TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 10:32-39
You knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. - Hebrews 10:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many great Negro spirituals have heaven as their theme. You may be familiar with “Deep River,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “Great Day.” The spiritual, “I Got Shoes,” is another example that captures the mix of suffering on earth, oppression by the slave master, and the longing for heaven: “I got shoes, you got shoes, all God's children got shoes. When I get to heaven gonna put on my shoes, gonna walk all over God's heaven. Everybody talkin' ”˜bout heaven ain't goin' there—heaven, heaven. When I get to heaven gonna shout all over God's heaven.”

The experience of suffering and persecuted Christians, no matter in what time or place, expands our notion of what it means to be blessed by God. Our passage today was written to believers who had undergone trials for their faith, and it describes the heavenly aspect of our blessings.

The original recipients of the letter to the Hebrews had clearly suffered materially for the sake of the gospel. They had been humiliated, persecuted, and had their property confiscated (vv. 33-34). Yet they are described as enduring this with joy. It stemmed from the knowledge that while everything they owned on this earth could be destroyed, their treasures in heaven could never be touched by human hands (see Matt. 6:19-21).

This knowledge and joy was to motivate them to remain faithful to Jesus. God does not promise to reward our obedience with material possessions, but He does promise to reward it with a spiritual inheritance (v. 36). This reality doesn't change, even when our earthly circumstances seem to turn upside-down.

We see, then, several incredible blessings in this passage: joy in the midst of persecution, knowledge of our eternal reward, the promises of God, and spiritual possessions that cannot be taken away. To have these things is to be able to say with certainty that we have been blessed by God. In this light, we should strive to live in a way that brings Him glory and honor.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we are surrounded by our possessions, it may be difficult to focus on our heavenly blessings. You might consider what one short-term mission team returning from Africa did. They decided that they would not buy any new clothes for the remainder of the year as a way to practice restraint from the materialism of our culture. You might also choose to listen to music, whether spirituals or other songs, that help you focus your mind and heart on the spiritual blessings that await us in the new heaven and new earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 1:9-18
Every good and perfect gift is from above. - James 1:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
A couple reflected on the years spent struggling financially while he was in seminary compared to the years of having sufficient income: “When we didn't have enough money to pay our bills, we saw God work in amazing ways—money anonymously left at our door, donations of groceries, bills that would mysteriously be cancelled. Now that we have more income, God provides for our needs through a regular paycheck. It's not as dramatic as having the money appear at the door, but they're both examples of God's provision.”

James would have appreciated this perspective. As we continue to study what it means to be blessed by God, our reading today helps to fill out our understanding of blessing.

Note first that James does not equate blessing with being poor or being rich; instead, he tells both groups of believers to balance their worldly situation with the spiritual reality. Those who are poor should remember that they have the promises of an eternal inheritance (v. 9). They can hold their heads high knowing that they are children of the King. Those who are rich should remember that nothing they have in this world is eternal or can buy them spiritual favor (v. 10). They shouldn't flaunt their wealth but instead humbly acknowledge that everything is from God.

Second, James identifies those who are persecuted as being blessed, if they persevere through their suffering (v. 12). Again eternal themes are sounded; part of the motivation to endure in the faith is the promise of God. An eternal view is necessary to keep the circumstances of this world in the right perspective.

Finally, we see what the focus of any discussion about blessing should be—the Source. God bestows all good and perfect gifts. They come from Him at His will and in His time. We don't manufacture them or manipulate Him into blessing us. These gifts, both material and spiritual, should draw our gaze upward to the Lord. Indeed, He has already given us “birth through the word of truth,” a blessing beyond compare (v. 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
An elderly deacon confessed, “I don't count sheep when I can't sleep—I count my blessings. Sends me off snoring every time.” Whether you need help falling asleep or not, intentionally thinking through the blessings of God is a helpful exercise. You might start with the things around you (family, friends, housing, church, etc.) and then try to expand your list to include spiritual and eternal blessings. Sometimes it's also helpful to make one list of your trials and another of your blessings—the list of blessings wins every time!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1-15
I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you. - 1 Chronicles 17:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The heart of worship is always ready to adore our great God. That was the attitude not only of David but of countless believers through history. Augustine, for example, prayed: “O Lord in whom all things live, who commanded us to seek you, who are always ready to be found: to know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to praise you is our soul's delight. We bless you and adore you, we worship you and magnify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

For David in today's reading, a heart of worship meant he didn't want to live in a palace while the Ark remained in a tent. He wanted to build a proper temple. But he didn't rush ahead, as he had done previously. Instead, he consulted Nathan the prophet, showing that he had learned an important lesson about submitting all his plans, even ones with good motives, to the Lord. God's answer, however, was “no”—the honor of building a temple would go to his son, Solomon.

