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?

June 19

1 CORINTHIANS

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. ¹² What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.¹⁸ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

                                                                          – 1 Corinthians 1:10-19

1 CORINTHIANS AN APPEAL FOR UNITY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As believers, let us set aside all kinds of quarrels and arguments

There is no room for believers to insist on their own preferences

Accept one another as different from you with love and respect

Be genuinely interested in others and do not make it about yourself

Just as the Father, Son and Spirit are united and one in three

Let all believers aim for unity with their brothers and sisters.

In this letter, Paul confronts the Corinthian church about quarrels and divisions happening among them. He calls out all those reported to him who get into quarrels, fights and divisions. He asks them to aim for unity instead of highlighting their differences and judging one another who doesn’t fit into their predilections. He sounds like scolding little children in this letter. He didn’t want them to be shallow with competitive spirits that work against unity and harmony. He also attacks those who think they are wise and presents to them that God destroys the wisdom of the world and prefers the weak.

REFLECTION

• How can we as Christians go against what the world considers as wise?

June 17

ROMANS 16

¹⁷ I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. ¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ¹⁹ For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.²² I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.²³ Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. – Romans 16:17-23

ROMANS 16 BE WARY OF SMOOTH TALKERS & FLATERERS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Watch out for those who flatter you

They may be doing so for a reason

Flattery is a form of deception

It is also a way of manipulation

Steer clear of those who stirs up fights

They are only obstacles to your growth.

Paul warns the believers to watch out for those who stir up conflicts and put up hindrances to what the gospel has taught them. He exposes these people who are smooth talkers and uses flatteries. He clearly identifies them as not belonging to God’s kingdom. They are not serving God but they serve their own flesh. They try to deceive you with smooth talk and flatteries and if you are not aware of their tactics, you will fall victim to their lies and deceptions.

He reminds them also not to worry much because the God of peace will soon crush Satan. One of God’s traits is that he is a God of peace, which is a good reminder that there is nothing that isn’t under his control. We only need to rely and depend on him and we will be calm. There is no room for worry or anxiety when we have God on our side.

REFLECTION

·       What do you think is behind smooth talking and flatteries?

·       Why should we avoid those who create conflicts and divisions?

June 11

ROMANS 14

²⁰ Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. ²¹ It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. ²² The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. ²³ But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. – Romans 14:20-23

ROMANS 14 BE CONSIDERATE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When someone has a different view other than yours

Do not be quick to judge or quarrel over that difference

In the body of Christ, we are considerate of other people

We do not highlight conflicts that will create division

Instead, we do our best to accommodate our differences

We do not want to cause our brothers to stumble and fall.

In this letter, Paul addresses the church regarding using their liberty among their brothers so that they do not become a hindrance to their faith growth. He explains that the freedom that they have in Christ must not be used for their own conveniences if it aggravates another brother.  He pleads them to be considerate of their fellow believer’s preferences and not be legalistic and judgmental about their own preference.

In verse 20, he lays down the basis of consideration for others. They must not continue to eat anything that exacerbates another believer. They must take into account their brother’s preference and not judge them or provoke them into creating contentions and divisions. It is a trivial matter to argue about what to eat and what not to eat.

The whole point of this letter is how a believer uses his freedom to ensure that their brothers are built up in their faith. The Jews created a lot of laws within the laws that and have all these rules about what to eat and what not to eat. Paul is simply saying that legalism has no room in the Christian faith. Consideration is loving but legalism is not.

REFLECTION

• What’s happening in a believer’s heart if he isn’t being considerate?

June 10

ROMANS 14

¹³ Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. ¹⁴ I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. ¹⁵ For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. ¹⁹ So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. – Romans 14:13-19

ROMANS 14 SEEK PEACE AND MUTUAL UPBUILDING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you think highly of yourself

You will likely put down others

If you serve the Lord Jesus Christ

You ought to look too at others’ interests

Seek peace and live harmoniously

Pursue what is for mutual upbuilding.

It is easy to pass judgment on others without looking inside of us. The world’s system propagates standards for us to follow that doesn’t take into account each person’s best interests. It only focuses on what benefits the powerful and the rich, but marginalizes the poor and vulnerable. We were born in these standards. At a very young age, we received such mindsets from the world family systems, school systems, and later the community at large. It is ingrained in each one of us. We automatically think and follow the world’s systems. Unless we have been regenerated in Christ, we will follow our old nature that is selfish and sinful.

Paul reminds us not to hinder the peace or growth of someone else by judgments. He admonishes us to pursue peace and focus on ensuring that we don’t put a stumbling block on others. He also stresses the importance of being accepting and understanding other people’s differences so we don’t judge them or create divisions.

REFLECTION

• What trials do we face in our world today that makes peace challenging?

June 9

ROMANS 14

¹⁰ Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; ¹¹ for it is written,

                         “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

                            and every tongue shall confess to God.”

¹² So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.– Romans 14:10-12

ROMANS 14 ON BEING ACCOUNTABLE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Do not give your own verdict on others

When you pass judgment, you despise your brother

You will be judged by God himself if you do

He is the only One who is the righteous judge.

In our world today, very few people are accountable to someone. We live in a society that doesn’t generate “accountability.”  “To each his own” is an idiom which means that everyone has their own preferences and opinions. No one is right or wrong. Each person is free to believe what they want regardless of their conscience. They do not hold another person responsible for anything.  They have taken “mind your own business” to a dangerous level where there is almost apathy towards another human. They are free to do what they prefer even if it is harming them or someone else.

There are privacy laws that have been implemented so each citizen can continue to be irresponsible and not care about consequences of their actions. Each person thinks that no one can stop them from doing what pleases them. Even when it comes to health concerns, sometimes someone can take the “privacy act” to its extreme. A person can keep secrets about their diagnosis even from their own family like their children or spouse so they can continue to do as they please without any accountability. They pretend they are okay and continue to keep it secret for fear of not being perfect. They do not care to prepare their loved ones for the detrimental outcome of their diagnosis. They think only of their own life and don’t care how they impact the surviving family. This clearly manifests a life of no accountability but a self-focused life, isolated from everyone.

REFLECTION

• What was Paul’s warning in verses 11-12 regarding judgment and accountability?