1 Corinthians 4:7-21 Humbleness And Tenderness

Paul also wanted the church at Corinth to understand humbleness.  "Paul discovered that his spiritual strength was the result of personal weakness.  strength that knows itself to be strength is weakness; but weakness that knows itself to be weakness becomes strength ... There is no place for pride in the ministry."

He also wanted them to understand tenderness.  "Paul did not take credit for their conversion ... Paul was the 'father' who stood by and assisted at their birth."

He had founded the family at their church and he was an example to the family of what a godly man should be.  He was also faithful to discipline the family, it said in my commentary.

"A child's will must be broken, but not destroyed.  Until a colt is broken, it is dangerous and useless; but once it learns to obey, it becomes gentle and useful.  Pride is a terrible thing in the Christian life and in the church ... Paul had been patient with their disobedience, but not he warned them that the time had come for discipline ... A faithful parent must discipline his children.  It is not enough to teach them and be an example before them; he must also punish them when they rebel and refuse to obey ... They were puffed up and even proud of their disobedience ... Those who will not govern themselves must be governed."

Father, I pray that our church will be obedient and not have to face what this church faced -- discipline from You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 4:1-6 Faithfulness

My commentary sees three pictures of ministry Paul wants the congregation to understand.  The first is faithfulness.  "Ministers" literally means "under-rowers" describing the slaves rowing Roman galleys..  They were not the captains of the ship.

He also uses the term "steward" -- a servant who manages everything for his master but who himself owns nothing.  His sole purpose is to please his Master.  Stewards are judged three ways, Paul said.  First by men, which isn't important.  Second, by his own self-judgment.  "Sometimes we do not really know ourselves."  Third and most importantly, there is God's judgment, through His Word and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit -- the main reference is to the final evaluation before Christ.

There was also a threefold rebuke to the congregation -- judging God's servants at the wrong time (it shouldn't happen until Christ does it), by the wrong standard (not by their own personal preferences and prejudices), and with the wrong motive (not promoting division in the church).

Father, please help me to let go of past prejudices against anyone who has served You.  You are the only one who should judge them.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 3 -- A New Insight For Myself

Back on January 2nd, I read 1 Corinthians 3, and God so spoke to me, about what my Bible study once was, about what had changed and what caused those changes.  About how He intended it to be and what He'll be doing soon, and how I must shake off what has over the years adhered to me in order to get to where He wants me to be.  I was blown away.  I hadn't realized just how out of shape spiritually I'd become.  He gave me a training plan. I decided I needed to camp out in 1 Corinthians 3 for a while.  

The primary question my commentary found for this chapter was:  "How do we know when the pastor and church leaders are really doing their job?"  (I'm not by any means saying that I doubt they are.)

It then mentioned how Paul pointed out two different kinds of saved people:  mature and immature (carnal).  "The immature Christian lives for the things of the flesh and has little interest in the things of the Spirit."  Paul wasn't thinking about the recently-saved Christians.   These were Christians who should have graduated out of the basics.

One mark of maturity is diet, going from milk to meat.  In my commentary Wiersbe believes "milk" represents what Jesus did on earth (Bible stories), while "meat" represents what He is doing now in heaven.  And I think we should agree that what He's doing now is more relevant to us today.  Wiersbe calls it "living on Bible doctrine instead of Bible stories.

Another mark of spiritual maturity is practicing love and seeking to get along with others rather than disagreeing and fussing as young children do, it said.  An immature Christian put into a position of leadership can cause disaster.

Unity of purpose is vitally important to churches.  We are to all be part of the harvest.  It certainly wouldn't do to have someone ruining the harvest by cutting down the plants before they are ready.  My dad sure got onto us for chopping down a cotton plant accidentally while removing a large careless weed!

Diversity of ministry was also mentioned.  God uses those who plow the soil, those who sow the seed, those who water the seed, those who hoe the weeds, and those who harvest the crops.  We each have parts we have a natural love to do, and usually those parts are matched with our God-given abilities.

