are to remain innocent and untouched by its ways

Like bank tellers trained to detect counterfeit money by handling the real thing, we are to be so familiar with God’s truth that falsehood is immediately apparent.
Jesus said:

John 8:31-32 - "If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Truth frees us. Evil enslaves. So why fixate on evil? The world already knows it's broken. What it needs is the good news—the truth of the gospel.

Romans 6:23 CSB - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

APPLICATION:
In today’s world of 24/7 media and nonstop bad news, ask yourself:
 
Do I know more about the evil in the world or the goodness of God’s Word?

If our minds are consumed by fear, outrage, and anxiety, we may need to refocus. Turn off the noise, open the Word, be wise in what is good, and grow in the gospel. Let the peace of Christ rule your heart.

Paul reminds us that God Himself will deal with evil:

Romans 16:20 CSB - The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

One day, Satan will be utterly defeated.

Revelation 20:10 NKJV - The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Evil will end, yet God’s grace will endure forever.

PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for being the God of Peace. Thank You for this letter to the Romans, which makes this very clear. When I find myself lacking peace in my life, may I turn to what is good—Your Word—and find the Truth that sets me free. As I become more acquainted with Your Word, may others see that I have peace—not because evil doesn’t exist—but because You are greater than it all.

SCRIPTURE:
Romans 15:13 NKJV - Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

OBSERVATION:
As Paul begins to close his letter to the Romans, he turns our attention to hope—specifically, the hope found in the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Without this hope, we would have no assurance that the finished work of Christ on the cross remains active and sufficient for today. But because of this hope, we know that what Jesus accomplished is at work in us even now.

What is the difference between hope and the hope taught in the Bible? In the Bible, hope is not wishful thinking; it is a confidence in future blessings grounded in God’s promise and character, all rooted in trust that God will do what He has promised.

Wishful thinking says, “I hope it works out.” Biblical hope says, “I am confident it will because God has said so.”

 The opposite of joy and peace is hopelessness and despair.

APPLICATION:
If you are experiencing hopelessness and despair, it may be that your hope is in something other than the source of hope – God.

Biblical hope doesn’t come from circumstances, people, or even ourselves—it comes from God alone. He is the God of hope, and He has never broken His promise. Whatever He has spoken, He will fulfill.

This confidence in the hope of God brings about an abounding hope – Paul used a similar term for grace – super-abounding.

Paul speaks from personal experience. He spent many years trying to transform his wretched state into something holy and acceptable, only to conclude: “What a wretched man I am!”

In the same way, His hope super-abounds in us—overflowing, strengthening, and anchoring us through every storm.

This super-abounding hope is made possible by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised:

John 14:16-18 NKJV - "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
 
John 14:26-27 NKJV - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Today, have confidence in God and His word. He is the source of Hope! His promises will never fail. He will do what He says He will do. May you be filled (super-abounding) with all joy and peace.

PRAYER:
Father God, thank You for this sure and true hope. Thank You for the joy and peace I can have because You keep Your word. Let the joy and peace that come from confidence in Your word, through the Holy Spirit, overflow in me today.