Though the request was denied, the Lord's answer was much richer than what King David had asked for. In what is often called the “Davidic covenant,” God confirmed that the kingdom would be secure, remaining enemies would be subdued, and a golden age was about to begin. The themes of homecoming and safety (v. 9) would have been especially poignant to the returned exiles for whom Chronicles was first written. They would also have been encouraged by the long-term promise that David's throne and house would be established forever, a promise with clear messianic implications (v. 14).

Jesus Christ fulfills that promise. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, were both in the line of David. When He was crucified, it was under a sign proclaiming Him “King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37). And the last book of the Bible opens by identifying Him as the “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As with David, God has promised us many things within His plan of salvation. Keeping these promises close to our hearts can strengthen our faith. Good verses to memorize include Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; and Hebrews 9:28. In Christ, we have a “living hope . . . an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade,” and we are “shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-19
Godliness with contentment is great gain. - 1 Timothy 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
An affluent Chicago suburb held an annual Open Kitchen Show where selected homes were open for tours of their kitchens. After spending a morning viewing all the imported granite countertops, finest appliances, and professionally designed workspaces, one woman remarked to her friends, “I hate my husband! We just redid our kitchen and he was too cheap to let me hire a kitchen design company. He only let me spend $40,000, and my kitchen looks awful. I wish I had married somebody with a better job so I could have really nice things!”

Hopefully most of us would not allow a neighbor's fancy kitchen to instill such dissatisfaction with our spouse. But in our advertising-saturated, materialistic culture it's often hard not to compare our possessions with those around us. We're told that a new big-screen television will make us happy, a new front-loading washer and dryer will make our lives more productive, and a brand-new car will make us sexier. What does God's Word say about this? Our passage today is an antidote to the consumerist messages around us. As Christians, we shouldn't count our accumulation of stuff as “great gain,” but rather our growth in love, faith, gentleness, and Christlikeness (v. 11). We are to be characterized by contentment, realizing that we don't need a new kitchen to practice hospitality, or a new car to visit the sick, or a fancy wardrobe to show love to others.

The apostle Paul does not condemn wealthy believers for having money. We are instructed, however, not to pursue money, for it has no true value in the eternal economy (vv. 9-10, 17). Instead of thinking that our security, happiness, or worth lie in our bank account, we are to be “rich in good deeds,” practicing generosity and putting our trust in God (v. 18).

Again we see that our greatest blessings lie in the future. We look forward to eternal life and the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ (vv. 12, 14, 19). That will be the “life that is truly life,” even as we begin to experience this life right now.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
No matter whether we are in the top tax bracket or many steps lower, we can all be rich in good deeds. Some may be able to be generous with their money, ensuring that others are fed and clothed. Others may be able to be generous with their time, helping tutor struggling students or volunteering at a nursing home. In whatever way you practice generosity, do it as an offering to the Lord. Ask God to use this to help you trust in Him, not in your resources.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:10-20
My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
When asked. “How are you?” a custodian would always reply, “I'm blessed!” One day he explained the reason for his answer: “God takes care of me whether I'm having a good day or a bad day. Either way, He made sure I have a job, enough to eat, and enough to live on. Either way, He loves me. So no matter what's going on, I am blessed.”

That custodian understood the insight from our verses today. We saw yesterday that Scripture defines “great gain” as having godliness and contentment. Today we see the spiritual secret to being content.

The apostle Paul was writing to the believers in Philippi from prison. In this section, often thanking them for their gifts to him, he declares that despite his difficult circumstances he is content. Note that contentment is necessary whether we have much or whether we have little (v. 12). Either situation can breed a lack of contentment. The secret is to recognize that we live in God's strength and through His grace (v. 13). If we have much, it is from Him. If we have little, He will provide. Living with a focus on God allows us to find the great gain of contentment.

Next, Paul turns to the matter of the gifts from the Philippians. They had a pattern of generosity for the Lord's work, sending financial support to other churches in need as well as supporting Paul financially. Certainly, God used the gifts of the Philippians to provide for Paul, but notice what he says the true blessing is. He doesn't identify his own financial situation as the blessing, but rather that God blesses the sacrificial giving of the Philippians by meeting their needs.

This verse has been twisted by some to mean that if you put a $10 bill in the offering plate, God will give you $100 down the road. God is not the stock market; His dividends are far more valuable than just more cash. He supplies our needs, blessing us through the riches that we have in Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we financially support people and organizations doing God's work, we are making deposits in our spiritual bank accounts that reap spiritual blessings. Philippians 4:18 describes our giving as a “fragrant offering, acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Does your giving to your church, missionaries, or other Christian ministries reflect this sacrificial consistency? Do you struggle with giving because you struggle with contentment? God has promised to provide what we need for any situation; we can act on that.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 4:1-16
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known. - Ephesians 3:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to pollster George Barna's latest book, Revolution, committed evangelical Christians are leaving the church in droves. He posits that these people are not leaving the faith, but they are leaving a commitment to meet regularly with a group of other Christians—the traditional expression of church.

Is Christianity without church a valid way to live the spiritual life? For the next few days, we'll see what Scripture teaches about the role of the church in the lives of believers.

Our passage today is part of a larger argument in Ephesians. Throughout, Paul uses imagery of unity and wholeness (see 2:11-22). He appeals to the Ephesians to see themselves as part of Christ's body, the church, and prays for them to be filled with the knowledge, love, and fullness of God (see 3:14-21). Now he turns to some practical implications of being the church.

First, these exhortations are founded on the reality of our being called by God's grace to true life in Christ (Eph. 2:5). Second, we are to remember that our individual satisfaction is not the goal. Living in the reality of the body of Christ means that we will have to bear with others—just as they have to bear with us! Third, being humble and loving concerns more than just getting along with other people. We need to understand that the Spirit forms the unity of the body, so we are not to fragment the body that the Lord has brought together (v. 3).

Paul makes it clear that Christians who refuse to work with others are not spiritual heroes. Christ has given each of us a role to play, not to meet our own spiritual needs, but to meet the needs of others. In fact, we can't reach spiritual maturity or even understand Jesus fully without being in the church (vv. 13-14).

Our part is to live in a certain way, but we also recognize God's part, the one who holds the church together. The Head of the body is Christ, and He has called, joined, and holds us together for His glory (v. 16; 3:21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When you have additional time for Bible study, read through the entire book of Ephesians in one sitting. As you read, make a note of every mention of “saints,” “church,” and “body.” What points about the composition and purpose of the body does Ephesians make? Why is the church important? What is true unity and oneness? How are the practical, everyday instructions related to the larger theme in this book? As you study, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in understanding and applying His Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:7-14; 4:20-21
Anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. - 1 John 4:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
The poet Edna St. Vincent Millay once famously said, “I love humanity but I hate people.” When someone cuts us off in traffic, makes hurtful comments, or snubs us at a social gathering, we can probably relate to that sentiment! Humanity as a concept might be easy to love; the real breathing human beings that we have to interact with everyday . . . well, that's a different story.

Sometimes this attitude creeps into the church. Maybe you've heard, “Well, I love her in the Lord but I don't like her!” Or, “I'm glad Jesus loves him because no one else can stand him!” Our passage today provides a helpful corrective for this kind of thinking.

To begin, John describes the commandment to love one another as both new and old. What does this confusing language mean? This command goes all the way back to the Old Testament—God is remarkably consistent in how He wants His people to treat each other (see Lev. 19:18). Jesus also repeats this command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:33). In this way, this is an “old” command.

This command is “new,” however, in its application to the church. Now that believers have been formed into the body of Christ, we are to love our brothers and sisters. If we don't, we will stumble and fall. A lack of love for others in the church will lead us astray. Notice that John's appeal is based on who we are in Christ: forgiven in Him, knowing God, strong in faith and the knowledge of His Word. We aren't instructed to love just to have warm fuzzies; it's an extension of being in the family of God.

The language gets even stronger—a lack of love for a brother in Christ means that declarations of love for God are lies (4:20). The church is God's provision to avoid an abstract notion of love. He has not saved us to float in space, disconnected from anyone else. He has called us for the real work of loving each other—and it's how we demonstrate that we love Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday Americans enjoyed Thanksgiving Day, typically celebrated with a large meal, time with family, and reflections of thankfulness. Today, challenge your spirit of thankfulness with this test: think of the person in your church or community who drives you crazy, gets on your nerves, or makes your life difficult—and thank God for that one. It may not always seem so, but those who are a challenge to love are part of God's way of refining our ability to love Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 12:1-19
Many people had gathered and were praying. - Acts 12:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
The television show, Cheers had a theme song with the lyrics, “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.” The episodes centered around the regular patrons of the bar named “Cheers,” and indicated that you could find friends and fellowship if you became a regular at such a place.

How much better to go where everybody knows not only your name, but more important, they know the name that really matters—the Lord. Our reading demonstrates a powerful reason that God has made the church an integral part of the Christian life.

At this time, followers of Jesus Christ were regularly persecuted. In an attempt to pacify his domestic constituents, King Herod was arresting, torturing, and killing Christians. He had just captured maybe the biggest fish of all—Peter, the big loudmouth fisherman-turned-evangelist whose sermons were responsible for mass conversions. Herod knew the local religious leaders would be thrilled to see Peter tried, convicted, and executed. To make sure his plan would work, he had Peter guarded by sixteen soldiers.

But Herod's troops were no match for an angel of the Lord. The remarkable details of Peter's escape are as exciting as any spy novel, as Peter was led unnoticed out of the prison.

Peter then made an interesting decision. He went where the believers were gathered to pray. In a time of great distress, for Peter and for the whole church, God's people gathered in intercession. As part of the church, the struggles of one member affect everyone else. This is the place where everybody should know your name and your needs, and stand before God with you in prayer.

Those gathered at Mary's house didn't expect the miracle of Peter's deliverance; they debated while he kept knocking. Our faith isn't always as big as the God we serve. But His great works aren't dependent on our mastery of a formula of prayer, belief, or practice. He delights to encourage His people who have gathered together.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One vital ministry is open to anyone and everyone in the church: prayer for others. Your church may have a regularly scheduled corporate prayer meeting or may print requests in the bulletin. Other churches make prayer needs available through ministry teams or care pastors. Spend some extra time in prayer—regularly, if possible—for those in your church family. Gathering with others to do this can be especially encouraging, as you know each other more deeply and the work of God more fully.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. - 1 Corinthians 12:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
As the men gathered to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the elder statesman Benjamin Franklin addressed the group with his famous combination of solemnity and wit. “We must all hang together, gentlemen, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Declaring national independence demanded the energies and devotions of all those committed to the new nation. The survival of the church also needs the service and commitment of all its members. Paul uses an organic analogy in our passage to suggest that we truly cannot survive without each other.

To begin, Paul outlines the basis of this organization called “church.” It is not merely a social club, group of friends, or charitable organization. Instead, it is a group of people who have been brought together by the Holy Spirit. Despite differences in background, culture, socioeconomic status, race, age, or in this case gifts, the Spirit is the one who enables anyone to confess Jesus as Lord and be joined together with others in the body of Christ (vv. 3, 13).

The image of the body of Christ provides an important corrective to any notion that individual Christians should fly solo, emphasizing their own personal spiritual growth at the exclusion of serving others. We have gifts from the Holy Spirit—not to enrich our own spiritual life, but so that we can bless others through them (v. 7). To declare that we don't need another brother or sister in Christ is tantamount to a hand cutting itself off because of a dispute with an eye (v. 21)!

It seems in Corinth, there was a problem of too many people wanting to be in charge, or at least on display. Any desire to focus on ourselves, whether that means pouting when we aren't in leadership positions or even seeking a church solely because it makes us feel good, misses the point of why the Holy Spirit has joined us together. As the body of Christ on earth, we are to suffer, rejoice, and minister together.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you're thinking, “You don't know how difficult my church is! I'd be so much better off if I didn't have to deal with those people!” Since the church is comprised of fallen people who are still in the process of being sanctified, it's easy to be disappointed by church. If you feel this way, read through 1 Corinthians and notice how dysfunctional that church was! If God could expect them to love each other (see 1 Cor. 13), we too can love our brothers and sisters in the Lord.