TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
We groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. - 2 Corinthians 5:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent Christian book promised readers that they could discover their personal strengths and abilities in order to attain health, abundance, significance, and success. It was an appealing offer, and the book became a bestseller. The message was perfectly targeted for American Christians: You can have more and better stuff, and you can have it all right now!

Our passage today poses an interesting challenge for believers. The apostle Paul talks about groaning for heaven, longing to be with the Lord. We may secretly think, Of course Paul felt that way—he was a “super-Christian.” We can't be expected to think like that, can we?

No matter what our life is like now, our longing for heaven should not be diminished. Notice that Paul does not describe his desire for heaven just because his life on earth is hard. It's true that he experienced tremendous persecution, but he says that our separation from our final heavenly existence means that we are in some way incomplete right now (v. 4). The reason for this is found in verse 5: “God has made us for this very purpose.” He has created us with the intention that we will live with Him for eternity in the new heaven and new earth. He has shaped us for the purpose of eternal worship and fellowship with Him.

Our lives on earth are important, but ultimately our true life will be found only in heaven, apart from anything we accomplish or accumulate on this earth.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives should remind us of the fullness of experiencing God in eternity. He is the deposit that guarantees the full reward. He is the evidence that God is preparing us for something far greater.

The response, then, of longing to be with God is not somehow for “super- Christians.” Additionally, we desire to please Him, knowing that we will be held accountable for the way that we live, the values that we hold, and the things we desire on this earth (vv. 9-10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In his Christianity Today article, “Come Lord Jesus—But Not Too Soon,” John Koessler confesses that he knows he should long for Jesus' return . . . but he still wanted to experience more of life on earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 12:1-13:2
Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. - Genesis 13:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
What does it mean to be blessed by God? Christians have given many answers over the past generations; some say that it means having health and wealth, others describe blessing as living in poverty so as to be in total dependence on God. Some believers say that blessings are only spiritual, whereas others say that blessing includes material goods as well.

We'll spend the next several days looking at this concept of blessing. We want our understanding of this vitally important topic to be informed by what God's Word teaches.

We begin by looking at an example of one of God's Old Testament saints. Abraham had been called by God, for no apparent reason other than God's own choice, and led away from everything familiar to him. God's call of Abraham was remarkable, as was Abraham's obedience (12:4).

At first it seemed like things were going well. Abraham was obeying, traveling through the land, and building altars to the Lord. But then famine struck, and Abraham decided that he and his household should go to Egypt. Not only did he leave the land, he also instructed his wife Sarai to lie about their relationship in order to protect his own life.

In Pharaoh's palace we see an interesting development: because of Abraham's lie, Pharaoh and his family were afflicted while Abraham gained great wealth. What are we to make of this? First, material goods are not always connected to our obedience. Just because our bank account is robust doesn't necessarily mean it's a result of our following Christ.

Second, God gives us material possessions for His reasons. Abraham hadn't earned the wealth that he received from Pharaoh, but God was working out a larger purpose, creating a distinct people and nation out of one man whom He had chosen from Ur. It wasn't Abraham's obedience that earned him material blessing, but it was the work of God to accomplish His will.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you sometimes think that serving the Lord should result in some material blessing? According to Scripture, that's not how it always works. When you look at your checkbook, house, or list of assets, do you think that you've earned them through your spiritual efforts? We need to recognize instead that every material blessing is given to us by God for His reasons, so that we can do His work. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit how He wants you to use your material blessings to serve Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Job 8:1-22
Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright. - Job 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
It seemed like a long nightmare: within a few months, one family endured the deaths of a grandmother and a teen-aged niece; then while at a Christmas Eve service, their house burned down taking their four beloved dogs and most of their possessions.

In times of ravaging grief, sorrow, and loss, it's natural to wonder if we've lost the blessing of God. Thankfully, Scripture isn't shy about confronting this issue—the Psalms record painfully honest laments and the search for God in these times. Perhaps the most extensive discussion of God's presence in affliction is found in the book of Job.

The context for our reading today is important. Chapter 1 gives us the behind-the-scenes reality unknown to Job and his friends. As devastation strikes Job, he and his friends are left to wonder why he is suffering. Today's passage records one of the speeches of his friend Bildad. Under the guise of “encouragement,” Bildad was quite sure he knew the reason for Job's anguish. He declared that clearly this was the result of Job's sin (v. 4).

