Category Archives: 1 Corinthians

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas ”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Dear God, there are a lot of things that come to mind as I read these passages. Of course, there’s the whole unity thing. But I guess what I’m thinking about is how people were apparently taking sides based upon who they liked best or baptized them. Apollos. Cephas. Paul. Christ (that group got it right—but it could have been for the wrong reason). There’s a pride that is implied with this that is cancerous.

I was reading a book last night, and the author was talking about the people from whom he has learned the most and the common theme among them was that they had the self assuredness they needed to be humble. They didn’t need to put others down. In fact, they were comfortable lifting others up. I hope I’m that kind of person.

Father, I know you love me and I’m grateful for that love. Help me to be willing to do anything you need me to do, even at my own expense, for the sake of your glory and the drawing of others closer to you. And help me to be united to my fellow Christians. Whether I follow “Baptist,” “Catholic,” “Methodist,” “Presbyterian,” etc., help all of us to work together so that your kingdom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Dear God, I guess there are different ways to experience or live out “love.” One is what Paul is referring to here—how you feel about those around you or the things they do. I can be patient and kind. I can be not easily angered and keep to record of wrongs. All of that stuff. This is like unpacking one of the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 (“And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…). So this is love.

There’s another way of dealing with love, though. There’s seeing someone you love, or a community or organization you love and exhibiting these things do it, but that’s all fairly passive. There’s also seeing these things and responding to your call to impact them on your behalf. Whether it’s a family member in need of practice reaching out on out part or a social issue that needs to be addressed, I think it’s also important that we remember that those things we love can also be pursued, as long as we do it with your leadership, wisdom, and power.

Father, that’s where I get into trouble. I often see the thing and then just jump in and start pursuing it with my own wisdom. Help me to balance you call with the patience and wisdom I need so that what gets done might bring you as much glory as possible.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Dear God, let me be a listener today. Help me to hear more than words. Help me to love through listening. Be glorified through me.

I look at this list, and I guess what Paul is saying here is that it’s okay to have these gifts and to use these gifts, but if I lead with them instead of leading with love then I am annoying. Today of all days, when I am going to be spending time with someone who is precious to me, I want to lead with love. It’s not about me. It’s not about feeding any insecure corners of my heart with neediness. It’s about loving that person and giving them what you need them to have through me.

Father, help me to be a true reflection of you today. And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank you for the great conversation with good friends and great people last night. Thank you for loving me through them.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, for now no one can say they were baptized in my name. (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.) For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.

1 Corinthians 1:13-17

Dear God, my first thought from this passage is that I must decrease and you must increase. Paul was trying to minimize his glory in the eyes of the Corinthians and maximize your glory. “Don’t brag about me or anyone else. We are just the messengers. Jesus and the Father are to be worshipped, not us.”

I met a guy yesterday who impressed the heck out of me. Frankly, he intimidated me a bit. He knew more than me and, at a younger age, seemed to have a lot more experience than me. The low-lying level of discomfort I had while talking with him made me realize how important how I present myself and how others see me really is to me. My insecurity is something that truly runs deep.

Father, I hadn’t thought about yesterday’s interaction in this way before this moment. Thank you for bringing it to my intention. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for my pride and my insecurity. I don’t want “humility” to be something to which I just pay lip service, but I want it to be something that permeates every part of me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Dear God, I have some things I need to pray about today. First, I have a hard decision to make at work that could impact others. That’s a problem. Second, we have our biggest fundraising campaign of the year kicking off today, and I need it to reach whom it needs to reach and help provide for our operations next year. Finally, the first of our relatives who are going to visit us for Thanksgiving arrives today and I am hopeful that this can be a place of love and peace for everyone who is here this week.

So this verse reminds me to not only be thankful for each person represented in the concerns above, but to pray out their spiritual gifts. I do thank you for my family that is coming. I thank you for my coworkers. I thank you for every donor and even potential patient that today’s mailing will find. Each person is adored by you.

Father, help me to live out the love you have for them through my own life and the interactions I have with them. Exude through me. Make my path straight and bless the fruit of my work both at home and at the nonprofit where I work. Be merciful through me. I really want to be who you need me to be.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

Dear God, I’ve never completely understood this passage as it relates to being tempted beyond what we can bear. There have obviously been times when I am tempted beyond what I can bear because I gave in to it. 

I guess one question I have going through my mind right now is what would my life be like without the temptations? I think it would quickly lose any sense of need for you–your power and mercy. I’m not even close to being completely Christlike so I need the temptations to keep me tethered to you. (Or is it that I am susceptible to temptation because I am not close to being Christlike?) Either way, the temptations and my responses to each one are part of me working out my dear with fear and trembling. 

Father, in as far as my temptations are a function of addictions in me, please heal and strengthen me. In as far as they are a result of me feeling sorry for myself and having the right for self indulgence, forgive me for my self pity. And in as far as they are a result of my lethargy, laziness, and sloppiness, guide me in each moment to be the man you need me to be. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 
Dear God, I had an interesting day yesterday. I watched two loved ones start the process of getting a divorce. And while I don’t disagree with the decision for them to get a divorce (at this point, I can’t imagine them staying together), I can see where N adherence to the simple philosophy of “I am not my own. I was bought with a price” would have made a huge difference back at the beginning. 

And now their children are going to have to adjust, but, again, I think this adjustment will eventually be better for them than the old situation. But I’m worried about them. How will each of them choose to respond? What soil will these seeds of anger and fear find to root into. Can you plant seeds that will find good soil and spring forth your Spirit and glory?

Father, in the midst of this carnage, please plant seeds of your glory that will find good soil. Choke out the hate, anger, fear, and self-pity. Those seeds are being planted as well. Let them dry out, whither and fade. Let your seeds–the seeds of your mercy and forgiveness–choke them out in each life. And help me and others to be seed planters in their lives. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen