TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A small country church in Wisconsin has a special tradition that they have used at the close of their communion services for a number of years. It is adapted from an ancient Jewish closing of the Passover meal. Since it is the hope of every devout Jew to celebrate the Passover at least once in David's city, the Jewish custom is to end the meal with a toast. Passover participants raise the cup and say, ""Next year, in Jerusalem!""

The cup in the Lord's Supper serves as two reminders: we are to look back to the shed blood of Christ and forward to the Lord's second coming. In other words, for all Christians, there will be a last sharing of the bread and the cup on this side of eternity: when they meet once again, they will be in Christ's presence. At the close of communion, the members of this church raise their cups in anticipation and say, ""Next time, with Christ!""

Paul was appalled to hear that instead of focusing on Christ in sharing the Lord's Supper, the Corinthians were focusing on their appetites! Much like the guests Jesus observed in Luke 14:7-14, they jostled for the best seats at the table. Paul informed them that their behavior led him to one conclusion: ""It is not the Lord's Supper you eat"" (1 Cor. 11:20). They were forgetting the host: Jesus.

""For I received from the Lord . . ."" (v. 23), wrote Paul as he taught them again the priceless words that Jesus had spoken at the Last Supper and the first communion. Many Christians know these Scriptures by heart. Paul warns the Corinthians about the dangers of taking the Lord's Supper lightly. He insists that each believer ""examine himself"" (v. 28) before taking the elements. In our reflection, we are to recognize the body of Christ (v. 29).

The context indicates a double meaning for this phrase: (1) Christ's physical ""body"" sacrificed on the cross for us; (2) Christ's spiritual ""body"" which surrounds us as we share communion. Unfortunately the Corinthians were not recognizing either.

Communion is both an individual act (self-examination, repentance, confession, personal connection with Jesus' death) and a corporate act (gathered, together, as one). We don't take communion alone. That's why Paul closes his warnings with the gentle counsel, ""So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other"" (v. 33).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the For today's application, why not do additional Bible study on the subject of marriage? Whether or not you have the privilege of sharing in communion today, allow its backward and forward look to shape your day.

As you meditate on the meaning of the communion service, consider: What does it matter to me today that Jesus died? What difference does it make today that He is coming back? Look around you in the church service. Praise God today for this visible connection you have with Himself and with the rest of His people!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Chuck Swindoll began a message on today's passage by describing the difference between listening to a classical piece of music on a good sound system and hearing the same music performed live by a symphony. A recording of Handel's Messiah may evoke a powerful reaction, but there is nothing like sitting in an awed and humbled audience as the music is presented.

""The sounds may be exactly the same: the same bravura entrances, legato strains, even the same soundful silence between movements. But our awareness of the conductor, the orchestra, and the separate instruments is diminished when the music's only visible source is a needle reading the spinning grooves of a record. There's something about seeing the music happen that creates a sense of wonder and understanding.""

The church is an orchestra that Christ gathers to play the Spirit's music. The gospel involves a simple melody and a complex harmony. This picture helps us understand Paul's teaching about the Spirit's work in Christians' lives. Notice how God builds His orchestra. Those who acknowledge the Lordship of Christ (v. 3) are part of the orchestra. The Spirit gives various ""musical abilities"" (v. 4) to the members. Whatever use (or service) these abilities receive must be related to the Lord's purposes (v. 5). The effectiveness (working) of these abilities rests with God (v. 6).

Like everything we are and have, our spiritual gifts come from God. He is the Giver and therefore the One who determines their use. God has put that purpose in writing. Every gift is given ""for the common good"" (v. 7). We benefit from God's work in and through us only to the extent that others benefit. God's gifts are not self-centered. They are not given for private enjoyment but for the good of others.

Paul was preparing the Corinthians for his next words of correction. Like the other ""divisions"" he had heard about, he knew they were making a mess of their life together. Rather than appreciating and benefiting from one another's spiritual gifts, they had become bitter and jealous. He reminded them again that the Spirit ""determines"" (v. 11) the role and instrument each of us plays in the orchestra.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the For today's application, why not do additional Bible study on the subject of marriage? Think about the spiritual gifts of fellow believers that were a part of yesterday's worship. You even benefited from gifts of Christians who are already with the Lord. Each of the hymns or choruses you sang were given by the Spirit to someone ""for the common good""! Teachers, musicians, pastors, encouragers-there was a spiritual masterpiece being played. What part did you provide? How did your gifts add to the harmony? Ask God today to make you a good instrument in the orchestra of faith that He conducts.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Dr. Paul Brand writes about how a lifetime of travel, mission work, and surgery had helped him to better appreciate the Body of Christ.

""I have learned that when God looks upon His Body, spread like an archipelago throughout the world, He sees the whole thing. And I think He, understanding the cultural backgrounds and true intent of the worshipers, likes the variety He sees.

""Some Africans dance their praise to God, following the beat of a skilled drummer. Sedate Japanese Christians express their gratitude by creating objects of beauty. Indians point their hands upward, palms together, in the namaste greeting of respect that has its origin in the Hindu concept, `I worship the God I see in you,' but which gains new meaning as Christians use it to recognize the image of God in others.

""The Body of Christ, like our own bodies, is composed of individual, unlike cells that are knit to form one Body. He is the whole thing, and the joy of the Body increases as individual cells realize they can be diverse without becoming isolated outposts.""

Among other things, these verses reveal Paul's sense of humor. He could drive home a point with a funny exaggeration. Imagine an unattached eye or ear claiming to function as a whole body! Paul wanted his readers to remember that the idea of individualized, private Christianity is foreign to God's Word. We may be alone when we are called to follow Christ, but we don't follow Christ alone. We become part of the Body (v. 27).

Whatever each of us has to offer the Body, we all need one another. No one does everything, and no one survives alone. Our lives come from Christ (Gal. 2:20), but we live those lives with one another. Paul expresses sadness over the kind of spiritual comparisons that were obviously going on among the Corinthians. They were devaluing their roles in the Body of Christ by wishing they had someone else's role. This brings unhappiness and division in the Body. It dishonors Christ, whose Spirit gives out the gifts ""just as He determines"" (12:11). There's no greater excitement than to discover your place in the Body of Christ and to fulfill your function there.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the For today's application, why not do additional Bible study on the subject of marriage? If you've ever been sick with a cold or the flu, you know that a simple cold, cough or sore throat can affect your entire body. When one part of your body suffers, the whole body is brought down. It is the same with the Body of Christ. Do you realize that you are connected with the rest of the Body? Have you experienced and practiced the truth of verse 26, suffering with other Christians or finding them suffering with you? Do you find it easy to rejoice when other Christians are honored? Look for ways to experience each of these Body functions this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD
By the time he turned eighteen, George Matheson had completely lost his sight. But despite this setback he remained an outstanding student and eventually became an effective preacher in the Church of Scotland. Much of his progress can be attributed to his sister, who even learned Hebrew and Greek in order to help her brother.

On the evening of June 6, 1882, George Matheson wrote a hymn. Its opening words are these: ""Oh love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.""

Reflecting on the events of the day, he wrote, ""I was at the time alone. It was the day of my sister's marriage. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering."" In the darkness of his blindness George Matheson found comfort in God's love.

The beauty and profound wisdom of 1 Corinthians 13 has been trivialized by thoughtless overuse. How many short-lived marriages have begun with these words in the couple's ears, but failed because the message never reached their hearts? How many of us have longed to have God plant this kind of love in us, but without real commitment? For the love that Paul writes of is God's love, not ours. He gives us this love and then invites us to love Him back.

An old rabbi was asked to explain why, after God had instructed His people to love Him with all their hearts, souls and strength, He told them to place the commandment upon rather than in their hearts (Deut. 6:5-6). ""It is because,"" replied the rabbi, ""we cannot by ourselves place God's love in our hearts. We place it upon our hearts so that when God cracks their hardness, His love will fall in.""

The Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to write a breathtakingly beautiful description of God's character. Before that character can flow out of us, God must crack and transform us. We won't exhibit the qualities of God's love until He grows them in us. He can't do that until we allow Him to. We won't allow Him to do it until we realize how badly we need that love.

That is why Paul described how empty great acts like prophecy, faith or sacrifice are without love. Until God's love flows through us, we haven't found ""the most excellent way"" (12: 31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the For today's application, why not do additional Bible study on the subject of marriage? Give someone who knows you well a list of the characteristics of love. Ask that person to tell you if he can see anything in your life that does match 1 Corinthians 13. Pray about this before approaching that person. Accept what is said and purpose to pray about it and follow through. Thank God for what you learn. You may also want to memorize this classic chapter!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
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TODAY IN THE WORD
""During the Civil War,"" writes author Tim Riter, ""President Lincoln attended Wednesday evening services at a church close to the White House. Accompanied by Secret Service agents, Lincoln would sit in the pastor's study during the message; then they would walk back together. One evening, after the service, an agent asked Lincoln, `What did you think of tonight's sermon?'

""Lincoln replied, `It was brilliantly conceived, biblical, relevant, and well presented.'

""`So, it was a great sermon?'

""`No, it failed. It failed because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do something great.'""

In today's language, we would say that Dr. Gurley was a captivating and entertaining preacher who failed to challenge or give his congregation any practical ways to carry out the truths which he taught. Paul would say that Dr. Gurley was a preacher who didn't prophesy (v. 3).

Notice that in verse 3, the word ""prophesies"" identifies the kind of speaking that accomplishes three objectives: ""strengthening,"" ""encouragement,"" and ""comfort."" That first word literally means ""upbuilding"" or ""edifying"" or messages that contain constructive applications. Next comes ""encouragement,"" which comes from the same word as our word ""comforter."" Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit in this way. Encourage-ment implies a message that speeds, accompanies or helps someone along the way. Last comes ""comfort"" or ""consolation"", a term that speaks of acknowledgement of another's activity. We comfort someone who is tired, overwhelmed or hurt in order to restore that person for further action.

When a stranger or a non-believer finds himself among Christians who are actively prophesying in this way, wrote Paul, he will, among other things, ""fall down and worship God, exclaiming, `God is really among you!'"" (v. 25).

Paul devotes a good deal of space to addressing what had become an over-emphasis on the gift of tongues among the Corinthians. Their interest was a symptom of the divisiveness that was tearing apart the church. Paul urged the Corinthians to ""follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts"" (v. 1). He emphasized prophecy, the spoken message that can keep other believers going and can bring non-believers to Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the You may not experience any tension at all in your church over the issue of spiritual gifts. If so, be grateful to the Lord for His peace. Hopefully, that peace doesn't indicate an ignorance or avoidance of spiritual gifts but a correct understanding and use of them. The Holy Spirit uses these gifts to equip believers to carry out their work in the Body of Christ. The challenge to be an available vehicle for God's love comes to us fresh each day. Pray for eagerness to serve in your place in the Body.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 60's and 70's, Pastor Ray Stedman coined the term ""Body life service"" for his church in California. It was an effort to put into practice some of the brief descriptions of worship preparation that we find in the New Testament. For one rural church, the body life movement didn't arrive until the 90's.

The congregation had many concerns about this ""new"" style of worship: ""Would a service without a sermon be legal?"" ""Would anyone share?"" ""Did anyone have something worth sharing?"" ""What if no one came?"" And, of course, ""We've never done it that way before.""

That Sunday, the pastor gave a brief introduction; then several people requested favorite hymns. Others hesitantly mentioned prayer requests which were immediately prayed for by others. Someone quoted a favorite passage of Scripture. Then a man walked forward and confessed that he was an alcoholic. He asked for the church's help to keep him accountable as he went into treatment the next week. Members said they couldn't remember another service with such on-the-edge-of-your-seat excitement. Someone said, ""We've got to do it that way again!""

The apostle Paul taught both individual responsibility and corporate solidarity in writing about church life. Each member has a role to play in ministering to the whole Body. When he wrote about getting ready for church, he wasn't talking about wearing the right clothes. Today's church, where a handful prepare and everyone else shows up, does not fit Paul's teaching about the church. Rather, everyone ought to come to worship prepared to participate (v. 26), each in his ""fitting and orderly"" turn (v. 40).

Although this passage emphasizes order, Paul did not sacrifice participation. In its history, the church has often chosen to stifle participation (other than the need for everyone to pay attention) to keep order. The human body has what David called a fearful and wonderful diversity (Psalm 139:14) knit together by God's marvelous design. The Body of Christ ought to exhibit that same kind of variety, energy, order and life as it presents the Lord to the world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the How do you participate in the Body of Christ? Are you involved in an ""up-front"" ministry or one that is ""behind-the-scenes""? When we are looking for ways to become involved in church, we often fail to consider those important ""behind-the-scenes"" needs. For example: Do any people meet together beforehand to pray for the service? Do you take your turn serving in the nursery or children's church as a way of enhancing order and helping young parents? Sunday is coming soon. Think of several ways in which you can be prepared for the Lord's Day.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Paul and Becky Luedtke, missionaries among international students in Europe, conducted a survey assessing what students thought about Christianity, the Bible and the gospel. Here are some of the students' responses:

-A Russian Jew said he was an atheist, but viewed God as a personal being.

-One Dutch girl, who says she is a committed Catholic Christian, views God as an impersonal force, but Jesus as the Son of God.

-A number of people said they were Christians, but also believed in reincarnation after death.

The Luedtkes concluded: ""This survey tends to confirm what is happening in much of Western society. There is great interest in religion and spirituality, but great ignorance of the gospel.""

More than nineteen hundred years ago, Paul faced the same challenge. The Corinthian church was rapidly losing its connection to the truth. In an effort to correct this problem, Paul summarized the basics. He uses four verbs to describe the people's response to the gospel: ""received,"" ""taken your stand,"" ""hold firmly,"" and ""believed"" (vv. 1-2). Paul confronted the Corinthian believers with their past response and ongoing accountability.

Next, he reviewed the central facts of the gospel: Jesus' death, His burial and resurrection, and His appearances to people still alive at the time of Paul's writing (vv. 3-8). Paul connected the first two facts with God's Word: ""according to the Scriptures."" The gospel was and continues to be grounded in historical fact. Jesus didn't just die. Scripture makes the purpose of His death clear: Jesus died for our sins!

Paul closes by appealing again to the fact that the Corinthians' faith had begun with their acceptance of the gospel. This was necessary groundwork for the apostle's confrontation of the false teaching that was undermining their faith. If his friends did not realize the importance of the Resurrection, there would be even more confusion.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the Our faith still rests on the truth of the Resurrection. Without it, Christianity becomes a garden variety religion. That's just what the world wants: a Jesus who can be chosen from among any number of equally valid religious leaders.

Jesus returning from the dead makes a red-letter Bible something really special. His words are true. His promises are dependable. His power is reliable. He is, in the words of Thomas, ""My Lord and my God"" (John 20:28). Today, re-read one or more of the Gospel accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection (Matt. 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; John 18-21). Put yourself in the place of the people around Jesus. Imagine how you would feel and react to being there. Spend some time meditating on the Resurrection and thanking God for His gift of salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Søren Kierkegaard's description of the religious condition of Denmark in 1855 could very well describe our society today. The philosopher wrote: ""Christianity does not exist . . . ""

""We have, if you will, a complete crew of bishops, deans, and priests; learned men, eminently learned, talented, gifted, humanly well-meaning, but not one of them is in the character of the Christianity of the New Testament.

""We have what one might call a complete inventory of churches, bells, organs, benches, alms-boxes, foot-warmers, tables, hearses, etc. But when Christianity does not exist, the existence of this inventory, so far from being, Christianly considered, an advantage, is far rather a peril, because it is so infinitely likely to give rise to a false impression and the false inference that when we have a complete Christian inventory we must of course have Christianity, too.""

The Corinthian church may not have had much in the way of buildings and traditions, but Paul saw that they had already exchanged core truths for false teaching. He made the facts painfully clear: the most elaborate system of thought is worthless if it is based on a lie. His words are blunt. ""If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins"" (v. 17).

Paul's charge against some of the Corinthians hints at the falsehoods they were accepting. The resurrection of Jesus was an unpopular idea. People who died were supposed to stay dead. Religion was fine as a comfort for this life, but that was it. Paul answered, in essence: ""Listen, if Christianity is comforting and hopeful because it is based on the resurrection of Jesus and that resurrection never happened, then we don't even have the right to be hopeful in this life!"" (v. 19). Paul lists various ways that faith and actions would be pointless for Christians apart from the resurrection (vv. 20-33).

Paul closes with a charge to all Christians: ""Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning"" (v. 34). Believers are to be clear and sharp thinkers. We ought to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). Why? Because some people have no knowledge of God (1 Cor. 15:34). Christians wavering in faith offer little hope to those lost in sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the Our faith still rests on the truth of the Resurrection. Without it, Christianity becomes a The hope that comes from the resurrection of Jesus cannot help but attract people (see 1 Pet. 3:15). If Jesus rose from the grave, so many other wonderful things are also true! Not the least of these is that because He lives, we too shall live (see Rom. 6:5-11).

Do you exhibit the signs of hope in your life? Whom have you told recently about the hope that you have in Jesus Christ? Ask God to give you sensitivity to those near you who need to hear the good news.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The March 1984 issue of Psychology Today published the winner of an interesting contest called ""Scamarama."" Readers were to send in the most creative scams. This was the winner:

""Wish you were born rich? Now you can be! If you are one of the growing millions who are convinced of the reality of reincarnation, here's a once-in-a-lifetime offer!

""First, leave us ten thousand dollars or more in your will. After you pass away, our professional medium will contact your spirit in the other world. Then you tell us when you're coming back and under what name. Upon your return, we regress you, at age twenty-one through hypnosis to this lifetime and ask you for your seven-digit account number.

""Once you give us the number, we give you a check on the spot for your original investment plus interest! The longer you're gone, the more you will receive! You may come back to find yourself a billionaire! Show your future self how much you care; leave a generous `welcome back' present. We'll take care of the rest.""

We may chuckle over the boldness of the idea, but there are a great number of people who seriously think they can earn their way beyond death. Others think they can evade death by refusing to recognize it. Paul says these people ask trivial questions in the face of an unavoidable reality.

They ask, ""How are the dead raised?"" (v. 35). The Corinthians were raising frivolous questions to avoid the implications of the resurrection. Paul's opponents echoed the foolish question of those who approached Jesus asking about marriage in heaven, ""Whose wife will she be?"" (Luke 20:27-40). That is like saying ""I won't believe England exists unless you can assure me that I can buy coconuts there whenever I want to."" Compared to the sheer wonder of the resurrection, will the bodies God chooses for us really matter?

Paul's serious answer points to the principle of the transformation of seeds to plants. What we put in the ground bears little resemblance to what sprouts. The size and shape of a seed gives few clues about the plant it will become. Paul concludes by pointing the Corinthians to Jesus: ""Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven"" (1 Cor. 15:49).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the Enjoy or endure the earthly tent (2 Cor. 5:1) in which you now live, but never forget that it is perishable (1 Cor. 15:42) and will one day be sown.

When God raises them, our frail, earthly bodies will be changed . . . imperishable. Our own resurrection is actually quite a thrilling event to ponder! Today, think about what you might want to say first to Jesus. What will it be like when we see Him face to face?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
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TODAY IN THE WORD
After the death of his wife, Donald Grey Barnhouse had the painful and difficult job of explaining his wife's death to his six-year-old daughter.

One day, when Barnhouse and his daughter were standing on a busy city corner, a large truck sped past, briefly blocking the sun and frightening the little girl. Instinctively, the father picked her up. In that moment he sensed the Lord providing him with a way to help his daughter.

""When you saw the truck pass, it scared you,"" said Barnhouse. ""But let me ask you, had you rather be struck by the truck or by the shadow of the truck?""

The little girl answered, ""By the shadow, daddy.""

He then explained, ""When your mother died, she was hit only by the shadow of death because Jesus was hit by the truck [or by death]."" As the little girl hugged her father, they wept together with grief and gladness.

This chapter in 1 Corinthians begins with concern and correction, but ends with triumph. What great expressions of Christian hope: ""we will all be changed"" (v. 51) and ""death has been swallowed up in victory"" (v. 54). Alongside the thrilling words are also words of sober reality. Death still gains a measure of victory and often inflicts a painful sting (v. 55). Until Jesus' final victory we are stuck in the painful space between sin and the law (v. 56). Rather than making light of what are excruciating experiences for some people, these ringing words of Paul shine light on the common expectation every human being must face: death awaits.

Flesh and blood were created for this world. But God has an appropriate resurrection body for us, distantly related to this one, but designed for eternity. While this body is capable of decay (perishable), we will be changed to be imperishable. What is mortal will become immortal.

For all his concern, Paul remained hopeful about the future of the Corinthian church. They were still his ""dear brothers"" (v. 58). He was confident that they would not give in or give up. So he urges them to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord (v. 58). However long the road of obedience may seem, the destination will come in a flash (vv. 51-52).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the Death is not a very popular subject. When most people speak of death, they either joke about it or change the subject. Movies and books picture life beyond the grave as a fairy tale heaven or a flame-ridden hell.

Many people avoid speaking about death because they are afraid that it is the ultimate end. They are terrified to admit that there is an existence beyond death because they realize that they are unprepared. How do you feel about death? Be careful to base your expectations on God's Word. You don't know what eternal life will be like exactly, but anything Jesus designs will be fine! Share your hope with someone. Meanwhile, listen for the trumpet!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4;
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A little boy sat with his distraught parents in the waiting room of the hospital. Sam's younger brother had fallen and sustained terrible injuries. When the doctor finally arrived, he informed the parents that their son was badly in need of a blood transfusion. Everyone was tested, but it was Sam's blood that matched. Taking him aside, his father asked, ""Sam, Tommy needs blood. Yours is the only one that will help him. Would you give blood to your brother?""

Furrowing his brow, he answered, ""Yes, I will.""

But the little boy seemed sad. ""Is anything wrong?"" his father asked.

Tears trickling down his face, Sam whispered in his father's ear. His father turned away, weeping, and told his wife in the hall, ""Sam thought that when he said `yes,' he was giving all of his blood to his brother."" Sam was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice if he could help his brother.

Paul had been trying to teach the Corinthians this important principle of Christlikeness. We should be willing and ready to sacrifice for those we love.

Up until this point, Paul has been addressing questions of and concerns for the Corinthians. Now he turns his full attention to a practical matter: a gift for the Jerusalem church. The passage in Romans completes the details of Paul's philosophy. He urged the Christians around the Mediterranean to express their gratitude for the ""spiritual blessings"" (Rom. 15:27) they had received from Jerusalem by sending ""material blessings"" to assist the Judean church in her need.

Paul's approach with the Corinthians (something he had worked out with the Galatians) was systematic. He directed them to set funds aside on a regular basis and save them. He did not want to have a fund drive when he arrived. His plan was simply to organize the delegation that would carry the gifts to Jerusalem. Paul realized that consistent giving would train the Corinthians in generosity and provide much-needed help to friends elsewhere.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the The principle Paul teaches is just as applicable today. Our local churches depend on the weekly giving of members. Ministries like ours at Moody Bible Institute also benefit from the generosity of brothers and sisters in Christ who appreciate the spiritual benefits they receive from Christian organizations.

The Lord is faithful in helping us to set aside funds on a regular basis to share within the Body of Christ. Sometimes God prompts us to give sacrificially; but as Sam discovered, giving most often involves sharing from what God has provided. Today, think of one way you can demonstrate your gratitude to God for the generous gifts He has given to you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 16:5-18
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The following story from the time of Oliver Cromwell in England literally has the ring of truth. A young soldier, tried by military tribunal, was sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the ""ringing of the curfew bell.""

His fianc‚e made her way to the bell tower several hours before curfew and tied herself to the bell's huge clapper. At curfew, when only muted sounds came from the tower, Cromwell demanded to know why the bell failed to ring. His soldiers ran to investigate. There they found the young woman, cut and bleeding from being knocked back and forth. They brought her down and, as the story goes, Cromwell was so impressed by her willingness to suffer on behalf of the one she loved that he dismissed the condemned man, saying, ""Curfew shall not ring tonight.""

As the book of Acts and Paul's letters make clear, the apostle repeatedly ""tied himself to the bell clapper"" of conflict, persecution and hardship in his determination to carry the gospel. When he wrote about opportunities to minister, he took into account both the positive and the negative aspects of what he called a ""great door."" For example, he planned to stay in Ephesus for awhile because ""a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me"" (v. 9). Paul thought of resistance as an incentive!

This letter was designed to pave the way for Paul's next visit to Corinth. But he didn't see himself as the sole messenger. In these verses alone, he mentions five others:Timothy, Apollos, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who, in one way or another, had served the Corinthians and Paul. ""I urge you,"" wrote Paul, ""to submit to such as these.""

In the middle of this list, Paul appeals to the Corinthian leaders themselves. We could call it a Christian leadership job description in 19 words: ""Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love"" (vv. 13-14). The leaders' lives were to be marked by alertness, courage and strength. They were to ground themselves in the truths of the gospel. Paul seems to say, ""Everything you do ought to have love written all over it.""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the Would you describe yourself as a leader within your church? Christians often look at biblical leadership descriptions like the one above and conclude, after a quick inventory, that they are not leadership material. ""I don't have those qualities, so I must not be a leader,"" they think.

Such conclusions are wrong in several ways: (1) they lead to Christians being discouraged; (2) they overlook the point that all believers are expected to pursue, with God's help, each of these qualities; (3) they picture Christians as stuck rather than seeing God at work in each of us. God can grow today's struggler (perhaps you) into a leader for tomorrow. Are you trusting Him in the journey today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 16:19-24
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Some of life's most memorable moments take on a different feeling when viewed through the lens of a foreign culture. James Hefley wrote about a very special farewell in South America.

""The Bora people live along the Putumayo River. Once warlike and cannibalistic toward their neighbors, they are now a friendly and happy people who like to tease and play jokes on one another. They communicate well with huge signal drums. When translators Wesley and Eva Thiesen returned from the Wycliffe main base in Yarinacocha, Peru, the Boras announced their arrival on the drums hours in advance.

""When the translators came to Acts 20:37, which relates the emotional farewell given Paul by the Ephesian elders, the Bora culture did not permit a literal rendering of the verse. To say that `they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him' made no sense to the Boras. Their idea of an affectionate farewell is to embrace a friend and smell him! So that is how the verse was translated."" In their own way, the Boras understood the intensity of emotion in Paul's farewell.

In these last verses of 1 Corinthians Paul reveals that he has been dictating the letter to Sosthenes (cf. 1:1), but he wrote the final words himself. We can almost hear the drum beats of his final words. First, a last harsh rebuke for any readers who might be harboring anger against the apostle's corrections (16:22).

Then, a sharp prayer-""Come, O Lord!"" (v. 23). He uses an Aramaic expression ""maranatha"" that even Greek-speaking Christians must have learned in order to voice their anticipation of the Lord's return. Lastly, Paul expresses his desire for the Lord's grace for his friends along with his own love in Christ Jesus (v. 24). With gruff compassion the apostle reaches out to those he still considered his children in the faith.

Earlier, Paul had encouraged their connections with other believers. Here, he passes along greetings from the churches in Asia and from Aquila and Priscilla, who were part of the ministry team that had founded the church in Corinth. Whether or not the Corinthians as a whole were ready to make corrections in their lives, the final words they read from Paul in this letter conveyed the love and concern of those who first brought the gospel to them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the An eternal link was forged between you and the person or persons who introduced you to Christ. Those who faithfully discipled you in the Christian life also remain connected. Even those who discipline and correct you in truth and love are often the unappreciated tools God uses to shape you. Each of these relationships can be a reason for gratitude to the Lord.

Conflict tests relationships. As the old saying goes, what doesn't break them, makes them. Paul teaches us in his handling of the Corinthians, their questions and problems, that grace and love should have the final word. How can we do less in our treatment of one another?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:1-31
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TODAY IN THE WORD
hspace=5>“There are no ordinary people,” says C.S. Lewis. “You have never met a mere mortal. Cultures, civilizations—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we live with, work with, marry, snub and exploit. Everlasting horrors or eternal splendors.”

These words, written by Lewis in his classic address “The Weight of Glory,” emphasize a fundamental truth: the infinite worth of every person.

This is not a man-made doctrine. In fact, it is the testimony of the first chapter of the Scriptures. After the first six days of creation, God says: “Let us make man in our image” (v. 26).

“The image of God.” What a mind-boggling phrase! Unlike animals or anything else in all the world, human beings bear the image of God. This means, at the very least, that we have been given personality. Because we can think and feel and choose, we also have the capacity to enjoy rich relationships, both with God and with others. Like God, we are able to impact the world around us. Eternity has been stamped on our souls, giving us immeasurable worth and dignity.

Today we seem to have forgotten, or perhaps rejected, this truth. Our actions reflect the values of evolutionary theory and its idea of “the survival of the fittest.” We ascribe worth only to the attractive, productive or provocative among us. It is no wonder that today we see the widespread acceptance of abortion, the mistreatment of the elderly, and the neglect of the poor.

As believers, we know that being created in the image of God means that every person is special. Extraordinary. Worthy of our care, concern and attention. Nowhere should that truth be better demonstrated than in our families.

In recent months (perhaps because this is an election year), we have heard a lot about “family values.” But beyond that vague phrase, most politicians are unwilling to offer any specifics. Even when they do, their ideas and prescriptions are generally superficial.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
hspace=5>How do you treat the other members of your family? Today, take a moment to consider your own attitudes and the way you treat your family. If you have been cold, indifferent or even cruel, ask God for His forgiveness. Ask Him to let you see your brother, sister, parents or children through His eyes.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 35:30 - 36:7
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TODAY IN THE WORD
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In his book Lyrics, Oscar Hammerstein II wrote of a photograph he once saw taken looking down on the Statue of Liberty. The picture revealed the marvelous and intricate craftsmanship of the sculptor—especially seen in Lady Liberty’s all-but-invisible coiffeur. Hammerstein noted that since the statue was crafted long before the era of airplanes and helicopters, the artist must have realized that these details would go unnoticed.

Nevertheless the sculptor was an artist; that meant he must finish off this part of the statue with as much care as he had devoted to her visible features. Hammerstein, a great Broadway composer, drew this conclusion: “When you are creating a work of art or any other kind of work, finish the job perfectly, thoroughly.”

What a message for a generation that accepts shoddiness! We not only settle for second-rate craftsmanship, but are often guilty of mediocrity ourselves. We give up too easily. Why strive for excellence, we tell ourselves, when a marginal effort will do? Contrast this thinking with the attitudes in today’s passage.

In building the tabernacle (the portable worship center of the ancient Israelites), God required nothing less than the best. Not only were the materials to be of the highest quality (35:4-29), but the workers were experts in their fields. Men of God? Yes. But in addition to being filled with the Spirit (v. 31), they possessed the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge to do the task right (35:31, 35; 36:1-2, 4, . They were the ancient “Dream Team” of craftsmen and artisans. God wanted His house to be built with excellence.

In the New Testament we find this same commitment to quality (see Colossians 3:22-24). From tabernacle designers to foot washers—every area of life is included in the call to excellence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
hspace=5>How do you treat the other members of your family? Today, take a moment to consider hspace=5>

Take a moment to evaluate your family relationships. How are you fulfilling your goals and responsibilities? What can you do to move toward excellence in those areas?