He argued that if Job would just get right with God, he would see material blessings come flooding back into his life (vv. 6-7). Bildad had made an incorrect connection between a righteous life and material prosperity. In fact, it was the same mistake that Satan had made (1:9-11).

We find in Job's story some helpful principles regarding material possessions as blessings from God. First, the loss of material things does not necessarily mean the loss of God's favor (1:12). God rejected Bildad's arguments, pointing out that Bildad had not represented God truthfully (42:7). Second, God does sometimes choose to bless His people materially (42:12). We cannot look only at someone's wealth or poverty and make assumptions about their spiritual condition. Job himself sums up our proper attitude toward the “stuff” in our life: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (1:21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The speeches of Job's friends provide a warning for those of us who find ourselves coming alongside friends who are in distress. Before we spout out our opinions, theories, or judgments, we should be sure that we are reflecting God's truth. The Lord takes seriously the ministry of binding up the brokenhearted, and sometimes our best recourse is simply to mourn with those who mourn (Rom. 12:15). If you have a friend who is struggling, seek God's wisdom and grace to minister in accordance with God's truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Who Knows?

The original idea for the game show Jeopardy! was developed by Merv Griffin following the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. Rather than risk having contestants “discover” answers, he came up with the idea of giving them the answers and letting contestants say the questions. Thus Jeopardy!'s original name: What's the Question?.

In 2004, 30-year-old Ken Jennings had an amazing six-month-long, 74-game winning streak on the popular game show, answering question after question and claiming more than $2.5 million in prize money.

Yet, even Jennings did not have all of the answers, and his winning streak came to an end.

Most of us would quickly acknowledge that we don't have all the answers. As parents, we struggle to answer even the simplest questions posed by our children. As adults, we wrestle with the tough questions of life. Pastors wrestle with spiritual questions posed by members of their congregations. At times, we may shrug our shoulders and ask: “Who knows?”

It should be a tremendous comfort to us that God knows. Not only does God hold the answers to our questions, but through Scripture He has provided us with a written document that can guide us in solving our most perplexing problems.

God's Word contains practical life truths that apply not just to the past, but also to the questions we ask today. This month we will look at Scripture's answers to a few of those questions, such as: What does it mean to be blessed? What is heaven? Why do we need the church? Is it wrong for Christians to have fun?

In God's Word we will find responses to these and many more questions. We can rest assured that there is no question we can utter that will stump God. When we are out of answers, God can and does provide.

The psalmist speaks of God's all-knowing attributes when he writes: “O Lord, you have searched me and known [me]. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar . . . Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is [too] high, I cannot attain to it” (Ps. 139:1-2, 6).

Unlike a quiz show where a question will inevitably stump one of the contestants, God cannot be stumped. Because God is omniscient, He knows all things that exist and everything that will occur. In addition, He knows everything about us.

While we will inevitably struggle with questions, we can rest in the knowledge that we worship a God who holds the answers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Is Spiritualism from the Holy Spirit?

The Heresy of Spiritualism
What Is Spirtualism?

• A form of occultism

• Believes in communication with the dead

• Low view of the Bible and the cross

• Claims to believe in the God of the Bible


Spiritualism is a form of occultism, a belief that it is possible to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Popularized during the nineteenth century, spiritualism teaches that the spirits of the dead exist on a different plane and possess a greater awareness than the living. They are said to communicate through human intermediaries known as mediums.

The origin of spiritualism is usually traced to Kate and Margaret Fox, who claimed that they had been contacted by the spirit of a murdered man. According to the Fox sisters, the man communicated by making a rapping noise. Spiritualism as a religious movement may have begun in the nineteenth century, but the notion that the living can communicate with the dead has been around for millennia. In the Old Testament, God's people were commanded not to consult mediums and spiritists (Lev. 19:31). King Saul consulted such a person in Endor after God had stopped communicating to him (1 Sam. 28).

Spiritualism, like many heresies, has a low view of the Bible. It usually rejects the doctrine of hell and the biblical doctrine of the cross. The teachings of spiritualism tend to be syncretistic, combining ideas from many religions. Popular forms of spiritualism are reflected in what has been called the New Age movement.

Why Theology Matters
Some beliefs and customs associated with spiritualism are part of popular culture—for instance, the popular Ouija Board game grew out of the divination techniques of spiritualism. Many people claim to be guided by a deceased loved one. Although it often claims to believe in the God of the Bible, spiritualism has more in common with paganism than it does with Christianity. The Bible condemns the practices of spiritualism, calling them “detestable” (Deut. 18:9-11).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; Acts 18:1-17
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent re-telling of the flight of Apollo 13 has spurred a renewed interest in the details of space travel. It is hard not to be fascinated by the prospect of journeying so far into space, beyond the borders of our familiar world.

After all, the farther an arrow has to travel, the less likely it is to hit the target. Sending a person to the moon is like aiming a grain of sand at a basketball several blocks away! The laws of space travel are, by necessity, very precise.

Scientists count on the consistencies of God's universe. But man-made rockets aren't quite so consistent. No matter how carefully scientists aim at the moon, they have to continually make mid-course corrections through steering jets that adjust the spacecraft's direction.

Life, as they say, is a lot like that. God gives precise directions, but we respond with imprecise obedience. It seems that even when we are traveling along the narrow way of living for God, we require constant mid-course corrections. The problems come not from God's inability to guide us but from the fact that we are ""spacecrafts with will."" We make bad choices and wander in flight. We need God's daily dose of correction and direction.

Acts 18 describes the launching of the church in Corinth, a city on the huge peninsula we now know as Greece. God used a team of five on that mission: Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, Silas and Timothy. Although Paul sought out the Jewish community as his evangelistic starting point, the gospel quickly outgrew the synagogue. In fact, a house church made up of Jewish and Gentile converts flourished next door.

The gospel was planted in very mixed soil in Corinth. The city was a moral, cultural and ethnic melting pot. Religions of every type competed for followers. From its earliest days the church was under constant pressure to compromise with practices forbidden by the Scriptures, to condone or accept sinful choices, practices and lifestyles.

Paul's letter addresses many of these issues. He wanted his Corinthian brothers and sisters to remain true to God's Word. His letter is a series of mid-course corrections.
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 same specific issues that Paul confronted, but the principles he used still apply to us today.

With 1996 rapidly approaching its mid-way point, God may be offering us some mid-course corrections. As you study 1 Corinthians, purpose to apply the principles Paul used as he dealt with the pressing questions of people just like us. Praise the Lord for His Word!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The long shadows of afternoon blended into night. The stadium lights created an artificial daylight on the track. Cheers faded into echoes.

Out of a dark tunnel stumbled the last of the Olympic marathon runners. While the race had been won hours before, this runner had been delayed by an accident. Having fallen during the race, he lurched toward the finish line bruised, battered and bleeding. The clean-up crew and a few officials were his only audience. His effort seemed wasted. Exhausted, he staggered past the empty timer's stand and stopped.

The few who watched marveled. Someone asked him, ""Why did you keep running when there was no hope of winning?"" He smiled rather painfully and said, ""My nation didn't send me all this way to run only if I could win. They sent me to finish this race. I couldn't let them down.""

Paul wanted to make sure the Christians in Corinth finished the race they had begun.

He was thankful to God for the Corinthian Christians, a church unusual in its diversity. While God had blessed the Corinthians, Paul wanted them to remember the source of their strength and spiritual gifts. Today's passage expresses thanks for what God has done, is doing and will do for the Corinthians. God gave them grace and spiritual riches. God made sure that they didn't lack any necessary gifts. God would keep them strong until the end of their race. ""God,"" says Paul, ""is faithful.""

Each of the six verses in today's reading mentions Jesus Christ. Paul wanted his Corinthian friends to see how little they had on their own and how much they had in Christ. We will see, however, that they were misusing gifts, abusing one another, and treating the Lord disrespectfully.

But none of those obstacles could keep Paul from rejoicing over how much God had done for the Corinthians. Paul wasn't about to downplay the resources of the church. Instead, his objective was to redirect their use to running the race God had set before them.

God had given the Corinthian church everything necessary. Paul wanted them to give it all back in service, worship and genuine fellowship. Now that they were in the race, he wanted to make sure that they finished!
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 long have you been a Christian? What have been the most significant experiences you have had in your relationship with Jesus? In what ways have you let others know of God's faithfulness?

Ask someone today for permission to share what God has been doing in your life. You may find yourself having real fellowship with a brother or a sister in Christ. The kind of thanksgiving for other believers that Paul describes in this passage can happen only when we really get to know one another. God gave us one another to help us reach the finish line!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Some families make church their home. Others find other uses for the church.