Finally, humility of spirit is mentioned.  For all our work, we cannot tell a seed when to sprout.  God does that.  He is the Lord of the harvest, not us, and we have to have humility.  He alone deserve the glory.

Father please remind me often of these things as I interact with those You've placed me beside in our church.  Help us all to work together for You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 2 -- WOW! God's Multi-Dimensional Thinking Revealed!

My commentary says, "What had happened at Corinth is happening in churches today:  men are mixing philosophy (man's wisdom) with God's revealed message, and this is causing confusion and division."

These verses show that Paul knew the fundamentals of the gospel message and wanted us to know:

1)  It centers on the death of Christ

2)  It's part of the Father's eternal plan

3)  It's revealed by the Spirit through the Word

There were several nuggets of spiritual truths that caught my attention.

Human wisdom seeks for an explanation of the gospel, but through the Word of God, we put our faith in a demonstration -- God at work in our own lives.

Satan and his demonic forces "did not understand God's great eternal plan!  They could understand ... that the Son of God would be born and die, but they could not grasp the full significance of the cross because these truths were hidden by God ... Satan thought that Calvary was God's great defeat; but it turned out to be God's greatest victory and Satan's defeat.  From the time of our Lord's birth into this world, Satan had tried to kill Him, because Satan did not fully understand the vast results of Christ's death and resurrection.  Had the demonic rulers known, they would not have engineered the death of Christ.  Of course, all of this was part of God's eternal plan.  It was God who was in control, not Satan."

Finally, I like how my commentary explained the various outside-of-time events in my salvation and everyone's salvation:

"As far as the Father is concerned, I was saved when He chose me in Christ before the foundation of the world ... As far as God the Son is concerned, I was saved when He died for me on the cross.  He died for the sins of the whole world yet the whole world is not saved.  This is where the Spirit comes in:  as far as the Spirit is concerned, I was saved" when I heard the gospel message and it touched my heart.  "It was then that the Holy Spirit applied the Word to my heart.  I believed and God saved me."

Father I can't think multi-dimensionally like You, but I'm thrilled that You worked all this together for my good!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Corinthians 1 -- The Church Was Having Issues

Oftentimes, new believers especially will be thrilled with their decision to follow Christ, but won't delve deeply to discover their calling.  My commentary said that the church at Corinth, made up primarily of new believers, became a defiled church, a divided church, and a disgraced church.  "Instead of glorifying God, it was hindering the progress of the gospel."

Paul spoke to them and to us about our calling as Christians.  First, he said we were called to be holy -- set apart by God, enriched by His grace, expecting Jesus' return, and depending on God's faithfulness.  Yet the believers in Corinth were getting involved in the sins of the world and the flesh.

He said we are called to fellowship, not division.  We aren't supposed to be following human leaders, but Christ.  Also, they were looking at the gospel from a philosophical point of view, seeking earthly wisdom.  The point was that no one but Christ was crucified for us.

We are also called to glorify God, not ourselves, which is the sin of pride.  Paul reminded them of what they were before being saved, of why God called them, and of all they had in Jesus Christ.  "Since every believer is in Christ, and he has all that h needs, why compete with each other or compare ourselves with each other?"  Paul will have more to tell them.

Father, help the believers in our church to be one in Christ, looking only to Him, and remind us of whose we are.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 21 -- John Has Three More Things To Say

"John did not want to end his gospel without telling his readers that Peter was restored to his apostleship," my commentary began.  "Apart from the information in this chapter, we would wonder why Peter was so prominent in the first twelve chapters of the book of Acts."

It also mentioned another purpose:  "He wanted to teach us how to relate to the risen Christ."  The disciples never knew when He would appear, so they had to stay alert!"

My commentary also said there are three pictures of the believer and a responsibility attached to each ... Jesus had told His disciples to meet Him in Galilee, and it's here in this chapter that they've been waiting and fishing and are told to cast their nets on the other side of the boat and they are given a marvelous catch!  Jesus turned Peter's failure into success," it said.  "We are never far from success when we permit Jesus to give the orders, and we are usually closer to success than we realize."

Jesus then fed them breakfast on the beach, reminding us that we are shepherds, too.  And we are to love Jesus and all those He draws to Himself.  "Caring for the physical can prepare the way for spiritual ministry.  Our Lord does not so emphasize the soul that He neglects the body."

Jesus also mentioned Peter's death someday, but it would not be a tragedy -- it would glorify God.  When Jesus then publicly said, "Keep on following Me," Peter was publicly restored after he'd denied knowing Jesus three times.  Jesus doesn't hold our past sins that we've confessed against us, but instead forgives and puts us to work.  "We can succeed only as we permit Him to transform us."

Father, thank You for forgiving and transforming me.  Thank You for giving me hope and leading me to my two sons.  I pray that they, too, will discover the treasure of Your forgiveness and allow themselves to be used by You in a huge way.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 20:19-31 Thomas' Doubts

We can certainly wonder about Thomas.  When Jesus first appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room after His resurrection, Thomas wasn't there.  The Bible doesn't elaborate, so there's no reason for us to speculate.  He seemed to have a pessimistic outlook, according to my commentary.  He's often called "Doubting Thomas", but Jesus did not rebuke him for his doubts.  He rebuked him for unbelief.  "Be not faithless, but believing."  Doubt is often an intellectual problem:  we want to believe, but the faith is overwhelmed by problems and questions.  Unbelief is a moral problem; we simply will not believe.  What was it that Thomas would not believe?  The reports of the other Christians that Jesus Christ was alive!

"Thomas's words help us to understand the difference between doubt and unbelief.  Doubt says, 'I cannot believe!  There are too many problems!'  Unbelief says, 'I will not believe unless you give me the evidence I ask for!'  How gracious our Lord is to stoop to our level of experience in order to lift us where we ought to be ... Our Lord's words translate literally, 'Stop becoming faithless, but become a believer.'  Jesus saw a dangerous process at work in Thomas' heart, and He wanted to put a stop to it ... Unbelief robs us of blessings and opportunities... It may sound sophisticated and intellectual to question what Jesus did, but such questions are usually evidence of hard hearts, not of searching minds."

Father, thank You for also seeing a dangerous process at work in my own heart after I finished college, and for putting a stop to it.  I don't want to imagine where I'd be if I hadn't listened.  I love You!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 20: 1-18 He Called My Name!

As the women walked to Jesus' tomb to properly anoint His body, Mary somehow reached it first.  She noticed that the large stone had been rolled away.  Her first thought was that the body had been stolen, so she ran to find Peter and John.  Returning, Peter and John entered the tomb and saw the grave-clothes, still interlaced with burial spices, lying like a collapsed cocoon.  

They saw and believed, "but they did not yet understand that Jesus must rise from the dead."  Peter and John left but Mary stayed behind.  She then saw two angels inside the tomb.  Turning around, she came face to face with Jesus!  He called her name!  Then He told her not to hold on to Him, but to go tell the disciples what she'd seen.  That changed everything for her! 

Jesus, I thank You for showing Yourself to me as well, in spirit.  Thank You for making it abundantly clear that You are definitely in charge of my life.  Help me to show others!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 19:31-42 The New Creation Is Done

The Jews just couldn't have the nastiness of three dead bodies outside their capital city during the major religious holy day of the year, so they went back to Pilate and asked that their deaths be hastened by breaking the legs of those being crucified.  Pilate agreed and the Roman soldiers followed their orders on the other two men, then noticed that Jesus had already died.  He had dismissed His Spirit, because the bones of the Passover Lamb were not to be broken.

"The Roman soldiers did not do what they were commanded to do -- break the victim's legs -- but they did do what they were not supposed to do -- pierce the Savior's side!  In both matters, they fulfilled the very Word of God! ... Our Lord's bones were protected by the Lord.  His side was to be pierced ..."

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea got permission to care for Jesus' body.  They also had somehow gathered 75 pounds of spices to be used when the body was wrapped in linen cloth.  A newly-hewn tomb had also been secured.  These two men had been secret disciples, yet they now stepped up and did what others may have been too afraid to do, with no fear of their fellow Jewish authorities.

"The Sabbath was about to dawn.  Jesus had finished the work of the "new creation", and now He would rest," my commentary said.

Father, I can't imagine the bleakest day in human history!  Thank You for going through it all for us!  Such love!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 19: 17-31 His Crucifixion and Death

My commentary made note of some important facts surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and death.  "The bearing of the cross was a mark of guilt, and Jesus was not guilty ... Pilate wrote:  'This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.'  The chief priests protested the title, but Pilate refused to change it.  It was his final thrust against the Jewish religious establishment.  He knew that the priests and elders envied Jesus and wanted to destroy Him.  A shrewd politician like Pilate well understood the workings of the Jewish religious establishment.  He knew that his placard would insult and embarrass them, and that is exactly what he wanted."

"Mary was experiencing the sword that had been predicted years before (Luke 2:35)" as she watched her son die on the cross.  "Her silence is significant, for if anyone could have rescued Jesus, it was His mother.  All she had to do was announce that His claims were false -- but she said nothing!  What a testimony to the deity of Christ!"

"Jesus' death was not an accident; it was a divine appointment.  He was not murdered in the strictest sense:  He willingly gave His life for us.  His death was an atonement, not just an example.  He actually accomplished the work of redemption on the cross."

Father, despite everything these people did to trip up Your Son, You were totally in control.  I cherish Your sovereignty and power and I am so glad You are in control of my life.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 19: 8-16 Blinded Leaders

The Jewish leaders had told Pilate that their law said Jesus must die because He said He was the Son of God.  Being familiar with the Roman pantheon of gods, it's very likely that Pilate became quite afraid, my commentary said.  And when we're afraid, we often try to appear strong.  Pilate tried to pull that with Jesus to get Him to talk, saying, "Don't you know I have the power to set you free and power to have you crucified?"  And Jesus answered confidently, "The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God."

Pilate apparently tried multiple times and multiple ways of freeing Jesus, but at every turn the Jewish leaders hemmed him in, finally saying he was no friend of Caesar's if he did free Jesus!  It is stunning to see these religious leaders of that time trying everything in their power to use their oppressors to get rid of Jesus!

Father, please keep me from ever being blinded again in this way.  Thank You for not giving up on me and for bringing me back into Your fold.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 19:1-7 It's Not About Moral Influence

My commentary has much to say about these seven verses.  There was a "moral influence theory" Pilate seemed to be employing, thinking that if he caused Jesus to be beaten, the Jewish and Gentile crowds would be moved to turn from sin and not want Him killed ... It takes more than human sentiment to bring the lost sinner to salvation.. If sinners who actually saw Christ in His suffering did not repent, what hope is there for people twenty centuries later who only read about His agonies?"  We're not that humane.

"The cross involves much more than an exhibition of innocent suffering.  On that cross, the Son of God paid the price for the sins of the world and thereby declared the love of God and defended the holiness and justice of God.  We are not saved by feeling pity for Jesus.  We are saved by repenting of our sins and trusting Jesus, the sinless substitute.  If Christ was not actually doing something by His death, then we are confronted with a piece of showmanship, nothing more."

"We must not confuse sentimentality with true spiritual emotion.  It is one thing to shed tears during a church service and quite something else to sacrifice, suffer, and serve after the meeting has ended.  We do not simply contemplate the cross; we carry it."

Father, I know that I felt true spiritual emotion when You led me on the long journey to adopt and raise my sons.  Help me now to separate sentimentality from true spiritual emotion in the future.  Lead me not to just contemplate the cross, but to carry it. 

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 18:28-40 Echoes In America Today

I can't help but compare the Jewish leaders at that time to what's going on right now in American politics.  But as you read this, understand that I am not comparing our president to Christ.  I am only comparing those attacking him to these Jewish leaders.

Those leaders saw Jesus as a political rival who would most likely unseat them from power, so they began surveillance to gather any shreds of evidence.  They looked for ways to somehow play all the good He was doing as somehow sinful, such as His healing on the Sabbath.  

The official charges they'd brought to the Romans were that "He had led the nation astray, He opposed paying tribute to Caesar, and He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah and king," my commentary said.  "He had not subverted the nation, either politically or religiously ... Jesus had blessed the nation and brought them new hope.  As for opposing paying tribute to Caesar, He taught just the opposite!  'Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.'  He did claim to be King but not in a political sense."

"The Jewish religious leaders were groping for any piece of evidence they could find on which they could build a case, and they were even willing to secure false witnesses."

Sounds like Washington, DC today.  My commentary was published 12 years ago, but the individual commentaries for each book go back prior to the 1990's!  How prescient that we read, "But when a mob is manipulated by crafty leaders, in an atmosphere of patriotic fervor, it loses itself and starts to think with its feelings instead of its brains.  Their condemning vote said nothing about the Son of God, but it said a great deal about them."

Father, only You know the whole truth about our country's problems today.  Please lead us to remove from power, through only the ballot box, anyone who cares more about their own jobs and power than they do about our nation.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 18:15-27 The Fire

My commentary said that in these verses fire is a symbol of denial.  "Peter followed the crowd when he should have been fleeing.  Had he gone his way, he would never have denied the Lord ... he walked right into temptation.  This is what Jesus had warned him about in the garden."

As Psalm 1:1 mentioned, my commentary concluded, "First, Peter walked in the counsel of the ungodly when he ... went into the high priest's courtyard.  Then he stood with the enemy by the fire, and before long he sat with the enemy."  Three times he was asked if he was one of Jesus' disciples and three times he said no.

Amazingly, "the crowing of the cock was assurance to Peter that Jesus was totally in control of the situation, even though He was bound and being harassed by the authorities.  By controlling one bird, Jesus affirmed His sovereignty," my commentary explained.

Father, though I'd read this before, it didn't hit me like it does now.  I'm blown away by the fact that Jesus was enduring everything the authorities did to Him and still was well aware of what Peter was doing outside and that He caused the cock to crow at just the right moment!  Help me to be assured that You are in control of my own life to that degree!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 18:10-14 Peter's Attack

Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest, as the soldiers made ready to arrest Jesus in the garden.  My commentary brought out some interesting observations:

"Peter's sword symbolizes rebellion against the will of God.  Peter should have known that Jesus would be arrested and that He would willingly surrender to His enemies.  Peter made every mistake possible!  He fought the wrong enemy, used the wrong weapon, had the wrong motive, and accomplished the wrong result.  He was openly resisting the will of God and hindering the work that Jesus came to accomplish."

Father, please take me out of Your way if You find me doing something against Your will.  Show me how You want me to serve and enable me to do so correctly.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 18:1-9 Two of the Five Symbols in this Chapter

My commentary urged me to pay attention to the symbolism in this chapter.  The first two symbols are the garden and the kiss.  It said the garden dealt with obedience.  Adam had failed to obey in the first garden - Eden - but Jesus fully obeyed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Adam's disobedience brought us sin and death, while Christ's obedience is righteousness and life to all who will trust Him.

The kiss Judas used to identify Jesus to the Roman guards is the next symbol -- a symbol not of love but of treachery.  "Jesus was in full control; He knew what would happen.  Judas expected some kind of deception, so he arranged to identify Jesus by kissing Him.  But Jesus shocked both Judas and the arresting officers by boldly presenting Himself to them.  He had nothing to fear and nothing to hide."

If we could only live like that!

Finally, I read, "When people today pretend to know and love the Lord, they are committing the sin of Juas.  It is bad enough to betray Christ, but to do it with a kiss, a sign of affection, is the basest treachery of all.  It was born in the pit of hell."

Father, any time You know I'm heading toward a sin that would betray Christ, please wake me up and tell me to stop!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 17 -- The "Holy of Holies" of the Gospel

My commentary said that this chapter is the "Holy of Holies" of the gospel record.  "To think that we are privileged to listen in as God the Son converses with His Father just as He is about to give His life as a ransom for sinners!"

It also answered the question about defining eternal life:  "It is knowing God personally.  Not just knowing about Him, but having a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ ... The Father answered His Son's request and gave Him the glory."

"He has also given the revelation of the Father's name ... In the Bible, 'name' refers to 'nature' ... By His words and deeds, He revealed to them the nature of God, as they were able to bear it ... Our safety depends on the nature of God, not our own character or conduct ... How precious we are in His sight!  How He watches over us and even now prays for us!"

The third section tells us how the Word of God enables us to overcome the world.  "It gives us joy, it assures us of His love, and it imparts God's power for holy living."

In the last section, I read:  "The lost world cannot see God, but they can see Christians, and what they see in us is what they will believe about God.  If they see love and unity, they will believe that God is love.  If they see hatred and division, they will reject the message of the gospel ... We must make sure that our witness is true and loving.  Some Christians are prosecuting attorneys and judges, instead of faithful witnesses, and this only turns lost sinners away from the Savior."

Father, thank You for sharing Jesus' prayers for His disciples with us.  Please continue to direct me to a much closer relationship with You.

--

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 16:16-33 Our High Priest And Our Advocate

The disciples were sorrowful and confused and afraid while listening to Jesus talk about what was coming.  They were real men with real problems, just like us.

What Jesus wanted them to understand, my commentary says, is that "God brings joy to our lives, not by substitution, but by transformation."  God does not substitute something else to relieve our pain.  Instead He uses what is there already and transforms it, it explained.  A parent buying a new toy every time their child breaks an old toy is practicing substitution.  

"God takes seemingly impossible situations, adds the miracle of His grace, and transforms trial into triumph and sorrow into joy."

As an example, it mentioned Joseph, sold as a slave by his brothers, and how God transformed his situation to save them all.  "While we are waiting, we must deal with out trials and hurts on the basis of transformation (what are You bringing out of this, Father?), and not substitution (get me out of this, Father) if we expect to mature in the Christian life."

Here is also where we read, "Ask, and you shall receive."  Jesus was creating "a new situation in their praying."  He would be returning to be with His Father, and He would minister as our High Priest, making intercession for us.  He would also minister as our Advocate.  "As our High Priest, Jesus gives us grace to keep us from sinning.  As our Advocate, He restores us when we confess our sins."

Father, help me to watch for Your transformations in my life.  Remind me that You are also my Advocate and that You will restore me when I confess my sins.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 16:1-15 The Holy Spirit's Job

esus continued to tell His disciples about the Holy Spirit, who would personally empower them once He returned to Heaven.

My commentary summarized what Jesus was telling them here:

-- We are identified with Christ

-- We do not belong to the world

-- The world is spiritually ignorant and blind

-- The world will not be honest about its own sin

-- The Holy Spirit empowers us for life and witness, while the ascended Savior intercedes for us at the heavenly throne of grace

-- The Holy Spirit is the prosecuting attorney, bringing to light the evidence against the world as to their belief in Christ; however, the purpose of this indictment is not to condemn but to bring salvation

-- The world's one particular sin is unbelief, which condemns the lost sinner

-- The Spirit, as Teacher, guides the church

We would be wrong to think that we have been left here alone until Christ returns.  Through the Spirit, we each receive what Jesus has for us as we never could while He was on earth, because now people all over the earth can experience Him at the same time.

Please continue to empower and teach me through the Holy Spirit, Father.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

John 15:12-27 What It Means To Be His Friend

Jesus told His disciples and us what to expect from an unbelieving world when we follow Him.  He chose us out of the world.  The world stands guilty because they don't know God who sent Jesus and they have the Word but won't heed it.  "They have no excuse for their sin," verse 22 says.

Here, too, is where Jesus promised to send the Helper -- the Holy Spirit.  The disciples were about to experience what we can only read about, and they would surely need the Helper!

Jesus here calls us His friends.  My commentary explained that the Greek word refers to "a friend at court" -- a friend of the king who is close to him and knows his secrets, but is also subject to him and must obey his commands.  "There is no conflict between being a friend and being a servant," it said.

Thank You for making me Your friend, God!  I am still amazed that You chose me in my sin and brought be back to You!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford