Ezekiel 4 -- We Risk So Very Much

God had Ezekiel live out an action sermon to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.  While they didn’t seem to want to listen with their ears, his God-given dramas certainly would catch their visual attention.  In this chapter, he resembled a boy playing soldier in the dirt.  He was to draw a map of Jerusalem on a clay tile, which would be readily recognizable to all who were watching.  He was also to enact the siege and destruction of the city.  Once God’s favor had rested on her and on her inhabitants, but now He was setting His face against Jerusalem.  A wall would stand “between God and the sinful Jewish nation so that He could no longer look on them with approval  and blessing … God was against them and would permit the pagan Babylonians to destroy the city and the temple,” my commentary said.

This theme ran throughout the chapter:  “It’s possible for people to rebel against God such a long time that all God can do is allow them to reap the consequences of their own sins.  The Jews were sinning against a flood of light … the nation had sinned and their sins had caught up with them … God had been longsuffering toward the sinful people of Judah, warning them and chastening them, but they would not remain true to Him.”  We can’t sin and not expect God to work to get us back!

What probably astounded Ezekiel’s audience was that God was bringing judgment upon His own people.  They surely thought the pagans deserved judgment, but not themselves.  “They took their blessings for granted and turned away from the Lord and worshipped idols, so God cursed their blessings.”

Father God, when we ignore You and Your warnings and allow ourselves to sin against You, we risk so very much!  It is wrong for us to presume upon Your mercy and grace, and in this story You give us ample evidence of what can happen when we do.  Help me to understand this completely and to understand that, like the Israelites, I have been given a flood of light, and sinning against it would be grave indeed.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Ezekiel 2-3 -- Obedience

Ezekiel had seen God’s glory, which humbled him and prepared him to be ready to obey, and now God would tell him what he was to do and say.  God commanded him to stand and listen, to go and speak, to not be afraid, and to receive the Word within.  As God’s messenger to Israel, Ezekiel was to speak God’s word to them.  They were to receive it and obey.  But they’d reached the point where they might hear but either not try to understand or else refuse to obey if they did understand.

“God assured His prophet that He would give him all he needed to withstand their opposition and disobedience … Ezekiel’s name means God hardens.  If the people harden their hearts and faces, God will harden His servant and keep him faithful to his mission,” my commentary said.

God wanted them to repent and seek His face.  Instead, they were regretting what happened and praying for retaliation!  As Ezekiel sat among them and realized this, he also “realized the seriousness of his calling and how great was the responsibility God had placed on his shoulders.  It’s a good thing for the servant of God to be among his people, to weep with those who weep … for he can better minister to them when he knows their hearts and feels their pain.  It isn’t enough simply to proclaim the message of God; we must also seek to have the caring heart of God,” my commentary added.

It also noted how Ezekiel was “the prophet of human responsibility.”  They weren’t to blame God or their ancestors for their plight.  They were each accountable before God.  “Sometimes godly people get the idea that their obedience has earned them the right to do as they please, but that idea is a great lie.  God gives His people many privileges, but He never gives the privilege to sin.”

Father, help me to glimpse Your glory, to realize fully my position before You, and to take Your Word fully into my heart.  Give me compassion for those in need of Your touch and Your salvation.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Ezekiel 1 -- Trying To Describe The Indescribable

Wow!  I loved how my commentary fleshed out the very peculiar descriptions Ezekiel was giving us!

“When Ezekiel went to the prayer meeting [at the river], it was just like any other day; but the Lord made a turning point in his life.  We never know what a difference a day will make when we’re in the path of duty.”

Ezekiel described, in the best way he could, a heavenly chariot.  Its wheels “symbolize the omnipresence of God while the eyes on their rims suggest the omniscience of God … The throne speaks of God’s omnipotent authority.”  And there was a rainbow – “Noah saw one after the storm (representing covenant grace).  In Revelation, John saw one before the storm.  Ezekiel saw it over the storm and in control of the storm.  In His wrath, God remembers mercy.  Ezekiel realized that he was beholding the glory of the Lord, and he fell on his face in awesome fear.”

