TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 6:1-10
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. - Psalm 49:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Churchyards are silent places,” Charles Spurgeon writes. “The vaults of the sepulcher echo not with songs. Damp earth covers dumb mouths.” For those who are left behind, the silence of the grave is absolute. Although we may wish to hear a word from those who pass on before us, God has closed the way. The dead do not return. Nor do they communicate with the living after they have departed this life.

It was this truth that prompted the psalmist to ask God the question in Psalm 6:5: “No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?” But could he be saying more? Is it possible that David, its author, did not believe in life after death? Did he think that the after life was, as one Old Testament commentator describes, a “dreamy, shadowy, existence” that does not deserve the name of life?

David's belief in life after death is clearly articulated elsewhere in the Psalms. He spoke of his hope for life beyond the grave when he wrote: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” (Ps. 16:10). David's declaration echoes what the Old Testament says elsewhere about life after death. One of the first to affirm this hope was Job, who said that after his skin had been destroyed, he expected to see God in his flesh (Job 19:26).

If resurrection was the hope of Old Testament believers, just as it is our hope, how do we explain David's question in Psalm 6:5? For if there is life beyond the grave, then there is praise beyond the grave as well. The answer is that David was thinking of those who would be left behind after his death. Even in death David would have a mouth to praise the Lord, but the sound of his testimony would be beyond the hearing of the living. If we want our lives of purpose to impact those around us, we must live each day with the praise and glory of God in mind.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Believers today are privileged to have even more information about life after death than Old Testament believers possessed. We know about the resurrection of Christ and the promise of His return.

Look up the following passages and summarize what each one has to say about death and its aftermath: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Philippians 1:21-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; and Revelation 21:3-4.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 10:1-18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. - Psalm 145:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Our perception of distance is not always accurate. We've all had the experience of seeing something on the horizon that appeared far away, only to discover that it was closer than we thought. Or we may have seen something that looked relatively close but was actually miles away. There's also not much correlation between geographical and interpersonal distance. Phone calls and instant messaging make it possible to carry on a meaningful conversation with someone who is on the other side of the globe, but we can argue with someone only a few feet from us and it may feel as if he or she is miles away.

The same can be true of our relationship with God. There are times when we feel so close to Him that it is almost as if the heavens have opened and we have been given access to the throne room of God. At other times we may pass through what some have called the “dark night of the soul.”

This was the experience of the psalmist in today's passage.

Although we do not know the circumstances that prompted the writing of this psalm, the context indicates that the writer was under great pressure. Some scholars think that Psalm 10 was originally combined with Psalm 9, in which David complains of being persecuted by his enemies (v. 13).

The apparent success of those who have pursued him leads to the question of Psalm 10:1: “Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” On the surface, it appeared as if God was watching this experience like an uninterested spectator. Yet past experience had shown him that this was not the case. By the end of the psalm, the psalmist had acknowledged the true answer. Although God may seem to watch over us from a distance, in reality He is present in our lives and His purpose upholds us with sustaining power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One technique David used when feeling distant from God was to talk to himself. Although many of the psalms are actually prayers, they often address the writer as well (cf. Psalm 42:5, 62:5; 103:2; etc.). Try writing your own psalm following David's pattern. Begin by expressing your concern as honestly as you can. Next, describe some attribute of God or example of power that you have experienced. Finally, write a few words of encouragement to yourself based on this. When you are finished, read it out loud as an act of worship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 13:1-6
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. - Psalm 63:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Several years after actor Jimmy Cagney had become famous portraying gangsters in Hollywood films, he and his wife were getting into a cab when he noticed a man across the street. “You see that fellow over there?” he told his wife. “His name is Nathan Skidelsky. He sat next to me in school.” Cagney's wife urged him to go over and speak to his friend. Cagney got out of the cab and had a conversation with the man. Sure enough, it was Nathan Skidelsky. Cagney had remembered correctly. Ironically though, despite his fame, Jimmy Cagney's boyhood chum didn't recognize or remember him!

