1 Corinthians 2

This is another great Corinthians passage. It is about true wisdom. Paul comes not with eloquence or wisdom, but with Christ crucified. He also keenly points out that even with the knowledge of Christ crucified, one cannot discern wisdom without receiving and relying on the Holy Spirit.

I come too often with eloquence and keen words and to infrequently with Jesus Christ and him crucified. This will be an important thing for me to remember as I come into Explorer Group season.

1 Corinthians 1

I'm moving on from Romans into Corinthians. i guess I'm going to work through the Epistles. If they aren't sparking my interest, I might take a left or a right along the way.

I LOVE verses 18-25. As Caren's step father says, "You cant fix stupid." Online I have conversations with quite a few atheists. They equate the message of the cross to fairy tales, but one that is both dangerous and cruel. That is heart wrenchingly sad, but it shown that when they are exposed to truth - real truth, not the best ideas of man - that they have not received God's grace.

I thank God daily that he gave me Grace. That while I was a sinning atheist, confident in my own brilliance, that he saved me. That he allowed me to see that I had no wisdom and my rock was sitting on the sand.

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Romans 16:17-27

Two parts of this section jump out at me. The first is 17-19. This, to me, is both a reminder that I need to keep an eye out for that which is introducing divisiveness and obstacles in my life. It is also, even more importantly so, a reminder to not be the one putting obstacles or causing strife.

The second part of this section that jumps out at me is the raw power that is verse 20:

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

Wow. Power and grace all balled together. Satan not just defeated, but crushed. under MY feet. All of this while the grace of Jesus is with me.

Methinks I will have a great ride home.

Romans 16:1-16

This is one of those bible passages that is easy to gloss over. Not that I haven't, but it seems to be a great reminder to not just help and move on, but keep people in your prayers, adding to the list over time. Discipleship is not a FIFO proposition.

I am pitiful about following up with those whom I let into my life. I need to get better.

Romans 15:23-33

Great difficulty. Its hard to imagine how difficult it must have been for Paul to travel to Spain and back 2000 years ago. The travel itself was almost a suicide mission. But for him it wasn't even an after thought. His faith compelled him. What is my faith compelling me to do? I know that my approach to most things is radically different that before I was a believer, but I don't know if I feel compelled right now about anything. Another thing to reflect on.

Romans 15:14-22

The people who you bring to Christ are your offering. (Romans 15:16)
Find your own mission field (Romans 15:20)

Once again, this is a reminder of the great commission. Go forth and make disciples. It is also an illustration that we aren't to stay in our Christian bubble. IE Don't preach to the converted. I'll have to think about the implications of that for me.

I've got a headache, so I'm going home.

Romans 15:1-13

The spirit of unity. The end of chapter 14 is continued here at the beginning of chapter 15.

What a tough job Paul must have had. He not only needed to convince the hard-line Jews that their messiah had already come, but he had to convince the gentiles that they needed the Lord. He not only needed to brave this challenge, he also needed to get these two groups together and commingle them in peace. Now THAT is some serious mediation skills. (of course, he wasn't doing it but the Lord through him.)

Now, fast forward and see how we've broken down. Catholics can't get along with baptists, this denomination can't get along with that, it is pretty sad. We all believe that Christ is Lord. It really should be that simple. Stop judging doctrine and start loving one another in Christ. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water comes to mind.

Romans 14:9-23

Get out of the way, God will do the judging. Our role is to take away people's obstacles and leave the rest to God. Actually, scratch that. Our role is to not add stumbling blocks to others that are in Christ or seeking.

This is also a great passage about the whole alcohol debate. This passage is speaking about eating the wrong things around other believers. In context, it would have been hard for Paul to convince a devout jew that Christ was the messiah if he was eating a pork chop. The central message it to not distract others from Christ by giving them a distraction of form. The same can be said of the drink. If you are around Christians who think the bible prohibits drink, don't drink. Easy. You don't have to convince them they are wrong. That isn't your role. Simple.

Romans 14:1-8

We are all brothers in Christ.

These verses are another reminder that the bible is full of great wisdom. It would behoove every Christian to read these 8 verses. Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, non-denominational, whatever. We are all brothers in Christ. If we think some have it wrong we should love them ad spur them on and encourage them to exegesis of the word. We shouldn't tell them what they've got wrong and "fix" them.

Remembering this will help me greatly on the apologetics team.

Romans 13:8-14

Love as debt. That's pretty interesting and something I haven't really much considered. Paul writes: "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

The continuing debt means that it is never-ending. What exactly is debt. It is required repayment (usually with interest - or an increased amount) of something given to you. That means that people are constantly filling me with love, even if I'm not aware of it or choose to think what they are doing is the converse of love.

This makes sense in the context of the depravity of man. Were it not for God I would spiral into the most base and visceral of states. Same with others. But even the biggest @ss has the capacity for, and uses love.

Turn the other cheek is way more than just taking the high road. It is repaying in kind, with interest, the love your enemy has shown you in ways that they aren't even aware.

Romans 13:1-7

I love this passage and refer to it a lot. It reminds me the God is not a Republican. Or a democrat. Or even a proponent of democracy for that matter. God is for a benevolent king, himself.

Man chose to have a government instead of God. God told them they didn't need a king, but they chose on instead.

Context is important. Romans 13 was written from the perspective of Rome, with its Caesars and all that entailed.

Romans 13 is another reminder that everything is as God intends, even if it seems wrong to us. It opens up a big heaping can of "predestination/free will" trouble. But that is a topic for another day.

As much as America has jumped the shark and is on its downward spiral (IMO), God is still in control and this is the government that he has established. This isn't to say that a Christian should lie back and accept the state of our laws. God has also established a Government where we have a voice and a say and we should say what is biblical. Civil disobedience has its place, but no matter how right you are, you are still subject to the consequences of the law.

Oh, and pay your taxes (Romans 13:6-7) - AND do it without complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14).