Now to the heart of the message:  “Though His people were in exile and their nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every situation … He moves in the affairs of nations and works out His hidden plan … It was God who enabled the Babylonians to conquer His people and chasten them for their rebellion, but God would also bring the Medes and the Persians to conquer Babylon, and Cyrus, king of Persia, would permit the Jews to return to their land.”

Ezekiel likely knew that people respected priests yet despised prophets, and he was about to be changed from a priest into a prophet.  “No matter what message God gave him to preach or what opposition arose from the people, Ezekiel would be encouraged and strengthened because he had seen the mighty throne of God in the midst of the fiery trial.  He had seen the glory of God.”

Father, I too feel like the fiery trials have been coming one after another lately – some combining with others at times.  It’s been discouraging, but I don’t want to give up.  Like Ezekiel, I need to be reminded that You are God, that You are still on Your throne, and nothing and no one is more powerful than You.  Please show me this, Father.  I need to see that rainbow representing Your covenant grace over me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 16 -- The Stewardship Of Opportunities

Paul finished sharing wisdom from God with the church at Corinth by talking about “three areas of stewardship:  money, opportunities, and people.  These are probably the greatest resources the church has today, and they must not be wasted,” my commentary summarized.

I particularly noticed the stewardship of opportunities this morning.  Sometimes we can feel unsettled about opportunities that present themselves.  My commentary said, “A Christian must use his common sense, pray, study the situation, and seek the best he can to determine the will of God.  Lean not on your own understanding must not be interpreted to mean Put your brain in neutral and don’t think?  God gave us our minds and He expects us to think, but He does not want us to depend only on our own reasoning.  We must pray, meditate on the Word, and even seek the counsel of mature Christian friends … After we have done all we can to determine the leading of the Lord, we must decide and act and leave the rest to the Lord … The important thing is that we sincerely want to do His will … While we stop to think, we often miss our opportunity.  Once we know what to do, we must do it and not delay …The stewardship of opportunity is important.  The individual believer, and the church family, must constantly ask, ‘What opportunities is God giving us today?’  Instead of complaining about the obstacles, we must take advantage of the opportunities, and leave the results to the Lord.”

Father, I want to be open to opportunities You place before me.  Help me in every way with the stewardship of them.  Don’t let me miss what You have planned for me because of inattention or failure to consider that You may be right in the middle of the obstacles going on.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 15:35-58 More About Those Resurrection Bodies

Paul attempts to explain how a resurrection body will be so totally different from our earthly bodies.  My commentary told how the Greek philosophers at that time understood “the cycle of life” – that as a body returns to dust, it becomes fuel for earthly bodies in the future by becoming fertilizer.  Paul is about to rattle their cages, though!

First, he reminds them that a seed does not at all resemble the plant that it will become.  I loved verse 38:  “But God gives it a body that He has PLANNED for it …”  As amazed as we are with images of heavenly bodies – planets, the sun and moon – Paul says that their beauty is one kind of beauty and the beauty of our earthly bodies is another.  (Those heavenly bodies might be looking at us and be amazed??) 

Paul helps us to understand that we will need bodies suited for the environment of heaven.  God won’t simply put our parts back together someday.  “Resurrection is not reconstruction … There is continuity (it is our body), but there is not identity (it is not the same body).”

My commentary also said, “The resurrection body COMPLETES the work of redemption and gives to us the image of the Savior.  We are made in the image of God as far as our personality is concerned, but in the image of Adam as far as the body is concerned.  One day we shall bear the image of the Savior when we share in His glory … We will use the new body to serve and glorify God for all eternity.”

It also mentioned that Paul had a point in discussing all of this, and it wasn’t just to satisfy their curiosity:  “If we really believe in the resurrection of the body, then we will use our bodies today to the glory of God.”

Father, I love that You’ve planned all of this to fit so perfectly into Your will.  I’m so amazed that You loved me enough since before the world was created, despite my sinful nature, to include me in Your wonderful plans!  Help me to live a life that honors and glorifies You and leads others to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 15:1-34 So Why IS The Resurrection Important?

Corinth was in Greece and the Greeks didn’t believe in bodily resurrection.  They thought of the body as a prison to be freed from.  Now Paul was having to deal with that belief popping up in the church, my commentary said.

Paul had evidence to show them that a resurrection had occurred.  First, there were all of the people who saw the risen Christ, including Paul himself.  Secondly, the salvation of those who’d already believed could not have happened if there’d been no resurrection.  And thirdly, the Old Testament Scriptures spoke of the resurrection.

More importantly, Paul listed reasons for resurrection.  “Each responsible person on earth will share in either the resurrection of life and go to heaven, or the resurrection of judgment and go to hell.  Knowing this, resurrection becomes a motivation for evangelism.

Next, he listed suffering.  Why endure it if death ends it all?  “What we do in the body in this life comes up for review at the judgment seat of Christ.  God deals with the whole person, not just the soul … If there is no future for the body, then why suffer and die for the cause of Christ?”

Then Paul spoke of separation from sin.  “If there is no resurrection, then what we do with our bodies will have no bearing on our future … It was time for the Corinthians to wake up and clean up.

Lastly, Paul mentioned death.  “The heavenly kingdom is not made for the kind of bodies we have now … So when Jesus returns, the bodies of living believers will instantly be transformed to be like His body and the dead believers will be raised with new glorified bodies … not subject to decay or death.”

Father, help us to understand that Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins was very important, but His resurrection is what guarantees our future.  Help me to look forward to that day, and because of that hope, help me to make the most of the time until He returns to win others to You and Your kingdom.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 14 -- Order And Understanding In Worship

Paul continues to emphasize what is needed to insure that church worship is edifying (builds up and doesn’t tear down).  He said that prophesy is to speak to the hearts of the believers present, giving them strength, encouragement, and comfort.  At that time, prophesy wasn’t speaking a prepared sermon as it is today; it was a directed giving of a message for the believers by God through the Holy Spirit to the speaker, my commentary reminded.  It also mentioned how every part of our services should be edifying and not simply entertaining, and how God will bless such an effort and people will be helped.

He also mentioned understanding eight times.  “It is not enough for the minister to impart information to people; the people must receive it if it is to do them any good … If a believer wants to be edified, he must prepare his heart to receive the Word … Paul first applied the principle of understanding to the speaker himself.”  He did this because many speakers were simply experiencing some kind of personal spiritual excitement, not caring about the congregation.

He also applied it to other believers present.  He assumed they would listen and respond.  Of course, they couldn’t do that if the speaker was speaking in a language they didn’t know, and that was happening a lot as well.

He finally applied understanding to unsaved persons who happened to attend, or seekers, for understanding is key to salvation and church growth.  “What we share must be understood if it is to do any good.”

He also addressed order in worship, mainly in limiting those who were “hogging the stage”, making sure that messages were from god and even that the messages of the speaker were checked for errors by the congregation.  After all, humans do err.

Father, I love the basic message You showed me today – the purpose of building up the church – the believers today and the new believers resulting from what we do in worship and how You use it.  Keep that in my heart and mind as I worship.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 13 -- Not The Usual Take

Well, my commentary’s take on this was not at all what I was expecting! 

“Few chapters in the Bible have suffered more misinterpretation and misapplication … Many people fail to see that Paul was still dealing with the Corinthians’ problems when he wrote these words … The only way spiritual gifts can be used creatively is when Christians are motivated by love … The Corinthians were impatient in the public meetings, but love would make them longsuffering.  They were envying each other’s gifts, but love would remove that envy.  They were puffed up with pride, but love would remove pride and self-vaunting and replace it with a desire to promote others … Forgiveness means that we wipe the record clean and never hold things against people.”

Instead of what they were doing to upset the ministry that was going on, Paul told them that practicing love would enrich and build up the ministry, causing it to endure rather than fading from the scene.  Thinking about this in relationships, it’s easy to see, for a lack of love would soon cause a relationship to fade as well.

Paul told them that many of the spiritual gifts would fade away, particularly when Christ returned, since they wouldn’t be needed.  But what would be left would be the three Christian graces – faith, hope, and love – and we can’t neglect them at all.

Paul had emphasized unity and diversity, and now maturity, and my commentary said that maturity comes through love.

Father, such timely words this morning!  Help me to apply them in my own life and with those I love.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 12 -- The REASON For The Spiritual Gifts

My commentary said that the Corinthian church members had been given many gifts of the Spirit, but they had problems which had several causes.  “Some of the members were grieving the Holy Spirit by the carnal ways in which they were using the spiritual gifts.  They were like children with toys instead of adults with valuable tools, and they needed to mature… The gifts are given for the good of the whole church.  They are not for individual enjoyment, but for corporate employment….”

Paul also wanted them to understand that every believer received the baptism of the Spirit at conversion.  “The filling of the Spirit had to do with the Spirit’s control of our lives.  To be baptized by the Spirit means that we belong to Christ’s body.  To be filled with the Spirit means that our bodies belong to Christ.”

The church needs to have unity, but diversity is very important, too.  “Unity without diversity would produce uniformity, and uniformity tends to produce death … However, if diversity is not kept under control, it could destroy unity … It is maturity that balances unity and diversity, and that maturity comes with love.  It is not enough to have the gift of the Spirit and gifts from the Spirit.  We must also have the graces of the Spirit as we use our gifts to serve one another,” it said.

Father, thank You for emphasizing our part in the body of Christ.  No Christian was ever meant to be alone, but instead in fellowship with other believers.  Show us how to work together to glorify You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 11 -- An Unworthy MANNER

“So a person who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is not worthy of it will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.  Look into your own hearts before you eat the bread and drink the cup, because all who eat the bread and drink the cup without recognizing the body eat and drink judgment against themselves.”

My commentary discussed what we must do if the Lord’s Supper is to bring blessing and not chastening:

“First, we should look back … Jesus wants His followers to remember His death … Everything we have as Christians centers in that death … Second, we should look ahead … the return of Jesus Christ is the blessed hope of the church and the individual Christian … Third, we should look within.  Paul did not say that we had to be worthy to partake of the Supper, but only that we should partake in a worthy manner … It’s for sinners … We must examine our hearts, judge our sins, and confess them to the Lord.  To come to the Table with unconfessed sin in our lives is to be guilty of Christ’s body and blood, for it was sin that nailed Him to the cross.  If we will not judge our own sins, then God will judge us and chasten us until we do confess and forsake our sins … Finally, we should look around.  We should not look around in order to criticize other believers, but in order to discern the Lord’s body … in the church around us … The Supper should be a demonstration of the unity of the church … The communion is not supposed to be a time of spiritual autopsy and grief even though confession of sin is important.  It should be a time of thanksgiving and joyful anticipation of seeing the Lord!”

Father, thank You for helping me to know what constitutes an unworthy manner in partaking of the Lord’s Supper.  Help me to prepare myself for celebrating it by examining my heart and confessing unconfessed sin to You before I participate.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 10 -- All About Me, In More Ways Than I Knew

Paul had already shown that knowledge must be balanced by love and that authority must be balanced by discipline.  Now he also shows us that experience must be balanced by caution and freedom must be balanced by responsibility,” my commentary said.

First, Paul warns us that when we’re strong in the faith, we’d better watch out for overconfidence to creep in.  Sure, we have experience, and that should lead us to be cautious because of what we’ve experienced in the past, not headstrong!

“He warned that privileges were no guarantee of success, that good beginnings do not guarantee good endings, and that God can enable us to overcome temptation IF we heed His Word.”  Anytime we think that we are super strong Christians, able to handle anything that comes along, including temptation, we are setting ourselves up to fail.  Instead, we should be like a professional driver, trained in security and kidnap evasion – wary of every circumstance, knowing Satan will try to get us when we least expect it!  “The believer who thinks he can stand may fall; but the believer who flees temptation will be able to stand.”

Regarding our freedom, Paul said, “All things are lawful, but not everything is profitable, and some things lead to slavery (like cigarettes?) … All things are profitable but some activities cause your weaker brother to stumble.  In other words, it is a mark of maturity when we balance our freedom with responsibility … we have a responsibility to our fellow Christians in the church … we are not free to harm another believer … We are responsible to God for all things.  We cannot glorify God by causing another Christian to stumble … and we are responsible to win the lost.  We must not make it difficult [for anyone] to trust the Lord, or for other members of the church to witness for the Lord.  We must not live to seek our own benefit (profit), but also the benefit of others, that they might be saved.”

My commentary wrapped it up like this:  “The strong Christian not only has knowledge, but he also has experience.  He can look back and see how the Lord has dealt with him through the years.  But he must be careful, for experience must be balanced with caution.  Take heed, lest you fall!  The strong Christian knows that he has this freedom, but he also knows that freedom involves responsibility.”

Father, thank You for the warnings when I tend to get too cocky about my Christian maturity.  Keep reminding me that I’m only one temptation away from a fall.  And help me to fully know who all would be hurt by that fall.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 9 -- Authority (Rights) Balanced By Discipline

Yesterday, Paul’s writings showed that knowledge must be balanced by love.  Today, they prove that authority (rights) must be balanced by discipline, my commentary says.  Paul’s discussion about his apostleship authority is not an interruption, but an example of this, it said.  He did this by first defending his right to receive support from a church.  But the Corinthians knew that they weren’t supporting him.  He’d refused it.  So he then defended his right to refuse that support.  “Paul had the authority (right) to receive material support, but being a mature Christian, he balanced his authority with discipline.  He did not have the right to give up his liberty in Christ, but he did have the liberty to give up his rights.”

He did this for the gospel’s sake, so that it wouldn’t be hindered there; for the sinner’s sake, being “total abandonment to the higher law of love”; and for his own sake.  In much the same way that an athlete has to turn down food that will alter his performance if he wants to win, Christians disciplines themselves to keep our rights from becoming hindrances to unbelievers and not helps.  “If we want to serve the Lord and win His reward and approval, we must pay the price,” it said.  “The [incorruptible crown given at the judgment seat of Christ] is given to those who discipline themselves for the sake of serving Christ and winning lost souls.  They keep their bodies under control and keep their eyes on the goal.”

I can sure see this personally myself.  It’s been a very tough three weeks, and I know I’ve still got several tough weeks to go.  Friends have said they’d be sipping wine to unwind if they face the same trials.  But I don’t want to so and lose my witness.  I want to get my strength to continue from my Lord.  I want to trust Him to get me through all of this.  So even though I am free from the law and have the right to do what they recommend, I balance that right with discipline for the sake of love.

Father, thank You for showing me what You’ve already been doing in my life that I hadn’t even realized.  Please continue to strengthen me and show me the right way to live despite the difficulties I’m encountering.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 8 -- What We THINK We Know

Paul was having to address other matters the Corinthians had written to him about.  There are matters today which Paul would never have dreamed about, and though meat sacrificed to idols sounds silly to us, it’s just another example of questionable areas of Christian life.

The Corinthians already thought they had cornered the market on knowledge and they argued from logic to support their position, which in this case seemed to boil down to “no harm, no foul”, so far as eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  My commentary explained that in that day meat could be purchased either at regular markets or at temples where meat had been “offered” to idols.  The butchered and unused meat was sold to support the temples.  With zero cost, it was thus much less expensive.  The strong Christians, who knew idols were only the equivalent of art objects and had no power logically saw a way to save money by purchasing less expensive meat at those temples.

But many new Christians had been saved out of idol worship.  It was therefore offensive to them to even consider touching or consuming something so evil.  They wanted to completely remove themselves from what had been a part of their old lives.

The strong Christians saw this as silly and a  restriction on their spiritual freedoms.  But Paul said in effect, “Hey, wait a minute!  How is that showing love for your fellow believers?  How is that helping them grow?”  After all, in the minds of the weak Christians, these strong Christians appear to be walking right into sin.  And as Romans 14:23 says, “Anything that is done without believing it is right is a sin.”

Paul told those who thought themselves super spiritual that they had to back down from their spiritual pride for the sake of those who were new Christians.  They couldn’t push their rights to the detriment of newer believers.  That wasn’t love.

Father, remind me often of just how much I don’t know, so that I won’t be tempted to be puffed up, believing I’m right and what anyone else thinks doesn’t matter.  Instead, help me to love other believers enough to give up what I might consider freedoms in order to help them to grow in Christ.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 7 -- To Marry Or Not

Paul takes up questions that the Corinthians have written him about, and the first regards marriage.  My commentary noted that where possible he used Jesus’ own words to reply.  If Jesus hadn’t spoken directly about it, Paul tried his best to answer in a way that fit with everything Jesus taught.  Paul was writing to three different groups:  Christians married to other Christians, Christians married to non-Christians, and unmarried Christians.

To the first group, Paul said to remain married.  Don’t divorce simply because it seems you could serve God better by being single.  He also addressed the physical – If you can’t control yourself, then marry, for a Christian should not take part in sexual sin.

Regarding the second group, a couple may have both been non-Christians and married, and later one of the two became a Christian.  The question arose about whether to remain married to a non-Christian or divorce.  Paul’s counsel was to remain in the same calling he or she was in when the Lord saved them.

For unmarried Christians, Paul asked them to consider several factors.  Consider the present circumstances and whether the additional demands of marriage could be handled.  Also, they should face the responsibilities honestly, for a new marriage partner and possibly children could distract them from serving God.  They needed to be sure they could handle that.   “It is possible to please both the Lord and your mate, if you are yielded to Christ and obeying the Word,” my commentary reassured.

The third factor is to remember that each situation is unique.  “It takes more than two Christian people to make a happy marriage.  Not every marriage that is scriptural is necessarily sensible.”  Finally, he said, “Remember that marriage is for life.”  “Marriage must be built on something sturdier than good looks, money, romance, excitement, and social acceptance.  There must be Christian commitment, character, and maturity.  There must be a willingness to grow, to learn from each other, to forgive and forget, to minister to one another.”

Father, in my singleness, I pray that You will guide me regarding marriage.  Help me to take all of this to heart.  If it is in Your will that I marry, please help me to find her and treat her as Your precious gift to me.  Remind me, too, that You will be gifting me to her as well.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 6 -- Sexual Sin

My commentary says that in Corinth, sexual laxness resulted from a philosophy much like we hear today:  “Sex is a normal physical function, so why not use it as you please?”

In verse 11, Paul said, “In the past, some of you were like that.”  The grace of God was present and working in their church, and God had already changed some people’s hearts and lives.  The verse continues, “But you were washed clean.  You were made holy and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”  It says that the tense of these verbs indicates a completed transaction.  Those whom God had radically changed were not thrown out of the church.  God had restored them and cleansed them and made them useful to Himself and His purposes and will.  That was important for those to see who were still practicing sexual immorality.  They needed to understand that their current practice was driving them away from God.  It wouldn’t be their admission of their sins that would.  They also couldn’t claim that God had given them their desires and therefore they could give into them and always satisfy them.  Again their supposed “wisdom” was taking them far from God.

For us today, perhaps the best way to insure each day that we do not fall in their area is to do what my commentary suggested:  “If you begin each day by surrendering your body to Christ, it will make a great deal of difference in what you do with your body during the day.”

So why is all of this highly personal stuff so important?  “The conduct of individual members affects the spiritual life of the entire church … We are not our own.  We belong to the Father who made us, the Son who redeemed us, and the Spirit who indwells us.  We also belong to the people of God, the church, and our sins can weaken the testimony and infect the fellowship.”

Father, through Your Holy Spirit, please help me to keep my desires in check.  Guide all of my thoughts and help me not to stray into mental areas that are not good for me.  No matter how appealing it may seem, remind me that I am Yours.  I’ve been bought with a price, so why should I have to worry about living with the consequences of forgiven sin.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 5 -- Take Care To Read The ENTIRE Chapter

Paul addresses a particular instance of recurring sin by a church member and the church’s toleration of that sin.  Not only do they tolerate it, but they also are proud of their open-mindedness in tolerating it!  Paul gives guidance for church discipline, saying that such tolerance should never occur, because, like yeast, a little sin will soon spread to cause major problems in the church.  Tolerating that sin had also caused the church to be disgraced in the eyes of non-believers, too!

The man being discussed was to be “handed over to Satan”.  My commentary says this “does not mean to deprive him of salvation, since it is not the church that grants salvation to begin with.  When a Christian is in fellowship with the Lord and with the local church, he enjoys a special protection from Satan.  But when he is out of fellowship with God and excommunicated from the local church, he is fair game for the enemy.  God could permit Satan to attack the offender’s body so that the sinning believer would repent and return to the Lord.”

This is not an official sanction to set up “pious police out to catch a criminal”, it said.  “Rather it is a group of brokenhearted brothers and sisters seeking to restore an erring member of the family. 

While we may be tempted to think, “Whew!  I’m glad we don’t have any incest like he mentioned going on in our church,” it’s worth an extra look at verse 12, where Paul says, “You must not associate with those who call themselves believers in Christ but who:

1)      Sin sexually

2)      Or are greedy

3)      Or worship idols

4)      Or abuse others with words

5)      Or get drunk

6)      Or cheat people.”

WOW!

Father God, help us to remember that You have said there is not to be even a hint of immorality among us.  It’s not because we want the world to think we are better than them, but because it impedes our relationship with You and with other Christians.  Help us to see that any type of sin can give Satan a foothold, and help us not to defame Your Great Name by open-mindedness about it among believers in Christ.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 4 -- Three Pictures Of A Minister

A steward, a Spectacle participant, and a spiritual father…

The steward manages everything for his master, but himself owns nothing and displays faithfulness, my commentary said.  Ministers are managing the households of faith we call churches – managing them for the Master.  As a steward, a minister has the responsibility to be faithful to his master, and if he pleases his master, he’s a good servant.  So it doesn’t matter what men say, or even what the servant’s own judgment is about how he’s doing.  It’s God’s judgment of him that matters most, as the Master.

The picture of a Spectacle participant comes from the entertainment Rome found useful in keeping the masses on their side.  At the end of these grand shows, the poorest prisoners were brought into the arena to fight against wild animals.  Paul wanted them to see that ministers should exhibit the humbleness of these unfortunate prisoners.  My commentary told of a young preacher who told an older preacher friend, “Please pray that I will stay humble.”  His friend replied, “Tell me, what do you have to be proud about?”  The hanging end of that conversation kind of says it all, and was what Paul was trying to help them to see.

Lastly he mentioned the tenderness of a spiritual father, particularly in administering discipline.  The Corinthians were quite puffed up with their worldly wisdom.  Their religion was only in words, though.  “Paul gave the Corinthian church opportunity to set their household in order…  Unfortunately, they church did not immediately obey.”  So in the upcoming chapters he’ll be addressing that, my commentary said.

Father, help each of us – myself most of all – to take to heart Paul’s words about faithfulness, humbleness, and tenderness.  Help us to not break Your heart and need Your discipline.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 3 -- Why It's Taking A Little Longer Each Day On These

My quiet times have been so deep lately that I have to read, wait, think, and then write.  In v. 1-4, Paul speaks of the lack of spiritual maturity of the Christians in that church.  He compares them to babies who are unable to eat solid food (meat).  My commentary took an unexpected turn when it discussed what milk and meat really stood for:

“Milk represents what Jesus Christ did on earth, while meat concerns what He is doing now in heaven… The immature believer knows little about the present ministry of Christ in heaven.  He knows the facts about our Lord’s life and ministry on earth, but not the truths about His present ministry in heaven.  He lives on Bible stories and not Bible doctrines. “  In other words, what is really involved in our salvation – the deep things of God and how they apply to daily life, it said.  He refers us to Hebrews 5:10-14 as his proof.

So now I need to think on what Christ is doing for me now in heaven – interceding with God for me and many other things!  Yes, His work on earth was finished on the cross, but His work in heaven on my behalf goes on 24/7!

Jesus, thank You for Your current ministry.  I’ll never be able to repay what You did for me on earth, but what You’re doing for me now just bowls me over.  Thank You for loving me so.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 2 -- Wow! NOW I Understand!

The things I read this morning are dovetailing with a Sunday night series we’ve begun at church on the Holy Spirit.  It was hard to decide on just one thing to write about this morning.  But I liked what I read in my commentary about verses 10-16:

“Many people get confused (or frightened) when they hear about election and predestination.  As far as the Father is concerned, I was saved when He chose me in Christ before the foundation of the world, but I knew nothing about that the night I was saved!  It was a hidden part of God’s wonderful eternal plan.  As far as God the Son is concerned, I was saved when He died for me on the cross … This is where the Spirit comes in:  as far as the Spirit is concerned, I was saved (insert the time and place) .  It was then that the Holy Spirit applied the Word to my heart, I believed, and God saved me.”

Wow!  What a great way to explain it.  Who knew!  God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit did!

Thank You, Father, for this marvelous way of showing me how much You loved me before the world was formed and saved me through the death of Your Son, then had Your Holy Spirit quicken my heart to You in Your timing, so that I became a part of Your family!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 1 -- Trouble In A Church

Paul didn’t hesitate to address problems he saw in the church at Corinth.  My commentary said it was a defiled church because of worldly things its members were doing; it was a divided church because groups were competing for leadership; and it was a disgraced church because it was hindering the progress of the gospel instead of glorifying God.

Paul reminded the Christians there that they were called to be holy, that they’d been set apart by God, and they’d been enriched by God’s grace.  With all of this (which they seem to have forgotten) they should be expecting Christ’s return and therefore keeping themselves undefiled.

Paul talked about the fellowship they should have been enjoying with each other, which also should speak loudly to the world.  “They got their eyes off the Lord and on the Lord’s servants, and this led to competition,” my commentary noted.

Some Christians who belonged to the house of Chloe spoke up to Paul with courage and devotion.  “They did not try to hide the problems.  They were burdened about them; they went to the right person with them; and they were not afraid to be mentioned by Paul,” my commentary said.

How did Paul end up handling this?  He reminded them of what they were:  not wise, mighty, or noble.  “God had called them, not because of what they were, but in spite of what they were,” my commentary said.  He reminded them of why God called them – “to show the world their need and His grace.”  He also reminded them of all they had in Jesus.  “With all He has, why compete  with each other or compare yourselves with each other?”

The mistakes they were making helped to create problems in their church.  My commentary asked us to examine our own churches and our own lives and ask if we are living up to our calling.

Father, thank You for taking a church that is having problems and not hiding them, but using them to show us how even today we in a church can disgrace the name of Christ.  Allow us to see if there is anything we need to address and help us to openly allow You to guide us into all truth if there is.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford