July 17

1 CORINTHIANS 10

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.⁶ Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” ⁸ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. ⁹ We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, ¹⁰ nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. ¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

                                                             – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 CORINTHIANS 10 ON ENDURING TEMPTATIONS

In this letter, Paul encourages the Corinthian believers not to be disheartened when facing temptations. He reminds them of the people in the Old Testament like Moses who led God’s people into the wilderness and into the promised land. He explains to them that God purposely gave them the commandments so that they can be guided how not to go against God’s plans. Many of the children of God didn’t follow some of his laws and they faced consequences for what they did. God dealt with sin right away when it happened before Christ came in the picture. I would say that was gracious of him to do so. In this way, he is saving the others who might be demoralized by those sinful acts. Cutting those rebellious people will protect the rest of them. Paul reminds the Corinthian church of their responsibility to follow the laws for their own benefit. He warns them to be wary of discouragement when faced with temptations because the Holy Spirit will be with them to give them a way out of it. They will not be given anything that they cannot handle.

REFLECTION

• How can we develop endurance against temptations?

July 15

1 CORINTHIANS 9

¹⁵ But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. ¹⁹ For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

                                                                        –1 Corinthians 9:15-20

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GROUND FOR BOASTING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Do not boast of anything you accomplish on your own

As a servant of Christ, boast only of bringing his kingdom to come

If you expect to be paid for doing what is expected of you

What else are you going to look forward to when you face Jesus?

Paul continues to assert letting go of his right to be compensated for his apostleship. He was preaching the gospel for free because he knows the reward awaiting him when he faces Jesus in his second coming. He took pride in doing this because in those days, there were a lot of religious entrepreneurs who would preach any message to get money. Paul was glad that he could be free from being identified with these crooks. His reward was that he was not reliant on the support of anyone. His conscience is clear that he is doing what was expected of him by God without any compensatory expectation from anyone.

How many Christians have the same viewpoint as Paul’s regarding foregoing his wage? He was doing his kingdom work for the sake of truth and to bring the gospel to as many people as possible without any obstacles for truth to be preached. His ground for boasting is that his apostleship was unadulterated and not motivated by self-seeking gains.

REFLECTION

·       Share how Paul’s purity of service is such a novelty in our world today?

July 13

1 CORINTHIANS 9

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? ² If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. ³ This is my defense to those who would examine me. ⁴ Do we not have the right to eat and drink? ⁵ Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? ⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

                                                                     – 1 Corinthians 9:1-7

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GIVING UP RIGHTS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you serve Jesus, you deny your rights

You do not fight for entitlements but you rely on Christ

This shows that you are giving up self-reliance.

Instead, you lean on God and let go of independence.

In this letter, Paul foregoes his right to be compensated as an apostle. Instead of his entitlement for wages for his labor of love, he emphasized the importance of self-sacrifice in order to prioritize bringing the gospel to the Corinthian church. He asserts his apostleship and mentions that he worked hard to ensure that the gospel reached everyone in Corinth. He wasn’t expecting them to pay him for all the things he did in order for God’s kingdom to come to Corinth. He focuses on the aim of the gospel preaching which is to save everyone’s soul if they believe in Jesus Christ.

In our world today, many ministries have risen and online platforms are being used to bring the gospel to our homes. It isn’t hard to find many mega-churches who have prospered because of certain media platforms they used to reach people. It even went overboard as to preaching the gospel, but has become a venue for prosperity gospels which have nothing to do with God’s kingdom. It seems to be the opposite of the sacrifice that Paul did in the time of writing of this letter. Some spiritual leaders have forgotten that they’ll be remunerated in heaven and not here on earth.

REFLECTION

·       What rights have you given up as a Christian? Why did you give it up?

July 11

1 CORINTHIANS 8

 Now concerningfood offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. ⁴ Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” ⁵ For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— ⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. – 1 Corinthians 8:1-6

1 CORINTHIANS 8 KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP BUT LOVE BUILDS UP

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Be watchful if knowledge is something you seek regularly

You can be puffed up and make you proud of yourself

Seek only the knowledge that comes from God’s word

It is the only wisdom that makes you overcome this world

God wants you to walk in love and instead think of others

It will give God glory and praise if you do this to one another.

Paul cautions the Corinthian church of the downside of seeking too much knowledge. He says that it makes a man puffed up with pride when they obsess about knowledge. Why do you think he warns them not to be so consumed by it? When we seek too much knowledge, it usually is to appear superior or much better than others. We can easily think we are right and others are wrong or we can be obsessed with our reputation for knowing more than others. Comparisons set in and then we marginalize those who do not live up to our standards. We become presumptuous and assume that people will look up to and respect us because of such knowledge that we have. So, one desire to look accomplished turns into more discrimination over others or a competitiveness against others. We believe in ourselves and go against being “loving.” We become impartial to those who have different views than ours. It brings about “idolatry” in us wherein we are the gods ourselves. It doesn’t give God glory when we do this.

REFLECTION

·       How is wisdom different from knowledge? How does knowledge make us proud?

July 10

1 CORINTHIANS 7

³⁶ If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. ³⁷ But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. ³⁸ So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.– 1 Corinthians 7:36-40

1 CORINTHIANS 7 ON CONTROLLING ONE’S DESIRE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As humans, it is inevitable to have our own desires and passions

A desire is a strong longing or yearning for something or someone

A passion is an intense emotional reaction to a particular thing or person

Be careful that your desires and passions do not consume you

If you serve Jesus, you will let the Holy Spirit guide your desires

Crave only for things that are holy and those that build up others.

In this letter, Paul weighs whether it is better to stay single or married. He discussed desires and passions. He gave examples of situations where one may be unable to control their desires or passions. In verse 36 he points out the importance of controlling their desires with their fiancée but if they cannot regulate such passions and it overwhelms them, he advises them to marry so that they will not sin. In verse 37, he commends those who are able to control themselves and wait for that period of engagement. For the widowed, Paul recommends for them to stay single and he thinks that it is wise advice for them to follow so that they could focus on serving the Lord.

In our world today, many people cannot have desires and passions that are under control. We live in a society where instant gratification is the norm and delaying getting what we want is a novelty.

REFLECTION

• How can Christians become more aware of earthly cravings and control it?

July 7

1 CORINTHIANS 7

¹⁷ Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. ¹⁹ For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. ²⁰ Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. ²¹ Were you a bondservantwhen called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) ²² For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. ²³ You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. ²⁴ So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

1 CORINTHIANS 7 LEAD THE LIFE YOU ARE ASSIGNED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God calls you to be part of his kingdom

Remain in that condition whatever you are doing

Lead the life that you are assigned, that is your vocation

Don’t change anything, let God make the transformation

You were bought with a price, remember his steadfast love

Respond to God’s calling with all your heart, soul and mind.

In this letter, Paul emphasizes the grace and gift that God gives to those whom he calls into his kingdom. It didn’t matter whether they were slaves or free, married or single. In verse 20 he advised them to remain in the condition in which they were called to serve. He gave the examples of being a servant or a free man, single or married.

Why do you think Paul stresses to them the importance of staying put when they are invited to God’s kingdom? Paul wanted them to focus on God’s power and grace, not on their limited human capacities. Paul wants them to see the power of God himself. He can transform however mundane your condition was and use you as a vessel to make himself known to mankind and his will fulfilled.

REFLECTION

• What was the condition of your life when you were called to serve God?