TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 19:1-37
Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. - Leviticus 18:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
One morning at breakfast, four-year-old Hannah complained about the food in front of her. Her dad admonished her not to gripe, especially when so many people in the world are starving or struggling to get enough to eat.

Her mom later said, “She quietly soaked in the comments. Later that day she came to me with the entire contents of her piggy bank: $3.47. She said, 'I’d like to give this to the Salvation Army to help the poor people.’ We were humbled and thankful.”

Several of the miscellaneous rules in today’s reading show God’s heart for justice and the poor (cf. Ps. 146:7-9). For example, harvesters were commanded not to reap their fields completely, but to leave enough for poor people to glean food. Employers were instructed to pay out daily wages to their hired men, since they relied on the money to provide immediate needs for their families. Before God, every person stands equal, and the same should hold true in human law: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (v. 15).

Other rules listed here include provisions to protect those who may be weaker or less able to protect themselves. For example, people were not to discriminate against impaired individuals, including the deaf and blind. They were to show proper respect and care for the elderly. They were also to give fair treatment to non-Israelites who lived with them, which would have been quite unusual in that day and age (vv. 33-34).

Some of these commands are repetitions of rules stated previously, including the Ten Commandments and instructions for the sacrifices. Others reinforced moral or spiritual points, such as the dictate against witchcraft and the instructions that prevented the Israelites from following pagan cultic practices (vv. 27-28).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In this reading we have seen provisions in the Law for the well-being of the poor. Can you come up with a modern application?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 20:1-27
You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. - Leviticus 20:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Leviticus reminds me of visiting a factory without a guide,” said pastor Ray C. Stedman in a sermon. He described his own experience of going to a steel products factory. At first, he observed what looked like confusion, clamor, and chaos on the factory floor. When a friend gave him a guided tour, however, it all made sense. He understood the machinery’s purposes and how the workers were organized to produce the final product.

“This is what you may experience with the book of Leviticus,” Stedman continued. Dietary laws, miscellaneous regulations, long passages about disease and mildew--what does it all mean? He pointed his audience to our verse for today: God is holy, and His people must reflect that.

This perspective can keep us from getting bogged down. Portions of Leviticus might seem irrelevant to our contemporary walk with God, but it’s still all about the principle of holiness. It’s about being so committed to obedience that our light shines out for all to see!

The flip side, however, is the consequences of disobedience, as seen graphically in today’s reading. Capital punishment or excommunication were the severest penalties, sentences given for sins including idolatry, witchcraft, and sexual immorality. The death penalty was usually carried out by stoning--the whole community participated as a symbolic demonstration that they were resolved to expunge sin. In addition, at least two crimes would be punished by God with childlessness (vv. 20–21). But the most fearful punishment of all was God’s statement that He Himself would set His face against certain sinners (v. 5). Can any worse fate be imagined?

If the Israelites followed the evil example of the Canaanites, they would suffer the same judgment (vv. 22–23). Tragically, the worship of the god Molech, for example, endured many years and was one reason God later sent the nation into exile (Acts 7:43).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Mosaic Law spelled out which crimes were worthy of capital punishment. But we no longer live under the Law, and our society and form of government are quite different. What should a Christian believe about the death penalty today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 21:1-22:16
Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me. - Leviticus 22:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Chicagoan Silas Purnell is credited with helping more than 50,000 inner-city teens get into college. In the mid-1960s, he quit a marketing job and opened a college placement office in the basement of a public housing project. He worked relentlessly to help those who came to his door: persuading administrators to give young people a chance, pleading for scholarship money, asking local businesses for donations, and encouraging students to work hard once they started classes.

A good word to describe Silas Purnell is “advocate.” He believed in young people’s future and spoke on their behalf to those in power. A priest was also to be an advocate, speaking to the people on God’s behalf and to God on behalf of the people.

The rules and regulations in our recent readings in Leviticus have dealt with how God’s people should behave; now the focus shifts slightly to some special standards for those in full-time ministry. How should they act? The bottom line: God was always and exclusively their top priority. That’s why the priests weren’t allowed to participate in the mourning process for a deceased loved one, unless it was the death of a very close family member (and for the high priest, not even then). This wasn’t because God wanted to keep priests from feeling sad; rather it was to preserve the purity of the priests in their service in the presence of God.

Other rules also preserved the honor and purity of the priestly calling. Priests could not practice pagan mourning customs. They could not marry a woman who was not a virgin. Just as the sacrificial animals had to be perfect, physically handicapped men couldn’t serve as priests, though they could eat the holy food (21:21–23). Ceremonially unclean or diseased individuals were similarly barred from offering the sacrifices. Generally, standards were higher for priests and their families than for ordinary Israelites.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s reading gives commands regarding proper behavior for the Jewish priests. Since, as we noted in “Today Along the Way” for July 9, all believers are now considered priests, what might be proper behavior for us? That is, what attitudes and actions will best identify us as disciples of Christ and give glory to God?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 22:17-33
I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who makes you holy. - Leviticus 22:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
When people serve in the U.S. military, they are held to high standards of conduct and obedience. They are not living or acting as private persons, but as representatives of their country. Should they break the rules or disobey a superior, they can be charged with “conduct unbecoming” to a soldier. “Unbecoming” means something like “unsuitable” or “inappropriate.” So “conduct unbecoming” means their behavior was inappropriate for someone wearing the uniform–their actions somehow brought shame to their unit, the armed forces, or even the nation.

We can apply the idea of “conduct unbecoming” to worship and our identity as God’s children. In today’s reading, for example, the Israelites had proper or appropriate ways to offer the sacrifices. Just as those who served before the Lord had to do so in the right ways, so also those who worshiped had to present their sacrifices in the right ways. To worship carelessly or disobediently would dishonor God’s name!

As we read earlier in Leviticus, sacrificial animals needed to be perfect, with no defects of any kind. Though exceptions could be made in the case of a freewill offering, bringing a perfect animal showed a worshiper’s heart. If a person truly understood who God was, would he bring any less than the best to the altar? If he was stingy and kept the good animals for himself, his sacrifice would not be accepted, there would be no forgiveness, and God would not be pleased. This requirement of the Law’s system foreshadowed the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice (Heb. 10:10).

The basis for the sacrifices was the Israelites’ covenant relationship with God. Verse 33 makes the amazing statement that He had brought them out of Egypt for this very relationship! Offering sacrifices was not something they did for Him, to repay Him somehow. It was simply His due–the rightful honor they owed Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we’ve been reading this month about the Old Testament system of priests and animal sacrifices, you may have been wondering how the New Testament views all this. These things foreshadow or symbolize Christ, but how does it all come together?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:1-8
These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. - Leviticus 23:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Passover meal is rich with symbolism relating to God’s salvation, both for the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and for us from bondage to sin.

The unleavened bread shows the haste of the people’s leaving. The bitter herbs reflect the bitterness of slavery. Savory chutney has a mortar-like texture, reminiscent of the brickmaking and hard labor in Egypt. Red wine embodies joy. Most importantly, the roasted lamb, sacrificed before the meal, illustrates redemption. Paul explicitly called Christ “our Passover lamb” (1 Cor. 5:7). When Jesus shared the “Last Supper” with His disciples, it was the Passover meal that He ate and transformed into the “Lord’s Supper” celebrated in our churches today (Luke 22:7–20).

Today’s reading begins a section of Leviticus dealing with festivals and seasons, beginning with the Sabbath, the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits. These were times of rest, play, fellowship, and worship. A holiday spirit–a true “holy day” spirit–pervaded all the feasts.

The purpose of the weekly Sabbath was both physical rest and spiritual blessing, as the people paused to express their thankfulness and trust through worship (v. 3).

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasted one week altogether, would have been celebrated in March or April. This was one of three annual pilgrimage festivals for which all adult males were expected to journey to the national worship center. The Feast of Firstfruits was actually the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and signaled the start of the barley harvest, the earliest harvest of the year. By offering God the first part, they acknowledged that all they had came from His hand.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you have time today, turn back a bit in your Bible and read Exodus 12, then flip over to the New Testament and read John 13. The first chapter tells of the original Passover, the day on which God acted powerfully to deliver His people from slavery. The second chapter narrates how Jesus spent His final Passover before His Crucifixion.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:9-32
Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. - Exodus 23:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Wynton Marsalis is considered one of the finest trumpeters of modern times. Born in New Orleans, in the past twenty years he has recorded more than forty albums of both jazz and classical music, winning multiple Grammy awards in both genres. In 1994, he completed the oratorio Blood on the Fields, the story of an African-American couple’s struggle for love in the face of slavery. This landmark composition won him a Pulitzer Prize.

The sounding of a trumpet is a key image in the Bible, including the trumpet call on resurrection day (1 Thess. 4:16). In Jewish festival life, sounding the trumpet during the Feast of Trumpets reminded the people of their covenant relationships and responsibilities. This feast, the second “pilgrimage festival” of the Jewish year, took place in the fall and was followed by the Day of Atonement (see July 16) and the Feast of Tabernacles (discussed tomorrow).

This day is now called Rosh Hashanah, and it marks the beginning of the Jewish civil new year. In the Old Testament trumpets were blown and sacrifices offered at the beginning of every new month. But the Feast of Trumpets was a special time for self-examination, both individually and communally, before God. When the trumpets blew on this day, the people recalled their covenant obligations and renewed their commitment to the Lord.

The Feast of Weeks, also mentioned in today’s reading, took place in May or June. Also called Pentecost or the Feast of Harvest, it traditionally commemorates the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. It was also the time when the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were offered to God. In this context, the reminder to leave some grain for the poor to glean was very appropriate (v. 22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If the feasts and celebrations in our current readings sound like a good idea to you, go ahead and plan a “worship festival” of your own for your family or small group.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:33-24:9
[L]ive in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. - Leviticus 23:42–43
TODAY IN THE WORD
After the Pilgrim settlers in Plymouth survived their first year in the New World and completed their first harvest in 1621, the governor proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer. Colonists and Native Americans joined for three days of feasting, games, and celebration. During the Revolutionary War, Congress proposed a yearly day of national thanksgiving.

Many Americans may not know that the Pilgrims were probably imitating the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. Also called the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Ingathering, the Feast of Tabernacles was held in the fall, following the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. The third and final pilgrimage festival of the year, this feast marked the end of the overall harvest season. Grapes, dates, olives, and other late crops were brought in. During the week, the Israelites lived in tents or booths for both the practical reason of being in the fields to harvest and for the spiritual reason of remembering the wilderness wanderings (23:42–43). They decorated the booths with fruit, leaves, and branches to show God’s provision and blessing.

Interestingly, the Feast of Tabernacles plays a role in end-times prophecy. Symbolically, the end of the harvest season can be compared to the end of history. Zechariah foretold that one day all nations would come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord during this feast (Zech. 14:16–21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you are interested in learning more about these celebrations, there are several good books on the traditions and meanings of the Jewish festivals. The Fall Feasts of Israel, by Mitch Glaser and Zhava Glaser, might be a good place to start. Christ in the Passover, by Ceil Rosen and Moishe Rosen, is another helpful title.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 24:10-23
Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. - Leviticus 24:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
When evangelist Franklin Graham prays “in the name of Jesus” at public events, he’s not surprised to receive criticism. When he and Houston pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell both prayed in Jesus’ name at the Presidential inauguration in 2001, it attracted a fair amount of media attention. Some commentators felt it violated “separation of church and state” and made people of other religious persuasions feel uncomfortable.

Graham isn’t worried about any of that. When he is invited to a public event, he feels it’s his duty and privilege, and the duty and privilege of every Christian, to honor the name of Christ. He emphasizes this point in his recent book, The Name.

God’s name should be spoken with honor–He is worthy of all worship. That’s why we find that speaking His name blasphemously is such a serious crime in today’s reading.

Why is this story placed in the section of Leviticus dealing with seasons and festivals? It may be to show the flip side of the importance of worship. That is, during the feasts the Israelites gathered to honor the name of the Lord. If they thought this practice was optional rather than essential, this narrative would have cured them of that delusion! Honoring His name is a duty and a privilege, and a person who actively did the opposite must be punished. It’s literally a matter of life and death!

If the offender had been an Israelite, the nation would have stoned him immediately, since he had violated a key commandment (Ex. 20:7). But since he was of mixed race, they weren’t sure how to apply the Law, and waited on the Lord for judgment. God answered that justice was the same for everyone (v. 22). It’s important to note here that the “eye for an eye” principle did not validate revenge or a tit-for-tat mentality, as is sometimes thought. Rather, this describes precise, public justice. The punishment should fit the crime (vv. 19–21; cf. Matt. 5:38–42).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
On July 20 we encouraged you to research Christian perspectives and biblical teaching on capital punishment. Today we want to make justice and mercy a little more personal.

We’ve touched on these issues several times in the past year in Today in the Word. (For instance, see the May issue on the Sermon on the Mount.) How do these principles of justice and mercy affect your interactions with family, friends, coworkers, and others in your church? Pray for the wisdom to practice both justice and mercy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Read: Leviticus 25:1-7
The land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. - Leviticus 25:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Sleep scientists” are warning that people are not getting enough rest, and our health and safety are suffering as a result. William Dement, founder and director of the Stanford University Sleep Research Center, estimates that people sleep about one-and-a-half hours less per night than the average from a century ago.

The consequences? One report found that driver fatigue was involved in over half of all American vehicle accidents. Larger accidents, such as the Exxon Valdez disaster, have also been linked to sleep deprivation. In laboratory experiments, prolonged stress without rest apparently caused the immune systems of the rats to fail. Also, recent theories propose that the REM stage of sleep is necessary to learning and memory, meaning that less sleep affects our cognitive functions as well as our physical well-being.

The need for rest should come as no surprise to Christians, for we know that our Creator made us that way! That’s why in the Law God made every seventh day a Sabbath, and every seventh year a Sabbath year.

During a Sabbath year, fields were not to be worked, though whatever grew there could be taken for food, especially by poor people (vv. 5–7; Ex. 23:10–12). Physically, leaving the fields fallow for a year was, as we now know, sound agricultural practice, as well as a unique custom compared to the surrounding nations. Spiritually, to rest from farming–on which the people depended for their daily food and livelihood–required faith in God’s promise that He would provide bumper crops the year before (vv. 20–21). Other features of the Sabbath year included the cancellation of debts and a special reading from the Law during the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:10–13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you honor the spiritual principle of rest in your life? Though we no longer keep a Saturday Sabbath, God has built rest into the rhythms of life, even setting us an example Himself by resting on the seventh day of His work of creation. Given these facts, it is vital that work not occupy an inordinate amount of our time and energy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 25:8-55
Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you. - Leviticus 25:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
An old Wesleyan hymn celebrates the Year of Jubilee from a New Testament perspective:

“Blow ye the trumpet, blow, The gladly solemn sound, Let all the nations know, To earth’s remotest bound; The Year of Jubilee is come! Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. Jesus, our great High Priest, Hath full atonement made: Ye weary spirits, rest, Ye mournful souls, be glad; The Year of Jubilee is come! Return, ye ransomed sinners, home . . . Ye slaves of sin and hell, Your liberty receive, And safe in Jesus dwell, And blest in Jesus live; The Year of Jubilee is come! Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.”

The Year of Jubilee is the close and climax of this section of Leviticus. Jubilee literally means “trumpet” or “ram’s horn,” which was blown to proclaim the start of this special season, observed every fiftieth year (that is, after seven sevens of years).

This time had several economic implications. Land could not be worked and was returned to its original owner. Valuations of real estate and labor were actually based on how many years remained until the Jubilee. This reminded the people that they were merely tenants–God was the true owner (v. 23). It also kept land and wealth from becoming over–concentrated in the hands of a few people, and it provided gotcha120 for the poor.

Spiritually, the Year of Jubilee involved the same faith and obedience that we’ve seen mandated elsewhere in Leviticus. To obey in this area and give up material gains required faith and humility, but God promised to bless those who followed His command (vv. 18–19). In addition, consecration and freedom are interestingly linked in our verse for today, which is also quoted on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For a musical complement to this month’s study, consider listening to the first album of Michael Card’s trilogy on the Old Testament, The Ancient Faith, and especially the song, “Jubilee.” On that album, Card explores the Pentateuch, and in the song, “Jubilee,” he draws parallels between the Year of Jubilee and our freedom in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 26:1-13
I will look on you with favor, and I will keep my covenant with you. - Leviticus 26:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Elijah McCoy was born in 1844 to former slaves who had escaped from Kentucky to Ontario via the Underground Railroad. His parents sent him to study in Scotland, where he earned a degree in engineering.

Working for the railroad, McCoy invented a lubricating cup that automatically dripped oil. He patented it, and it was installed on locomotives. His invention greatly increased engine efficiency, and soon everyone wanted one of the “McCoy Cups.” So many inferior copies were made that train engineers began to demand “the real McCoy,” the genuine article.

When it comes to worship, who is the “genuine article”? If worshipers obey, they’re “the real McCoy.” If they don’t, they aren’t. Obedience is the litmus test of faith (cf. James 1:22–25). That’s the straightforward point of today’s reading.

Sections of blessings and curses often concluded ancient Near Eastern covenants, so it’s no surprise to find them here near the end of Leviticus (cf. Deut. 28–30). Obedience of all the commands was expected, but several key points were highlighted: (1) Do not worship idols or graven images. (2) Keep the Sabbath. (3) Respect the tabernacle (vv. 1–2).

The blessings of obeying the Lord were myriad (vv. 3–12). The people would enjoy material prosperity. Rain would fall, crops would grow, and food would be plentiful. They would enjoy peace and safety. Natural calamities (such as attacks by wild animals) and war wouldn’t disrupt their lives, and God would give them easy victories over their enemies. Best of all, they would enjoy a close relationship with God. He would look on them with favor, call them “my people,” dwell with them, and walk with them daily.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Obedience is also a spiritual imperative for us today! To reaffirm this principle, we encourage you to memorize James 1:22–25: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. . . . [T]he man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.” You might jot these verses down on an index card and carry them with you until you have them completely memorized.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 26:14-46
I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. - Leviticus 26:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
On February 7, 1904, the story goes, a man in the basement of a downtown Baltimore building discarded a lit cigarette. It was a small act of carelessness, but one with enormous consequences.

The cigarette started a fire that the wind whipped into a larger fire. By evening, it raged out of control, burning for 31 hours and destroying eighty city blocks. About 2,500 buildings were destroyed or damaged, and property loss was estimated at $100 million. Thankfully, no lives were lost.

Causes lead to effects–that’s the order of life. We reap what we sow. And disobedience brings punishment.

Today’s reading complements what we read yesterday. But why is this section of curses so much longer than the section of blessings? God knew the people would disobey, so perhaps He was making an extra attempt to deter them, or at least making sure they would have no excuses. The people understood that disobeying His commands and breaking the covenant–the equivalent of hating or abhorring His laws (v. 15)–would have dire consequences: terror, disease, defeat, and the enmity of God Himself.

Vividly described in these verses is an escalation of punishments, all mercifully designed to correct the Israelites’ sinful ways, break down their stubborn pride, and bring them back to a right relationship with God. The images of judgment grow progressively darker and more severe. The land would become barren and unyielding, and wild animals would attack. War, plague, and famine would descend. Cities would be broken down, the land ruined, the people scattered. Whereas before five men had chased a hundred, disobedience would cause them to flee in fear at the sound of a falling leaf (v. 36)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To support the principle that Scripture is an interlinked whole, and to help keep you from getting bogged down in the minutiae of Leviticus, we have suggested a number of supplementary readings and Bible study topics this month.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 27:1-34
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. - Psalm 24:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Through the prophet Malachi, God condemned the Israelites for their careless, shameful worship practices. Instead of offering Him the best, they selected throwaway animals. Instead of offering Him what was perfect, they chose crippled or diseased sacrifices. Their self-centered “worship” showed their sinful hearts and dishonored God’s name among the nations (Mal. 1:6–14).

From the book of Leviticus, the Israelites should have known better. In this final reading of the month, we see that offering God our best demonstrates that all we have belongs to Him.

To dedicate items to the Lord, probably as part of a vow or freewill offering, showed commitment and a heart for worship. A cash-plus-twenty-percent redemption was possible in some cases, depending on what had been dedicated. Animals, houses, land, and even people could be offered to the Lord in this way. For example, Hannah vowed that if the Lord answered her prayer for a child, she would give that child to Him. That’s how Samuel first entered God’s service (1 Sam. 1–3).

To devote items to the Lord was even more momentous (v. 28). These items could not be redeemed, but belonged only and wholly to God. For example, when Achan stole some gold, silver, and a robe during the conquest of Jericho, he stole devoted items. That’s why his crime was punished so harshly (Josh. 7). Another example is when God judged the Amalekites and they were “devoted to destruction”–that is, Saul was supposed to wipe them out. When the king failed to obey, he greatly dishonored the Lord (1 Sam. 15).

When the people offered firstfruits or tithes, they were not to keep the best for themselves. Sheep, for example, passed through a gate, where a shepherd stood holding a rod dipped in colored dye. He marked every tenth sheep that went by, and those sheep would belong to the Lord (vv. 32–33).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps beginning with the truths you wrote out on July 12, list several principles and practices you have learned during our study of Leviticus. Your list should include principles and practices you really want to stick with you, ones you want to grow in and apply more consistently.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. - 2 Corinthians 4:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Walt Disney was once asked how it felt to be a celebrity. “It feels fine when it helps to get a good seat for a football game,” he answered. “But it never helped me to make a good film or a good shot in a polo game, or command the obedience of my daughter. It doesn’t even seem to keep fleas off our dogs–and if being a celebrity won’t give one an advantage over a couple of fleas, then I guess there can’t be much in being a celebrity after all.”

The apostle Paul also found that celebrity status wasn’t an advantage. Some in the Corinthian church had begun to identify themselves as followers of their favorite preachers, to the detriment of the church and of those who had come to be viewed as Christian “celebrities.”

The city of Corinth was built on a causeway between two seas and located on the main commercial route between East and West in the Roman empire. This meant that the Corinthian church was located in one of the busiest and most influential seaports of the ancient world. It was an especially gifted church that had enjoyed the ministry of some of the greatest preachers of the New Testament era (vv. 3, 12).

Instead of benefiting from these blessings, however, the Corinthians had begun to divide into factions. Some had identified themselves as followers of Paul, others of Apollos, and some of Peter. A few had adopted a super-spiritual pose by refusing to listen to any human teacher at all.

This inner rivalry splintered the church and obscured its message. Christian discipleship was no longer about following Christ but a matter of following human teachers. Ironically, despite excellent teaching and a wealth of spiritual gifts, the Corinthian church became spiritually complacent and arrogant.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It is appropriate to be grateful for those who are faithful in ministering the Word to us. It is even appropriate to look to them as personal examples and spiritual role models (Heb. 13:7). There is no place in the church, however, for celebrity worship. Christian spirituality should not be vicarious spirituality.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Conceit is one of those diseases of the soul where the victim is the first to recognize it in others and last to realize when they have contracted it themselves. It affects the heart, hardening it against the convicting truths of God’s Word. It also affects our spiritual sight, magnifying the flaws of others while at the same time leaving us blind to our own faults. Speaking of conceit, C. S. Lewis observed, “There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.”

This was the kind of mentality that had taken hold in Corinth. Instead of feeling humbled by the spiritual advantages they enjoyed, the Corinthians had become arrogant. They had begun to criticize Paul’s preaching style because it lacked the kind of rhetorical style that was popular among the Greeks. They were also embarrassed by the simplicity of his message and his emphasis on the cross of Christ (v. 17). Paul, for his part, had deliberately avoided philosophical rhetoric and stylistic flourishes. He stripped his message of everything that would distract attention from its focus on the work of Christ. He would not allow anything to replace the preeminence of the Cross.

The Corinthians had also begun to think of themselves more highly than they should. To bring them back to reality, Paul reminded them of the importance of the “foolishness” of the Cross. The problems in Corinth were partly due to the fact that they were more interested in preaching style than in doctrinal content. Because of this misplaced value, they had become susceptible to the errors being spread by false teachers whose preaching style seemed more powerful than Paul’s preaching.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and make a “before” and “after” list that compares your position before Christ with your position now that you know Christ. What was your spiritual condition prior to experiencing God’s grace? Who were you following? What was your relationship to God like? What motivated God to make you the object of His grace through Christ? Thank God for the changes that have come because you are in Christ, recognizing that these have all been a work of God’s grace.