June 29

1 CORINTHIANS 4

¹⁴ I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For though you have countlessguides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ¹⁶ I urge you, then, be imitators of me. ¹⁷ That is why I sentyou Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. ²¹ What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

                                                                 – 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

1 CORINTHIANS 4 TOUGH LOVE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When we are part of the communion of saints

We who are spiritually mature must build up the church

Tough love is needed for those who are still infants in Christ

The gospel is spread by those who bring truth, correction and life

We are all responsible to grow our faith and admonish one another

Let us all manifest brotherly affection and compassion for each other.

In this letter, Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the necessity to correct their wrong mindsets about the leaders of God’s church. According to David Guzik’s commentary “Some Corinthian Christians were so arrogant they thought Paul was afraid to visit them. When they thought Paul was afraid of them, it made them all the more proud in their hearts. Those among the Corinthian Christians who loved high-sounding words and their successful image had their own word, but Paul had the true power of the gospel. The final test of wisdom is power; the word of the cross not only has the power to mentally illumine, but also to morally save.”

In our society today, we are so concerned to be politically correct and so conscious of crossing boundaries that we fail to show tough love when it is needed in the church.

REFLECTION

• Share some insights as to the novelty of tough love in God’s churches these days.

June 27

1 CORINTHIANS 4

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.⁶ I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. ⁷ For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? – 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

1 CORINTHIANS 4 WHY BOAST ABOUT ANYTHING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Do you not know that every good gift comes from God?

There is nothing that we received that originates from us

Anything we do and work for is a blessing from the Lord

So, why boast about anything when it didn’t come from you?

Do not be puffed up and think highly of yourself

Be thankful and give credit only to your loving Father

In this letter, Paul stressed to the Corinthian church the importance of remembering that they are serving the Lord Jesus Christ and that they are responsible to care for the truths that God has given them. They do not need to focus on their differences because it is God’s preference to give different gifts to anyone he desires to give. He cautions them of pride that they easily resort to.

Humans automatically focus on their own achievements or efforts and this is the result of our sin nature. Paul cautions them that they need to guard their hearts from comparisons, jealousy and judgments when they are serving the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing to boast about anyway since all things emanate from God.

REFLECTION

• What do humans automatically boast about? How can we prevent boasting?

June 26

1 CORINTHIANS 3

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. – 1 Corinthians 3:16-23

1 CORINTHIANS 3 KEEP GOD’S TEMPLE HOLY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

You are indwelled by God’s Holy Spirit

After Jesus died on the cross, He gave you his Helper

You are now the temple of God so keep it unblemished

Do not defile it with human understanding and folly

It is God’s dwelling, so keep it pure and holy.

Many people do not understand the idea of keeping our bodies pure and holy. Even some Christians fail to apply the concept that we are God’s temple and that we are expected to keep it pure. In the Old Testament, God was very specific about how to build his temple, what materials to use and the restrictions of who are the only ones who can enter the Holy of Holies. The layers of curtains that a priest had to go through to ensure that the temple is not defiled clearly foreshadows how we need to respect our own bodies as well.

How are we to connect the concept of God’s temple in the Old Testament and being the temple of God after Jesus died for us? Our limitations as humans pose as a challenge to uncover this concept of keeping our bodies pure and holy. With the culture and traditions of the world around us, it can be a challenge to discern how to keep our bodies holy and undefiled. In the book of James, pure religion includes making sure that the believer is unstained by the systems of the world.

REFLECTION

• What ways can Christians defile God’s temple in their own bodies?

June 25

1 CORINTHIANS 3

¹⁰ According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilledmaster builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³ each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

1 CORINTHIANS 3 WORKS TESTED THROUGH FIRE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Each believer is given a gift to build up on Jesus’ foundation

Every saint is responsible to grow what was given to them

The work that each one contributes is counted in and then evaluated

It goes through the testing by fire and if it survives, it will be rewarded.

When one builds a house or any building, the foundation is crucial. Without good groundwork, the building or home may eventually collapse. This is why we need architects and engineers to work together with the client so that their lifestyle and functions will be considered in the design and stability of the structure. When contractors who are hired by the clients compromise the architect’s design and the engineer’s counsel, we are going to expect maybe a disaster or delay in the project. The project manager is also a crucial part of the project because if no one oversees it, it can easily become a money pit for the clients or worse, can be a nightmare when some unforeseen things happen.

Paul talks about the importance of a believer’s work for the kingdom of God. He reminded them that Jesus laid a firm foundation that they can build up on. If they added precious work to spread God’s kingdom, it will be tested by fire. In other words, each person is expected to grow the kingdom according to how many gifts were given to them accordingly.  Romans 12:6-8 enumerates the various gifts of the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION

• What gifts were you given to add up on Jesus’ foundation for his church?

June 24

1 CORINTHIANS 3

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. ² I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? ⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. ⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

1 CORINTHIANS 3 INFANTS IN CHRIST

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When a believer is unable to let go of the old self

He will struggle with the cravings of the “self”

As a follower of Jesus, we are called to die to our flesh

Otherwise, we will be unspiritual and infants in Christ

If we take our Lord seriously, we will grow our faith

We will no longer continue to feed on spiritual milk.

In this letter, Paul likens the life of believers to infants. He said that it was difficult for him to give them solid food or truths because they were still unable to understand it. They are still stuck just taking spiritual milk. They are incapable of incorporating teachings in their lives. They are still living shallow lives catering to their flesh.

How would the baby Christian be different from the mature one? You will see it in the way they live. The mature ones manifest the fruits of the Spirit which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. There is less jealousy and strife in their lives. They are content and they don’t make a habit of sin. They prioritize the Lord in all they do.

REFLECTION

• How would you deal with a Christian who wants to stay an infant in Christ no matter how long they have been Christians?

June 23

1 CORINTHIANS 2

¹⁰ these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. ¹³ And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. ¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ¹⁶ “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

1 CORINTHIANS 2 THE MIND OF CHRIST GIVEN TO BELIEVERS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you believed in Jesus, the Spirit lives in you

You will begin to see the unseen and what is true

The Spirit will help you discern things and expose lies

The gift of knowledge is given to all who believe in Christ

It is not human intellect that understand things

It is the Spirit that gives you knowledge how Christ views it.

Paul diverts the believers’ minds to depend on the Spirit rather than on their own intellectual capacities. Once again, he directs people to give credit to the Holy Spirit who leads us to discern and understand spiritual and unseen matters. The word of God is given to us so that we will be guided by the power and authority of God’s wisdom. To all who believe in Christ, discernment to see what is unseen and to expose the tactics of the enemy are given. It is impossible for humans to have true wisdom because it is only granted to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. What the world perceives as knowledge is not truth. Only in Christ can we see spiritual forces at work and because the Holy Spirit lives in all believers, they are the only ones who discern what worldly people cannot distinguish.

REFLECTION

• Why would it be difficult for unbelievers to discern spiritual things?

June 22

1 CORINTHIANS 2

And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimonyof God with lofty speech or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, ⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ⁶ Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. ⁷ But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”– 1 Corinthians 2:1-9

1 CORINTHIANS 2 THE FUTILITY OF HUMAN WISDOM

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you believe in Christ, you will not rely on your own knowledge

Boast only on the work of Jesus on the cross, it is complete

Don’t depend on human effort and the system of this world

Human wisdom is nothing compared to God’s word

It is futile to pay attention to human reasoning and arguments

Only God’s Spirit gives you power to understand and be discerning.

In this letter, Paul reminds the church in Corinth that he is not bringing the gospel to them with impressive words or brilliant speeches, but he brings it to them with simplicity. He focuses on what Jesus did on the cross and the grace that comes from knowing and believing in the work of Christ. He cautions them not to be easily swayed by rhetorics, persuasive speeches or philosophies of men. During those times, the Greeks emphasized the importance of rhetorics to influence and persuade people in political and legal systems. It is crucial to have such skills to access truth and knowledge. With skilled orators, they are equipped to analyze situations, construct convincing arguments and move audiences. Paul discourages these worldly human skills in proclaiming the gospel.

REFLECTION

• Why isn’t it important to be eloquent in proclaiming the Good News?

June 20

1 CORINTHIANS 1

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. ²² For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. – 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

1 CORINTHIANS THE CROSS OF CHRIST FROM DIFFERENT VIEWS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

To the world, the cross is foolishness and does not make sense

But to the believer, it is all that matters; it is their strength

According to the world, it is irrational to sacrifice and suffer

But Jesus died on the cross so we can handle adversities and trials.

The most asked questions by unbelievers to Christians are these: “Why did your God die on the cross and suffer?” and “Why does God allow suffering in this world?” The world cannot understand the concept of suffering because the system of the world focuses on the “self” and what is comfortable. It does not understand “true love.” It knows transactional relationships which is all about what one could get or have if they get into affairs and contacts with others. It doesn’t understand the concept of “sacrifice.” It opposes anything that is uncomfortable or unfamiliar and hard. Many false religions cater to the comfortable and the easy path. These religions do not have a true and sovereign God who made all things and have authority over everything on earth and beyond.

In this letter, Paul boldly presents the radical concept of God preferring the weak against those who think they are intelligent, knowledgeable and wise according to this world. True wisdom comes from knowing Christ and acknowledging that God is the Maker and Owner of everything we see on earth and also all things unseen. When we believe in Jesus, we learn to discern the true meaning of the cross. We begin to accept suffering and pain.

REFLECTION

• What do you think of Christians who are comfort seekers and avoid pain, trials and sufferings?