Everybody wants to be remembered. More than anything else, we want to know that God remembers us. But in a world filled with billions of people, it is easy to think that we have gotten lost in the crowd. With so great a universe to control and so many people to care for, why should God be mindful of our little concerns? In such times prayer can be difficult, especially when God's timetable does not seem to be in synch with our own. We may find ourselves asking the question of Psalm 13:1: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

The psalmist's complaint reminds us that even godly people sometimes find it hard to wait for answers to prayer. God always hears us when we pray and will always respond. However, it is equally important to know that God's response will be in His own way, His own time, and according to His own purpose.

We may feel abandoned or forgotten when God says “no” to our requests. But God is a completely loving Father who never forgets His children (see Matt. 7). His care for us ensures that His timing and answers are always for our good and His glory.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Trusting God's unfailing love for us means trusting Him to know the best way to respond to our prayers. At times God's best answer may be to refuse our request. Take a few extra minutes to read the following passages: Deuteronomy 3:23-28; Matthew 26:38-46; and 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. What is the nature of the request in each case? How does God answer? Why do you think He responds in this way? When you are finished, spend some time in prayer thanking God for His unfailing love. Thank Him for loving you enough to say “no.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. - Proverbs 16:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book Leap Over a Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christians, author Eugene Peterson writes of the spirituality of work. He points out that as important as sanctuary is for our spiritual life, it isn't the primary context that God uses for our day-to-day spiritual development. “Work,” Peterson observes, “is the primary context for our spirituality.”

This may come as a shock to some of us. Many believers have asked the question raised in verse 3 of today's reading: “What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” Thankfully, the answer is found throughout the Scriptures. Men and women were created to work because they were created in God's image and God is a worker. The wonders of creation are called the “works” of His hand (Ps. 8:6). That's not all—according to Jesus, God continues to work “to this very day” (John 5:17). Clearly, work itself is not a consequence of sin, since we find God Himself embracing work.

Jesus, too, was no stranger to the world of work. Prior to beginning His public ministry, the Savior submitted Himself to the daily grind. Jesus did not merely dabble in work—He became so proficient in the vocation of His earthly father Joseph that others knew Him as a carpenter long before they knew Him as a rabbi (Mark 6:3). The dignity of work is seen in the fact that our Lord didn't think it beneath Him to work for a living.

The apostle Paul also worked, supporting himself as a tentmaker during his apostolic ministry (Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 4:12). What is more, Paul commanded the church to follow his example. Believers are to work so that they will not have to steal and will have something to share with those who are in need (Acts 20:34-35; Eph. 4:28)
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Trusting God's unfailing love for us means trusting Him to know the best way to respond to our prayers. At times God's best answer may be to refuse our request. Take a few extra minutes to read the following passages: Deuteronomy 3:23-28; Matthew 26:38-46; and 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. What is the nature of the request in each case? How does God answer? Why do you think He responds in this way? When you are finished, spend some time in prayer thanking God for His unfailing love. Thank Him for loving you enough to say “no.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Malachi 1:1-13
If you love me, you will obey what I command. - John 14:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
When a little boy's mother refused to buy him the toy he had seen as they passed the toy store in the mall, he began to wail. “You don't love me!” he accused. “Of course I do,” his mother replied. The child was not convinced. “If you loved me, you would buy me what I want!”

This seems to have been the attitude of God's people in the time of the prophet Malachi. His ministry took place some time after the Babylonian exile, and the mention of sacrifices being offered indicates that the work of rebuilding the temple was also complete. By this time the initial thrill of returning to the land after decades of exile had worn thin. During the time of Nehemiah, Eliashib the High Priest had allowed Judah's enemy Tobiah to store his personal belongings in the temple (Neh. 13:7). The people intermarried with their pagan neighbors and grew weary of worship (Neh. 13:23-28; Mal. 1:6-8).

The people of Judah had taken the blessings they had received for granted to such an extent that they questioned whether God had ever loved them. When the Lord declared His love through the prophet, the people responded with a kind of adolescent petulance, asking, “How have you loved us?” (v. 2). God proved His love in both the nature and the content of His response to this ungracious challenge. With the kind of patience a loving parent might show a stubborn and unreasonable child, the Lord gently outlined the many ways He had proved His love to Israel in the past. In particular, He reminded them that the descendants of Jacob had been blessed in a way that the descendants of Esau had not (vv. 2-3).

A human parent might have lost patience with a child who behaved as ungratefully as God's people did. Instead of berating Judah, the Lord gently reasons with them, promising to change their attitude while showing them the disgracefulness of their current behavior. His message is clear. The love God has shown to His people merits their love, which would be demonstrated by their obedience, in return.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The example of Judah should be sobering to all who have enjoyed God's blessings. What seemed so remarkable yesterday may today appear ho-hum. An attitude of thanksgiving can all too quickly change to “What have you done for me lately?” The remedy according to Malachi is the same one revealed in the old gospel song that says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” Begin to practice this today by making a list of as many blessings as you can think of and then “name them one by one” as you give thanks to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 13:10-17
I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old. - Psalm 78:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The term perspicuity has been used to describe the view of the Reformers regarding the clarity of the Scripture. Martin Luther and John Calvin both taught that the foundational teachings of the Bible were readily intelligible to the normal person. Luther wrote: “There is not on Earth a book more lucidly written than the Holy Scripture; compared with all other books it is as the sun compared with other lights.” Calvin emphasized the importance of the plain and simple sense of Scripture when he wrote: “Let us know, then that the true meaning of Scripture is the plain and simple one, and let us embrace and hold it resolutely.”

Jesus' answer to the disciples' question in today's passage may seem troubling. When asked why He taught the people in parables, Jesus replied that He did so to keep some from understanding the mysteries of the kingdom (v. 10). What was His purpose in speaking in such an obscure way? Does this contradict the Protestant doctrine of the clarity of Scripture?

Not really. Jesus linked His use of parables to Isaiah's prophecy of judgment in Isaiah 6:9-10. Those who had already rejected His messianic authority didn't understand, but He explained the meaning to His disciples. Furthermore, He commanded His disciples to teach the truths they had learned from Him to others (Matt. 10:27).

Not everything in the Bible is easy to understand. Even Peter noted that some things written by Paul were “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). The attitude of our hearts is key, along with diligent and careful study. We also need the ministry of the Holy Spirit to understand and apply God's Word. He is the “counselor” or “helper” who takes the truth of Christ and makes it known to us (John 14:26). As such, His ministry is one of teaching and reminding. He is also the “anointing” who illuminates our understanding when we study the Scriptures (1 John 2:27).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As believers, we have the privilege of understanding the kingdom of heaven and are entrusted with the truth of the gospel. The fact that you are taking time out of your busy schedule today to study God's Word indicates that you take this stewardship seriously. Are there other practical steps you should take to strengthen your skill in grasping the truth of Scripture? One suggestion is to enroll in an online course offered through Moody Bible Institute's Distance Learning Center. You can find out more about their offerings at www.moody.edu.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 20:20-26
If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. - Romans 13:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
One year the American humorist Will Rogers paid too much in income tax. His numerous efforts to obtain a refund were both frustrating and unsuccessful. After sending several letters to the IRS that went unanswered, Rogers decided to try a different approach. When his income tax form came the next year, Rogers wrote the following in the section where he was required to list his deductions: “Bad debt, US Government—$40,000.”

Rogers isn't the only one who felt that he had paid too much to the government! Few people enjoy paying taxes. Taxation was especially controversial in Jesus' day for several reasons. Rome levied a variety of taxes, and the methods used to collect them were prone to corruption. The Roman government hired independent tax collectors and assigned them a quota. The tax collector could keep anything beyond the assigned amount. While some taxes went to the Roman senate, those collected in Judea, where Jesus was asked this question, went directly to the emperor's treasury. Some also objected to the coinage used to pay taxes, which bore an inscription attributing divine qualities to Caesar, and ascribed to him the title “Pontifex Maximus” or high priest.

Any answer Jesus might have given was likely to create controversy. Simply saying that taxes should be paid would have outraged those who viewed Roman taxation as an illegitimate form of tribute demanded by a foreign power and perhaps even as a form of idolatry. If He had said that God's people should not pay taxes, Jesus might have opened Himself up to charges of inciting rebellion against the government. In many ways, this was a no-win situation, exactly what Jesus' enemies had planned.

Jesus gave an answer that cut both ways. His reply, echoed later in Romans 13:7, emphasized dual responsibility. We who follow Christ “owe” something both to God and government. God deserves our first priority. Those who truly render to Him what is due will have no trouble discerning what is owed to human authorities.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A personal audit of your finances is one way of evaluating your priorities. Examine your budget. Does God have a place in it? What about the entries in your checkbook? Does it indicate that you are giving to God the things that are God's? Keep in mind, however, that our obligation to God and those in authority involves more than finances. According to Romans 13:7, we also owe respect to those who are in authority. As you audit your personal finances, take a moment to audit your attitude as well.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 3:1-21
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. - John 3:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
D. L. Moody wrote: “I just as much believe that a man has got to be born from above before he wants to go to heaven as I believe that I exist. Take an unregenerated man and put him under the shadow of the tree of life, and it would be hell to him. Take the carnal man, or the natural man, and put him on the crystal pavements of heaven, and it would be hell to him. Man has got to have a divine nature before he will want to go to heaven.”

Moody's point is the same one emphasized by Jesus in His answer to the question of Nicodemus in this passage. Nicodemus was a religious leader and a scholar. As a member of the Pharisees he enjoyed the reputation of being a model of religious practice. Josephus, a Jewish historian who wrote during the New Testament era, described the Pharisees this way: “The Pharisees are a group of Jews who have the reputation of excelling the rest of their nation in the observance of religion, and as exact exponents of the laws.” If anyone could have merited entrance into the kingdom of God on the basis of human effort, it should have been Nicodemus!

Instead, Jesus warned Nicodemus that without a new birth, he had no hope of seeing heaven (v. 3). This prompted the Pharisee to ask the Savior how such a thing was possible. “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked (v. 4). If Jesus' statement is a puzzle, the question of Nicodemus is almost as puzzling. Although the question appears to imply that Nicodemus took Jesus' statement literally, this seems highly unlikely. As one acquainted with the teaching of the rabbis, Nicodemus was certainly familiar with the use of figurative language. Some scholars suggest that his question was an intentional misdirection, a kind of smoke screen designed to deflect Jesus' implication that He was not yet ready to enter the kingdom. Others see it as a more wistful observation, as if to say: “If only what you are suggesting could be true.” Whatever motivated Nicodemus to ask the question, Jesus' message comes through loud and clear. Only God can make us fit for heaven.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The new birth that Jesus speaks of in these verses is a work of the Holy Spirit. It cannot be attained through human effort. It does not come as a reward for regular church attendance, good works, or a sincere desire to do better. This is because the change God requires to fit us for heaven is so thorough, only He can accomplish it. The only way to experience the new birth is to receive it by faith in Christ. If you have not already done so, call upon Him today and be born from above.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 21:1-23
For each one should carry his own load. - Galatians 6:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
The dictionary defines a busybody as a meddling or a prying person. “It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies,” C. S. Lewis wrote. “The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”

Simon Peter may or may not have had John's “own good” in view when he asked Jesus the question, “Lord, what about him?” He was certainly prying and acting as a busybody. Newly recommissioned after his tragic betrayal of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter had just been informed that he would one day make good on his failed promise to follow Christ “to prison and to death” (cf. Luke 22:33). Peter's initial promise had been sincere but misguided. He probably meant what he said, but had overestimated his ability to follow through on such a commitment. As Jesus later said to all the disciples, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak (Matt. 26:41).

Jesus described Peter's future martyrdom in vivid detail. His hands would be bound and he would be led out to die. But the real burden laid upon him was the charge to feed the flock of Christ. Repeated once for each time that Peter had denied his Savior, this was more than a commission to a specific task. It was a call to an entirely different attitude. In order to fulfill the commission he had been given, Peter would need to put Christ's interests before his own. Instead of going his own way and doing whatever he wanted, Peter's will was to be subordinated to Christ's purpose for his life. In this way, martyrdom would merely be an extension of an entire life sacrificed to Christ. This kind of commitment leaves no room for jealous comparison. Those who serve the interests of the Shepherd of the flock cannot also serve their own.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It makes no difference what others do, as far as our personal obedience to Christ is concerned. All that matters is that Christ has called us to follow Him. Some will be called to pour out their lives in some extreme way, perhaps even in martyrdom. Most of us will be expected to show our faithfulness to Christ in the small things of the day. Either way, our obligation is the same. Wherever Christ calls, we will go. Whatever He commands, we will do. As the song says, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 1:1-11
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. - 1 Thessalonians 5:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
The remarkable sales of the Left Behind series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, have put a spotlight on both the interest and anxiety many feel about the return of Christ. The results of a recent poll posted on the series' Web site www.leftbehind.com revealed that nearly 50 percent of the respondents were “anxiously awaiting” Christ's return. Three out of ten said that they hoped Christ would return in their lifetime—but not yet. Two out of ten said that they were unprepared and were afraid that they would be left behind when Jesus Christ returns for His church.

We should not be surprised at such interest. Jesus' own disciples were curious about the events that would lead up to the establishment of His kingdom. Meeting with Him on the Mount of Olives not long after the Resurrection, they asked whether the time had come to restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). This question was not prompted by idle speculation. Jesus' disciples had a personal stake in the matter. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had promised the apostles that He would confer upon them a kingdom and that they would each sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:30).

The fact that Jesus did not give a precise date when responding to the disciples' question does not mean that we should ignore the subject of Christ's return. Today's verse reminds us that when that day arrives, it shouldn't come as a surprise to us. But if we are not to know the times or the dates, which have been placed under the Father's authority, how can we avoid being taken by surprise? The answer is found in Jesus' charge to be His witnesses by the power of the Spirit (v. . This is more than a command; ultimately it is a promise. Those who follow Jesus are called to be living demonstrations of the reality of His power and authority as they wait for Him to return. We are not waiting passively, but rather we are to keep our focus on His return through our active lives of purpose to bring glory to God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We do not need to know the day or the time of Christ's return because we are to live every day with the expectation that He might return for us today. As we work and wait for that day to arrive, we can learn more about what the Bible teaches about the second coming of Christ. For a theological treatment of the subject, ask for Understanding Endtime Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach by Paul Benware (Moody Publishers) at your local Christian bookstore.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 2:1-24
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. - Matthew 7:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
A local church was troubled when the employees of a nearby business used its parking lot during the week. In an attempt to stop the practice, the church put up a large sign warning, “Trespassers will be prosecuted.” In response, the business across the street put up its own sign. It read, “Forgive us our trespasses.”

The church of Christ has often struggled with its own inconsistent behavior. The complaint that the church is full of hypocrites is undoubtedly justified to some degree. How can it be otherwise, when the church is made up of forgiven sinners who are still going through the process of sanctification? This fact, though, does not relieve us of the responsibility to live in a way that is consistent with our profession as followers of Christ and to “practice what we preach.”

The apostle Paul points to this obligation when he asks the troubling question of Romans 2:23: “You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?” This was addressed to those in Rome who believed that the mere possession of God's commands was enough to justify them. They had convinced themselves that the fact that God had revealed His Word to them was grounds for special status.

Paul corrected this false notion and showed the inability of the law to justify the sinner, pointing out that those who affirmed its truths were often the same ones who disobeyed it. As good as it was, the law did not have the power to make its adherents truly righteous. Only the gospel is capable of doing this; it alone can meet the requirements of the law as well as transform the nature of believers.

Even after we believe the gospel we must still be on guard against the danger of hypocrisy. Christians, like the legalists in Paul's day, can fall into the trap of thinking that it is enough to affirm the right doctrinal statement. Those who received divine revelation are accountable to God, and He expects our lives to match our profession.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many people have mistakenly concluded that the biblical warnings against judging others mean that no behavior should be condemned. Nothing could be further from the truth. All the behaviors on the hypocrites' list in Romans 2:21-23 were worthy of condemnation. The problem was that those who judged others had not first judged themselves. Go through the list and ask yourself if any of the practices mentioned there are reflected in your own life. Ask the Lord to reveal areas that need to be brought into conformity with His Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 6:1-23
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Buy low, sell high” expresses the cardinal rule of good investing. A wise money manager seeks to maximize the return on any investment. When an investor consistently gets less back than what is put in, it is time to make a change. The apostle Paul didn't know about today's stock market, but he did understand this principle of wise investing and applied it to the spiritual life. His blunt question of Romans 6:21 was designed to prompt his readers to re-evaluate the way they had been investing their lives. In particular, it was meant to expose sin's empty promises.

Sin does promise a return to those who yield to its invitation. This was certainly true of the first sin. Satan promised Eve that as a result of her disobedience she would be “like God” (Gen. 3:5). The end sounded good, but the means Satan suggested for attaining it had been forbidden. Moreover, it was a false hope. By offering themselves to sin, both Adam and Eve achieved the opposite result and became alienated from God. (Gen. 3:10). Sin continues to make false promises, even after we have found forgiveness in Christ. When Paul asks, “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?” in verse 21, the implied answer is: “No benefit at all.” Sin has never made good on its offer to reward us for yielding to its allure. Moreover, Paul makes it very clear that we do not have to wait for eternity to know that offering ourselves to sin is a foolish investment. He appeals to the past and reminds his readers of the shame they have already experienced when giving in to temptation.

Of course, none of this would be of any value to us, if Christ had not given us a new power to resist sin. This is the real secret to making the kind of changes the apostle calls for in these verses. We who have died to sin as a result of the work of Christ no longer need to offer ourselves in voluntary slavery to it (v. 13). We have the power of the Holy Spirit that transforms us into bearers of godly fruit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It is helpful to have a strategy when dealing with the false promises of sin. First, remember that sin often appeals to legitimate needs and normal appetites, but invites us to fulfill them at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Trust God to meet those needs at the appropriate time. Secondly, when you are wrestling with the allure of temptation, consider how you will feel after you have given in. Recall to mind the shame and guilt you felt in the past when you sinned. Has it ever been otherwise?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 7:7-25
Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:24-25
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin described his failed attempt to live a morally perfect life in these words: “I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclinations, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right or wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined. While my care was employed in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous was not sufficient to prevent our slipping.”

Those who read Franklin's description of sin in this account may think of the Hydra, the mythical creature with many heads that could not be killed. If someone cut off one head, another would grow in its place. Paul's description of sin in Romans 7:7-25 also parallels Franklin's experience. He expresses the frustration of someone who wants to do the right thing but finds, despite his good intentions, that he lacks the power to follow through. With such a powerful enemy, it is no wonder that Paul cries out in verse 24: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

If this were all Paul had to say about the matter, we might despair. Fortunately, the bleak picture painted in Romans 7 is framed by the good news of Romans 6 and 8. Those who have been joined to Christ by faith have died to sin and no longer need to live in it (Rom. 6:2). The controlling power of the Holy Spirit enables the believer to break the cycle of despair described in Romans 7:19-24. His work does not eliminate the presence of the sinful nature, but frees us from slavery to its impulses. Joyfully, nothing can ultimately separate us from Christ! (Rom. 8:38--39).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The transforming power of the Holy Spirit does not mean that victory over sin will be easy. Some patterns of sin may require structured help before victory is possible. This often takes the form of serious accountability relationships, support groups, or even the advice of a pastor or counselor.

If you are struggling with sin and have not been able to overcome its power, consider asking your pastor for advice about where you can find accountability and support.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. - 1 Corinthians 4:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
William Grimshaw was a contemporary of John Wesley who served the parish of Haworth, England. Grimshaw was known for his colorful personality, exemplified by his habit of rounding up absent members of his congregation prior to the service by striking them with a riding crop. On one occasion, a woman commented to Grimshaw that she admired the talent of a certain preacher who was skilled in the pulpit but had serious character flaws. Grimshaw was not impressed. “Madam, I am glad you never saw the devil,” Grimshaw told her. “He has greater talents than all the ministers in the world. I fear, if you saw him, you would fall in love with him, as you have so high a regard for talents without sanctity.”

The Corinthian church shared a similar fascination with “talents.” Their love of human philosophy and rhetorical style caused them to divide over their favorite teachers (v. 4). Paul, in particular, came under sharp criticism by some, who felt that his appearance and speaking style were not up to their standard (2 Cor. 10:10). This “superstar” mentality not only fractured the church, it caused them to lose sight of God, who had chosen to work through these human instruments.

In order to correct their thinking, Paul challenged the Corinthians with the question of verse 5: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?” He also went on to answer his own question, emphasizing that he and Apollos were merely servants who had been assigned a task by God.

The arguing between these factions threatened to destroy the fellowship at Corinth. Paul stressed that the way to evaluate leaders was through the results of their ministry, not by flashiness and number of followers. An improper perspective on leadership in the church has tremendous consequences—not just for the leaders, but for the whole community of believers as well.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In today's media-driven society, the church continues to be susceptible to the “superstar” mentality. Church members often compare their pastor's ministry, sometimes unfavorably, to the “success” stories of the Christian personalities that they have heard about. Such comparisons can be discouraging for pastors who are faithfully exercising their ministry according to the gifts and abilities God has given them. Encourage your pastor today with a phone call, card, or brief note that expresses your appreciation for faithfulness in serving God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. - Ephesians 4:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Russell Sage, U.S. financier during the late nineteenth century, had just finished describing the details of a potential lawsuit to his lawyer. The lawyer was thrilled by what he had heard. “It's an ironclad case,” he said. “We can't possibly lose!” “Then we won't sue,” Sage told the lawyer. “That was my opponent's side of the case I gave you.”

No one is likely to file a lawsuit if they know in advance that they are going to lose. In today's passage, the apostle Paul outlines a situation where all the parties engaged in a lawsuit lose. Disputes between believers in Corinth had grown to the point where church members had actually begun to sue one another. The fact that the church was riddled with disagreements was bad enough. The Corinthians made matters worse by airing their “dirty laundry” before the watching world and turning to unbelievers to resolve their problems (v.1).

Turning to secular courts to solve their conflicts was more than a defeat for the church. Ultimately, it was a denial of God's purpose for them. Paul reminded the Corinthians that judgment was part of their destiny. God's people will one day judge angels (v. 3). Although the New Testament has little to say about this, Paul's language suggests that this fact was already known to his readers. If this was to be the case, the church should certainly have been able to judge its own disputes, which were minor in comparison.

Paul's two questions in verse 7 are really a rebuke: “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” The presence of lawsuits between believers was already a defeat for everyone involved. It made little difference who actually won the case once it reached the secular judge. The damage to the church's reputation as a result of this practice was so great that Paul concluded that it would be better for the wronged parties to suffer loss than to parade the matter out before unbelievers who could then dismiss the gospel. Such advice reminds us that the reputation of Christ's church before a watching world is more important than our personal rights.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Commentator Craig Blomberg points out that the directives Paul gives in this passage do not address every possible context in which a believer might find appeal to a secular court necessary. In the NIV Application Commentary on 1 Corinthians, Blomberg explains: “There is also a key difference between seeking justice for others who have been disenfranchised and trying to avenge wrongs done against ourselves.” The key question to consider is the potential impact such litigation may have upon the gospel.