Take the notorious Tate family, for example. Perhaps you've met some of them. The chief of the clan is old Dic Tate, who insists on running everything in church. His brother Ro Tate wants to change everything. Aunt Agi Tate has a knack for stirring up trouble; and her husband, Irri Tate, always lends a hand.

The next generation of Tates has its own characteristics. Hesi Tate and his wife, Vege Tate, would just as soon wait until next year whenever a new project is suggested. Aunt Imi Tate would love to create the first generic church. Devas Tate announces constantly that the church is doomed, while her husband Poten Tate promises he can lead the church out of trouble.

Although the church in Corinth was still young, it seems to have had more than its share of the Tate family. When Paul got wind of the quarrels (v. 11) among the believers at Corinth, he was disturbed. Suspecting that the Corinthians were about to choose sides, he drew their attention once again toward Christ. Instead of divisions, Paul encouraged them to agree. He appealed to them to be ""perfectly united in mind and thought.""

Paul's desire for unity echoes Jesus' prayer for His disciples and for us. ""I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me"" (John 17:22-23). No wonder Paul feared the end result of divisions in Corinth-""the cross of Christ [would] be emptied of its power"" (1 Cor. 1:17).

The apostle's comments about baptism were not meant to minimize the importance of that act of obedience to Christ. Paul didn't want the Corinthians to make ""I follow this leader because he baptized me"" the battle cry of division within the church. He realized how easily small matters can become the cause of huge fights. By contrast, a church unified around the cross of Christ won't quarrel over such things.
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 long have you been a Christian? What have been the most significant experiences

How many Christians do you have regular contact with outside of your church? Have you discovered that when you have Christ in common you aren't strangers for very long? Make it a personal focus today to pray for unity among Christians. There may be some specific situations of division or disagreement that you know would be helped by God's intervention. Ask God to help you see His purpose in those situations. Praying for unity will put the spotlight on your own commitment to Christ. His being ""in us"" occurs instantly in salvation; in a sense, our being ""in Him"" gets worked out throughout life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A young man had just been appointed to an important post in a bank, replacing the retiring president. Aware of his senior's years of service, the young man respectfully approached the gentleman for counsel.

""Sir, would you mind giving me some advice on how to be successful?"" he asked.

The old man responded gruffly, ""Two words: good decisions!""

After a moment of careful thought, the young man asked, ""I can see that. How do I make good decisions?""

""One word,"" came the clipped response. ""Experience!""

The young man nodded in agreement, then frowned. ""But how do I gain experience?"" he inquired.

The older gentlemen gave him a piercing look and said, ""Two words: bad decisions!""

God's truth in the world presents a challenge to popular wisdom. People continually find new reasons to rely on themselves. They find God's ways ""foolish"" because they take away pride. Some consider the concept of repentance foolish; after all, there is always someone else who needs to repent more than they do. The Cross seems foolish because they believe Jesus didn't have to die for them. ""We're all right as we are!""

Bad decisions in themselves will not lead us to the truth. Even experience can be misleading. A successful crook is experienced in making bad decisions. God's way and His wisdom will not appear to be the best way to go. Proverbs describes the unreliability of our unaided outlook: ""There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death"" (Prov. 16:25).

Paul illustrates two mistakes that people make in coming to know God. The first he represents by the Jews' demand for ""miraculous signs"" (1 Cor. 1:22). They wanted God to prove Himself to them. In a sense, they required God to submit to them before they would consider submitting to Him. Such people don't want to obey God: they want to order God around.

The second mistake Paul identifies with the Greek quest for wisdom (v. 22). People think that they might submit to God as soon as they can ""figure Him out."" They want God to fit into their minds before they will let Him fit into their lives. In Christ God offers us as much as we can possibly handle with our minds. Yet those who want proof can't see Jesus, and to those who demand reasons, Christ seems foolishness (v. 23).
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 long have you been a Christian? What have been the most significant experiences Christ is the great equalizer. He is God's living proof of Himself. His character and words can occupy your mind for eternity. Be an instigator of Christ-centered thinking today. Ask at least three different people what specific character trait, story or teaching of Jesus they appreciate the most. Some may say this is foolish, but God's Word insists that it is pure wisdom!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The pastor held the children's attention with a special sermon intended just for them. Reading from Jeremiah 9:23-24, he acted out important words in the passage.

