TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The native speaker of an exotic, unwritten language wrinkled his brow in concentration. He and a Bible translator were working on the passage in Mark 5 that describes the herd of pigs that had been infected with evil spirits after Jesus healed a man. The language had never developed terms for large numbers. The numbering system consisted of three units: one, two, and many. The native speaker had to understand the concept of 2ꯠ pigs in order to convey it to others from his tribe.

The translator knew the number would seem large to someone whose tribe numbered fewer than 200. But he wasn't prepared for the stunned silence of his friend and helper as the tribesman grasped the size of the herd. The Indian had a question: ""You mean Jesus exchanged that many pigs for one person?"" The translator nodded.

The man's eyes shone: ""Jesus must really love people. In our tribe, if a person wants another person killed, the standard price for a man's life is one pig."" It was the missionary's turn to wonder over this insight into Jesus' love.

Paul had a startling and unique way of defining self-worth. He used the expression ""you were bought at a price"" (v. 20; 7:23). As he argued against sexual immorality, Paul was inspired by God's Spirit to teach a basic spiritual principle. The value we place on ourselves does not give us as much help in resisting temptation as the value God places on us. God's value is constant and infinite. Elsewhere Paul put it this way: ""But God demonstrates His own love of us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"" (Romans 5:8 ).

Apparently some of the Corinthians were justifying sexual immorality by claiming that it didn't matter what they did with their bodies since the flesh doesn't survive death as the spirit does. Paul doesn't dwell on the future of the body; but his claim is blunt: ""By His power God . . . will raise us also"" (1 Cor. 6:14). Paul was concerned with the present. God's Spirit wants to reside in us today. Our body is a tool with which we honor God (v. 20).

The idea of ""temple of the Holy Spirit"" (v. 19) might make us think that God visits us on special occasions, but the point of Paul's teaching is that God's Spirit resides in us. Our bodies become temples because they house the Holy Spirit.
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 One of Paul's most applicable statements is found in verse 18: ""Flee from sexual immorality."" In today's world, we are surrounded with every kind of sensual temptation. When the command is ""flee,"" compromising is the same as surrender. What personal warning signals have you developed to tell you it's time to flee temptation? Today, talk with your family about how to set limits in areas of temptation that apply to each of you. Ask yourselves, ""What is my greatest temptation? How can I take steps to avoid it?""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40
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TODAY IN THE WORD
James Hewett tells a story about a couple celebrating their golden anniversary. They had shared fifty years of married life, but on that occasion most of the day was spent with family and friends in joyful celebration.

When they arrived home that night, they realized that they hadn't eaten much all day. They decided to have a snack of tea with bread and butter before going to bed. In the kitchen the husband opened a new loaf of bread and handed his wife the heel piece.

She exploded, ""That's it, Buster. For fifty years you've been dealing the heel of the bread to me. I won't take it any more. How can you care so little for me and what I like?"" Once she was started, she went on and on. She had obviously developed quite a bitterness toward him for his habit of giving her the loaf's heel.

The husband was speechless during her outburst. When she finally finished her tirade, he quietly said, ""But, honey, the heel has always been my favorite piece!""

A lot of what Paul wrote about marriage had to do with its life-long nature. At the beginning of chapter 7, Paul indicates that he is answering parts of a letter the Corinthians had written to him. The chapter serves as a brief marriage seminar. The main points are: (1) Choosing to remain unmarried can be good if we use the added freedom to serve God; (2) Immoral times give greater importance to marriage; (3) Married people belong to each other and they should live that relationship out fully; (4) A Christian husband and wife ought to find a way to stay together; (5) A marriage partner who becomes a Christian can't use his or her faith as an excuse for divorce but may have to accept rejection by the non-Christian partner; (6) Make it a goal to be content in the role to which God has called you; (7) Marriage can either complicate or clarify commitment to Christ; (8 ) Always be available to the Lord, whatever your status.

Paul was enthusiastic about living the Christian life to the hilt, whether married or single. He saw advantages in each position, though he himself expressed a preference for singleness. He touched on other stations or decisions in life. For each of these he advised Christians to ""remain in the situation God called him to"" (v. 24).
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? Scripture has a lot to say about this vital topic!

You might study verses such as Ephesians 5:21-33 or Colossians 3:18-21. Or you may wish to consider the example (positive and negative) of biblical couples such as Abraham and Sarah or Ruth and Boaz.

From your study, what principles can you add to the ""marriage seminar"" given in today's passage?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the challenges of missionary living is adjusting to the eating habits of a new culture. Even when traveling from one modern country to another, the differences can be drastic. With time, however, almost any diet can become normal.

One theory (popular among missionaries themselves) holds that you can tell how long someone has been on the field by the person's table habits. The new arrival sits down to a meal but immediately loses his appetite when he sees a fly frolicking in the sugar bowl. After a year he merely brushes the fly away and goes on eating. Five years later the same missionary doesn't even notice several flies making sugar castles in the bowl. But you can tell that a missionary has been on the field for too long when he sits down for a meal and, noticing that there are no flies in the sugar bowl, feels compelled to put some there!

When Paul became a disciple of Jesus, his eating habits were set free. One lesson Paul seems to have learned early is that freedom does have limits. As one man said, ""Paul was so completely free that he never became enslaved to his freedom."" If it meant helping a brother or sister in Christ, Paul was glad to endure a minor inconvenience like abstaining from food which he might have felt free to eat in other circumstances.

Paul sought to honor the convictions of others. The fact that meat had been offered to idols meant little to Paul. Treating such meat as somehow defiled seemed to give too much credit to the idols. Idols are ""nothing"" (v. 4). But Paul also recognized that for many new Christians that same meat was a vivid reminder of a life from which they had been saved. Because their consciences were tender about their former habits, Paul practiced compassion towards them.

""Knowledge,"" taught Paul, ""puffs up, but love builds up"" (v. 1). He warned that gaining understanding without helping others becomes a self-serving pursuit. This is true even with spiritual knowledge. If our actions do not take others into account, we are liable to offend people we should not offend. We are not to harm other Christians just to prove we are free in some area.
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? Paul's guidelines pose a genuine challenge for Christians. They present us with a deep understanding of freedom as well as the great responsibility of servanthood. His guidelines increase our responsibility to one other as Christians.

In every generation the pagan approach involves severely editing the list of behaviors that God requires us to conform to or to avoid. Meanwhile Christians are tempted to greatly expand that same list. The real problem with most of this is its self-centeredness. Too often we ask the question, ""What can I do?"" instead of asking, ""What can I do to build up others in love?"" Make it a point to build up a younger Christian this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 1992 Olympics, America pinned gold medal hopes on decathlete Dave Johnson. In a pre-Olympic meet, he had scored 8꺷 points, a total that would have been high enough to win the gold in Barcelona.

During the Olympics, Johnson had a broken foot but turned in a gutsy performance and brought home the bronze medal. Just two months later, he had surgery on that foot. ""I just took it as a learning experience,"" he said. ""That was what God wanted. The Lord has taught me to search for the positive, and the real reason I'm out there is not for myself anyway. I'm always trying to give 100% to God; anything less would be unacceptable as far as Christ is concerned. He went in and gave 100% of Himself for us.""

Dave Johnson's real race, the race of the Christian life, had begun long before the 1992 Olympics. As a result, no matter what the circumstances, he could ""run in such a way as to win"" and bring glory to God. Johnson understood the truth of today's Scripture reading.

Chapter nine of 1 Corinthians could be called ""Paul's Apostolic Resum‚."" These twenty-seven verses can be divided into four general areas: (1) Paul's unique role as one of the apostles; (2) His personal practices. He chose not to take advantage of his apostolic privileges, but often worked to support himself; (3) His philosophy of ministry. ""I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible"" (v. 19); and (4) His basic objective-to set the pace in the race while encouraging others to run for the prize. Paul committed himself fully to living and to communicating the gospel.

Since Paul wrote this letter to his ""children in Christ,"" why did he use such intense language? He wasn't applying for a position of authority; rather, he was urging the Corinthians to remember the position in their lives that was already his. Paul's letter was a response to reports that he had heard about them. Here he reminded them that they needed to take his answers seriously. He was speaking for the Lord.
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? As we run the race called the Christian life, we must ""fix our eyes on Jesus"" (Hebrews 12:2). We must also remember that we never outgrow our need for God's direction. His Word remains trustworthy. Those who communicate it to us deserve our attention. The lap of this race we call 1996 is approaching the halfway point. If we are tired and discouraged, we have probably made two errors: we have taken our eyes off Christ, and we have stopped listening to His Word. If we want to hear Jesus say ""well done"" at the finish line, we will have to pay close attention to His coaching during the race. Ask Jesus today to renew your strength and sharpen your awareness of His Word and His presence.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD
History, nature, and life itself make up a marvelous collection of lessons. The Bible is filled with stories and applications of those stories. God wants us to watch and learn.

Confined to bed by a sunlit window, a sick man had hours to spend. Noticing a moth cocoon on the window sill, he watched the miracle of metamorphosis unfold. Painstakingly the moth struggled to emerge from its shell. As the hours dragged by, the man became convinced that a creative error had been made; the moth was stuck and seemed to be struggling in vain.

In an effort to set the flying creature free, the man reached over with a pair of scissors and snipped the cocoon opening slightly larger. Suddenly unhindered, the moth crawled out. But instead of spreading its wings and taking flight, it only crawled. The struggle had been necessary because the agonizing hours of escape would have served to strengthen and shape the wings. The easy escape left the wings useless. Sometimes the hard way turns out to be the only way!

When Paul thought of the history of his people, he recognized God's directions, warnings and examples. Twice he pointed out that ""these things occurred as examples"" for us (vv. 6, 11). Some of the examples were specific behaviors: idolatry (v. 7); sexual immorality (v. 8 ); testing the Lord (v. 9); and grumbling (v. 10). The warnings in these cases all include death.

The Bible is God's journal, and in it He has recorded what we need to know. The writing includes direct commands and indirect stories. They all apply. The more we know God's Word, the clearer we see the parallels between our lives and what the people of Scripture experienced.

Alongside the sobering seriousness of this passage, the Holy Spirit also caused Paul to pen words of great hope. His first point is that all people share this struggle with temptation (v. 13). We literally have this in common with everyone. But Paul's second point (here's the hope) is that God will show His faithfulness by limiting our temptations and by providing a way out.
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? As with the moth struggling out of the cocoon, God has a purpose in our difficulties. The patience and strength that God develops in us one day will sustain us the next. Although we do not live in the same setting as people of the Old Testament, we live with many of the same temptations. God's Word always applies.

When we are tempted, God will provide a way of escape. Perhaps we miss it because we are looking too hard at the temptation rather than asking the Lord to help us. Today when you are tempted, say ""Thank you, Lord, for trusting me this much""; then look for His ""way of escape"" and take it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Evangelist Billy Graham, whose ministry has spanned 50 years, is one of this century's greatest spokesmen for Jesus Christ. Commenting on Graham's unblemished record, Garth Rosell writes: ""Richard Baxter opened his seventeenth century classic, The Reformed Pastor, with a striking admonition to Christian leaders: `Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine, lest you unsay with your lives what you say with your tongues.'

""Few preachers, I suspect, have been as determined to heed Baxter's warning as Billy Graham. Early in his ministry, during the 1948 evangelistic meetings in Modesto, California, he called the members of his team together to discuss ways in which they could fortify themselves against `the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life' (1 John 2:16). He asked his colleagues to identify `all the things that have been a stumbling block and a hindrance to evangelists in years past' so that together they might establish effective means of avoiding them."" Early prevention has been the key to Billy Graham staying true to his calling.

Paul knew that his brothers and sisters in Corinth were living in a world of continual temptation. He wanted to make sure that they didn't become of that world. The Corinthians faced two obvious dangers: immorality (6:18) and idolatry (10:14). In each case Paul advises the same action: ""flee!"" The Greek word he uses gives us our word ""fugitive."" Apparently Christians in Corinth were tempted to prove they could participate freely in pagan rituals without compromising their faith.

Because Paul saw the potential danger of being recaptured by idolatry, he kept reminding them that they had been set free from those prisons. They needed to live as fugitives from sin. Instead, however, they were acting in ways that dishonored Christ. They were participating in acts that honored demons and challenged the Lordship of Christ. Paul firmly repeats ""you cannot!"" (10:20-21).
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? We are tempted to repeat the Corinthians' mistake when we try to stand as close to sin as possible instead of keeping far from it. Those who make it a goal to be barely righteous are like hikers leaning over a cliff. It doesn't take much to cause a fall.

Life as a fugitive from sin is part of the freedom that Christ gives. When we compromise with sin, we undermine that freedom. Are you dangerously close to the edge of some cliff of sin? Do you need to take a big step back? Ask the Lord today to help you flee from the edge.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The need for godly leaders has been a popular topic in the Christian community. And rightly so. Leadership has often been sadly lacking within the church. But ""followship"" also needs attention. When believers aren't prepared to follow, they cast doubt on their status as believers.

The following account comes to us from E. Stanley Jones. He told of a missionary who lost his way in an African jungle. He could find no landmarks and the trail vanished. Eventually, stumbling on a small hut, he asked the native living there if he could lead him out.

The native nodded. Rising to his feet, he walked directly into the bush. The missionary followed on his heels. For more than an hour they hacked their way though a dense wall of vines and grasses. The missionary became worried: ""Are you sure this is the way? I don't see any path.""

The African chuckled and said over his shoulder, ""Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.""

Paul understood that Christian freedom can present a jungle-like array of choices. Because there are no paths in the jungle, any direction provides a way. But, to paraphrase Paul: ""In the jungle you can walk in any direction, but not every direction will bring you good; you can step this way or that, but you may not make progress"" (v. 23). Paul's cardinal rule for exercising Christian freedom is: ""Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others"" (v. 24).

Paul's examples illustrate the point that when we genuinely seek the good of others, we will probably not act in ways that offend God. All our actions (or refraining from certain actions) ought to be done ""for the glory of God"" (v. 31). Like the native speaking over his shoulder, Paul described himself as the path following the true Path: ""Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ"" (11:1; cf. John 14:6).
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? At times Christian freedom and personal convictions create friction among believers. Paul wanted the Corinthians (and us) to encourage fellow believers in every way possible. He urges us to set aside our personal preferences if doing so will prevent hurting a brother or a sister in Christ. When we know someone who may be offended or hurt by our actions, we are under orders to honor that person above our desires.

The flip-side of this issue is also true. Fewer believers would be offended if they shared openly when they have a conviction over a matter. Gentle flexibility in the area of personal freedom in Christ serves as a barometer for maturity. Can you think of ways to apply this truth in your life this month?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Many aspects of life in Bible times are foreign to us. We no longer dress as they did, and much of what we wear has no particular meaning. But some cultures still wear clothing with a purpose.

In his book Jewish Literacy, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin describes the importance of head coverings in the Jewish culture: ""In the Western world, a man shows respect by taking off his hat; in Jewish life, he shows respect by putting it on. In Jewish tradition, covering the head conveys the wearer's sense that there is a force in the universe above him.

""The head covering worn today is much smaller than a hat. Known in Hebrew as a kippah [yarmulke in Yiddish], it is usually made of cloth and is several inches in diameter. In Orthodox circles, women would never wear a kippah, though the more traditional Orthodox women cover their hair either with a handkerchief or a wig. Once a woman is married, her husband is the only male who is supposed to see her hair."" Knowing about customs helps us to understand how different life was in the ancient world.

Although it may be difficult to understand Paul's examples in this part of his letter, we can certainly see that he was concerned about the Corinthian attitudes in worship. Paul points out that they are dishonoring one another and God. Their actions are communicating a lack of humility, and men and women are not acknowledging their interdependence. ""In the Lord,"" Paul writes, ""woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman"" (v. 11).

Paul begins this section by reminding his Corinthian readers of God's order of relationship: ""I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God"" (v. 3). His emphasis is more on relationship than on authority. The human way of looking at authority often involves control or manipulation, but the biblical ideal has more to do with love and servanthood.

The Corinthians were getting so caught up in how they were worshipping that they were forgetting whom they were worshipping. Their treatment of one another displayed a lack of reverence for 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 For today's application, why not do additional Bible study on the subject of marriage? Preparation for worship and attitudes during worship speak volumes about our understanding of God. How often do families call ""time out!"" in a heated argument simply because they have arrived at church? Do our plans for the rest of Sunday tend to crowd our attention during the worship service?

Children don't always point out consistency, but they can spot inconsistency from a distance. Parents whose attention to God occurs only on Sunday will fail to offer a godly example. Kids learn about God from the way we treat one another between Sundays. Take time today to prepare for worship tomorrow.

[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.