""This is what the Lord says,"" the pastor began. ""Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom"" (he tapped his forehead as he spoke) ""or the strong man boast of his strength"" (flexed his arm) ""or the rich man boast of his riches"" (tapped his wallet). ""But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands"" (looked up) ""and knows me"" (put his hand over his heart).

Fascinated, the children followed along with the pastor.

""You may not be old enough to be very wise,"" he said, ""and you may not be big enough to be very strong. You may not have much money. But kids, even at your age, you can already know God, and you can trust Him.""

A little boy interrupted, blurting out: ""I know Jesus loves me!"" The preacher nodded, the congregation chuckled, and God's Word was proven true again. Boasting in the Lord has a wonderful humility.

Paul refused to be drawn into a popularity contest. He reminded the Christians in Corinth of the basis for their faith. He gave no credit to his preaching or message except insofar as they had been used by God's Spirit. He challenged them to clarify their true allegiance. If their faith rested in any way on ""men's wisdom"" (2:5) it would prove weak. Their faith must rest on God's power.

God uses unconventional means to produce supernatural results. In chapter 1, verses 26-29, Paul points out to the Corinthians how God deliberately chooses the foolish rather than the wise, the weak rather than the strong, and the lowly and despised rather than the status quo to accomplish His purposes. If we can't trace results back to God, we can be sure that we have overlooked something important. God isn't bound by our guidelines.
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 What a strange-sounding invitation_to boast in the Lord! We can apply it today in two ways. First, if there is to be any boasting at all, it should be ""in the Lord"" (1:31). This statement boldly contradicts the world's insistence that we can boast of anything except knowing God. Christians are often ignored by the world because they are playing by the world's rules. People are rarely ignored who claim to know God.

Second, boasting in the Lord must convey humility. The wrong kind of boasting says, ""I know the Lord but you can't."" The right kind says, ""I know the Lord. Would you like to know Him too?"" Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when He told us to accept the kingdom like children. The child who said ""I know Jesus loves me"" uttered the world's greatest boast. Let's practice that kind of humility.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Players who are in the game don't always see the game. Even a star like the great Reggie Jackson still needed a coach. Earl Weaver demonstrated this point when he managed Reggie for the Baltimore Orioles.

One of Weaver's rules about base stealing was that runners had to have a signal before stealing. This upset Reggie because he had studied many of the pitchers and catchers in the league. He knew those he could steal against.

During one game Reggie stole a base without a signal. His technique was flawless. He certainly didn't expect the coach to disagree with his decision.

But Weaver pulled him aside and explained why there had been no signal. Reggie's action, though successful, had actually helped the other team. By having first base open, the opponents had been able to walk the next man (a powerful hitter). That forced Weaver to use a pinch hitter too early in the game.

The coach trusted Reggie's ability, but he also knew that it wasn't time to steal a base. The player had a limited view; the coach saw the whole game.

Our perspective is always limited. If we take our signals from our own wisdom or from what the world suggests, we may find ourselves working against God's eternal plan. Paul repeatedly tried to convince his Corinthian sisters and brothers that God's wisdom differs from our limited, human version.

Today's passage includes several ways to distinguish God's wisdom from the phonies. The first test involves the question of Jesus' identity. Paul points out that when they ""crucified the Lord of glory"" (v. , the rulers of the age proved that they didn't understand God. The test holds true today. Any system of thought that ignores or twists the death of Jesus can't be trusted. Wisdom that denies Christ must be rejected.

A second test for wisdom might be called the ""source and boundaries"" test. Wisdom that claims to be self-generated and complete proves to be false. God reveals His wisdom by His Spirit. God's revelation is always consistent. That is why God's Word serves the church so well. Any ""wisdom"" that contradicts God's Word reveals that its source is other than God. The Holy Spirit will not lead us to violate what God has already declared.
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 What a strange-sounding invitation_to boast in the Lord! We can apply it today in two Christians often make two kinds of errors in relating to God's Spirit. On the one hand, many ignore the Holy Spirit. A re-reading of Jesus' description (John 13-17) of the Holy Spirit's ongoing ministry in our lives can be a helpful correction. On the other hand, Christians can take on a prideful ""ownership"" of the Holy Spirit. When we think that we control the Holy Spirit, we become like players who don't think they need the coach's signals. Rather, as Hebrews 12:2 says, we need to ""fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."" The Holy Spirit will give us today's signals for living. Are you open to them?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-23
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TODAY IN THE WORD
News footage on television recorded the disaster in Yellowstone in 1988. Thousands of acres in the oldest and most loved of national parks were devastated by fire. Trees burned like tinder. Meadows were blackened with soot. Commentators predicted the permanent closing of Yellowstone. The beauty had been ruined. It would never be the same again.

One year later, an amazing transformation had taken place. Green sprouted up through the ashes. Plant forms which hadn't been seen for years reappeared. It had taken fire to crack their seeds. New beauty bloomed everywhere. Only the occasional charred stump remained as a reminder of the previous summer's inferno.

God often uses His creation to confound people, and some valuable lessons were demonstrated at Yellowstone. For example: forest fires aren't always bad; in fact, flames can serve as nature's ""clean-up crew."" Dead branches, underbrush, and forest trash have to be removed. The longer human beings prevented any fires from burning in Yellowstone, the more we insured that, eventually, one would get out of hand.

Another lesson from that hot summer is that human beings aren't always the wisest caretakers. Fire tests. It consumes, melts and mars. It burns away imperfections and leaves behind purer metal. Paul understood God's standards. What Jesus described as ""storing up treasures in heaven"" (Matt. 6:19-21), Paul wrote about as farming and home-building. All of these actions can be done well or poorly. God's fire will determine the ""quality of each man's work"" (1 Cor. 3:13).

Paul defined his role as an apostle by describing his work as a mason--one who lays a foundation. Paul had no doubts that he had laid the one true foundation--Jesus--in the lives of many Corinthians. He also knew that others besides himself would be on the ""building crew."" He wanted both the ""houses"" and the ""builders"" to remember that their efforts would be tested by God. Only those materials approved by God would survive the test.
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 What a strange-sounding invitation_to boast in the Lord! We can apply it today in two Like the Corinthians, God is building us into a building worthy of His Spirit's presence (v. 16). We get to cooperate. Much of what makes up our lives gets our approval to arrive or to stay. What a tragedy when we incorporate into our lives what God's fire will consume as nothing but waste!

How has the spiritual storing, building and farming been going so far this year? What treasures, materials and seeds have entered your life? Who's on your building crew? Who has been watering and cultivating your life? Take a few moments for a spiritual inventory today. Determine what should remain and what should be thrown away.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The grammar school playground is the setting for many lessons that stay with us for years to come.

Do you remember the ""popularity contest"" of choosing up sides for games? ""Let's play kickball,"" the teacher might say, and everyone in your class would line up obediently. Two ""team captains"" would begin the sometimes painful process of selecting players for their teams.

Everyone would fidget nervously. To be picked early signified popularity or recognition of ability. To be picked late, or, gulp, last, was embarrassing, possibly even humiliating. The prelude to a simple game became a popularity contest, a jockeying for position, prestige and leadership. That familiar playground scene continues at a more adult level; people have been doing the same ever since.

""Choosing up sides"" was exactly the mistake the Corinthian church was making, and Paul writes them in today's passage not to quarrel over leaders. He wrote forcefully to his child-church. They needed to understand that their lives should not become a spiritual popularity contest. Paul saw that danger. Instead, he urged them to follow him as he followed Christ. After all, he reminded them, ""in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel"" (v. 15).

The alternative would be a church-life in which the church would choose a new leader each time the teaching of the last one became difficult. Paul recognized the value of those he called ""guardians in Christ"" (v. 15), but claims a special role as their spiritual father.

Paul felt free to warn, correct, instruct and even discipline the Corinthians. He emphasized his own (and the other apostles') experience of servanthood (vv. 9-13). He appealed to their loyalty in Christ. They were not to use Paul's difficulties in other places as an excuse to turn against his teaching. That would be folly. The Christian life is not a smorgasbord of opinions. As Paul expressed it, ""the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power"" (v. 20).
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 What a strange-sounding invitation_to boast in the Lord! We can apply it today in two Do you find yourself pulled into the popularity contests that seem to surround national Christian figures? Paul's caution makes sense: we should follow spiritual leaders only to the degree that they follow Christ and His Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Gardener James Hewett described a startling lesson he learned among his plants:

""Working in my garden, I was admiring a large, green, healthy-looking squash plant. The stems appeared strong, and the leaves were large. I was pleased and looked forward to some delicious meals.

""A few days later I noticed that the plant was terribly wilted, and within a couple of days the squash plant was completely dead. Pulling up the plant and examining its roots, I discovered that a bore worm, which could not be seen from the outside, had eaten the heart out of the stem of the plant. Hidden sin, like the bore worm, can eat away the heart of one's Christian experience and leave him spiritually dead.""

What was the hidden sin of the Corinthians? The man living in an incestuous relationship was doing it publicly. Apparently, the man claimed to be a believer. Paul wanted the church to deal immediately with this man's sin. Meanwhile, Paul was shocked at their callousness. On the one hand they were ""boasting"" (v. 6) about their spirituality while allowing gross immorality to go unchallenged in the church. What even pagans (v. 1) wouldn't condone, believers were allowing!

The ""yeast"" Paul wanted his spiritual children to remove was a lax attitude toward blatant sin in the lives of those who claimed to be believers. He mentions six violations: sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, and swindling. Someone who claims fellowship but remains in sin has made a choice. The church must ""hand this man over to Satan"" (v. 5).

Paul did not spell out what exactly would happen to the sinner, but predicted that at least his spirit would be saved (v. 5). Paul didn't hold the church responsible for the member's actions, but he did hold them responsible for their actions toward the member.

Paul was aware that his orders could be used as an excuse for separation from the world. Proclaiming and living the gospel puts believers in contact with all kinds of people. Individuals' behavior proves their need of the Savior. But when believers act the same way (or worse), they are expressing disrespect for their Savior. The broken fellowship must be recognized. The church still has many lessons to learn about the difference between accepting persons and condoning 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 What a strange-sounding invitation_to boast in the Lord! We can apply it today in two Pray for the leaders of your church. Discipline and accountability are sorely lacking in churches today. Churches that attempt to take seriously biblical guidelines are sometimes taken to court by people who insist they can be members and live any way they choose. Ask the Lord to fill the leaders in your church with wisdom and courage so that they can set the pace of faithfulness for all the members.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Corrie ten Boom survived a Nazi death camp during World War II. Two years after the war Corrie returned to the camp where she had endured so much sorrow to speak to a group of local Germans, giving a message on God's forgiveness. Little did she know how soon she would have to put her message into practice. Among those who greeted her was a man she recognized immediately as one of the most cruel guards in the camp. He told Corrie that he had become a Christian since the war. He had experienced God's forgiveness; now he was asking for hers.

Corrie said it was the most difficult act God had ever asked her to do. She experienced firsthand an observation made by C.S. Lewis: ""Forgiveness is a wonderful idea until we actually have to forgive someone!"" But she did forgive that man.

Where there is forgiveness, there is peace. But where there is no forgiveness, there is conflict, a problem Paul had noticed among the Corinthians. As he responded to the reports he had received, Paul made it clear that their problems stemmed from two central issues: (1) overestimating their spiritual maturity; and (2) underestimating their need for instruction. They were talking the talk; but they weren't walking the walk.

Paul was appalled that Christians were using civil authorities to settle their disputes. Despite all their claims of spiritual wisdom, they were going outside for help. Paul asked, ""Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?"" (v. 5). He was convinced that lawsuits are surrender flags indicating defeat (v. 7).

The apostle suggested an alternative. Instead of turning to outside authority, ""why not rather be wronged?"" (v. 7). The Corinthians probably reacted just as we would today. Yet Paul was echoing the kind of attitude that Jesus taught when He told His disciples to give up their coats rather than struggle over their shirts and to cheerfully walk an extra mile (Matt. 5:38-42).

Paul's final argument against appeals to authority outside the church has to do with the former lifestyles of the Corinthians. Some of them had been among the ranks of those who ""will not inherit the kingdom of God"" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). But that was past history. Had they not been washed, sanctified and justified ""in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit?"" (v. 11). Why, then, drag brothers and sisters before a court system that does not see itself as accountable to God?
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 No one enjoys being wronged. Yet this passage teaches us that one of the best ways to show the world what Christ has done is by not acting like those who haven't been transformed by Him! In other words, forgiveness is sweeter than revenge. Look for opportunities this week to forgive those who wrong you rather than claiming your ""rights"" against them.