day 27: 1 Corinthians 16 "the collection for God's people"

short today.

...?

collecting money from wages. I know that we set aside 10% of our income for tithe and it goes to the church but this sounds a little different.

I wonder.

I dont know.

I don't know a lot...

day 26: 1 corinthians 15 "the resurrection body"

I always wondered and people always ask: what is our body going to be like when the resurrection occurs? this question is uailly quite prominent with Rhodes who are extremely ugly or pretty, with deformations or such.

interesting. these bodies are different. there will be an earthly body, sown into the ground at death and a spiritual body raised at the resurrection. it is up to God how it'll be but we can know that that body will be imperishable and immortal.

still confusing to me.

day 25: 1 Corinthians 15 "the resurrection of the dead"

I really like how he keeps on repeating that our faith is based on Christ's resurrection and if that is not true, nothing is. and if we don't believe that the dead will be resurrected, then we don't believe that Jesus was resurrected. in other words, the dead will be resurrected.

then there is an interesting point in the middle. one deathe will be the last enemy to be defeated, the one thing humans seem to fear most in life because it ends our lives. and then it follows with Paul talking about how God has put everything under Jesus' feet save God (since he was the one who gave the authority in the first place.) eveything will be ruled by Jesus. he will have lower over everything.

we will all be alive at the end. either for more suffering and pain or love.

day 24: 1 Corinthians 15 "the resurrection of Christ"

Jesus is alive!!! that is the first thing that pops into my head with that title.

the work of Jesus. what is work? a responsibility given to an individual or group to complete. whether the work is enjoyable or not is up to the individual's attitude. Paul had a humble and hardworking attitude. he thought himself lower than everyone else and gave glory to God. it's this kind of example that I want to follow.

then there is the proof of Jesus' resurrection. he appeared to many after his resurrection, including paul (I did not know that). there is so much proof and so much God. I love it.

lastly I want to point out that the entire tone of the story is humble and entreating. we have been given this to believe in and put our gain in. its truth and Paul is trying to share that. he wants everyone to be saved. and that can only happen through God and Jesus.
it's amazing.

day 23: 1 Corinthians 14 "orderly worship"

it seems like a chapter out of a church rule book. and yet Paul makes sure to mention that this is the Lord's command and needs to be followed.

people who are moved by the spirit should speak (if in tongue, then with an interpreter. interesting that it is interpreter and not translator. you are trying to make sense of it not repeat it.) in turn, at most 2 or 3 at a time (to make sure the thoughts sink in?)

interesting enough, women are not allowed to speak in church but have to at home to their husbands. why????? they "must be in submission, as the Law says.". still why???? this I do not understand unless you are co
paring the different cultures. but then it still wouldn't make sense because this is the lord's command. If it has to do with women being the dirt to fall and made as man's companion, I guess that kinda makes sense. but does that mean we are "less" then men, or is that rule there to keep order and peace (I personally know how generally women like to talk and talk and talk and get absolutely nowhere while men can just bash each other out for it) or something along those lines. really wonder though.

day 22: 1 Corinthians 14 "gifts of prophecy and tongues"

that just totally answered quite a few of my questions.

first off is the question of what exactly is speaking in tongues. well I'm told here that it is talking in another language, basically something not really understandable but amazing (shows God's glory)
I love how he puts it: to prophesise is for believers, for those of the church while speaking in tongues are for unbelievers and only helps believers if the person can interpret too.

then comes the question if my faith is already one where I can simply trust in God, why do I need to go to look for the answers to hard questions? I find the main point is that now you have this faith, you must help others in theirs "edify their faith".

then comes the question of how we are supposed o be like children so we can enter the kingdom of God. here we are told o be like insane with evil but think with maturity. we cannot think like children where they completely and only think about themselves, we must think about others and how we can help them.

day 21: 1 Corinthians 13 "love"

it's going to be interesting this week as eveythibg is going to be off my iPod (hence the lack of capitals)

love. the thought on the forefront of my mind thanks to a certain someone. what is it? what does it mean? when will I know I really love someone? then God gives me these verses.

the first part opens with how precious love is and how we need it above all things. without it we are nothing. nothing we can do for God is worthwhile without love.

love is patient. I am not.
love is kind. this one word encompasses so much.
love does not envy. no more jelly.
love does not boast. (no making others jelly) I believe there is a difference between boasting and saying something out of delight. mostly where the Gloucester will lie. it needs to lie with God.
love is not proud. along the same lines. the glory is Gods
love is not rude. time to watch my words and actions
love is not self-seeking. for me this means that the focus is never on me, it's always for the betterment of others. this is how God wants us to treat others.
love is not easily angered. watch my temper and how i react.
love keeps no record of wrongs. long memory for some, for mr it jut means forgetting what missiles have been done in the past and focus on the future. no more bringing up the past.
there is so much more to love.

but you see, what I was looking for in love was someone to serve me. this is not the case. love is there to serve others and glorify God. that is where we get our love from. it's epic.

Day 20: 1 Corinthians 12 "One Body, Many Parts"

I love how this comes at a time with I feel envy over other people's gifts.  Sometimes I feel like I'm lacking in something because I see others and the things they can accomplish while I cannot.  At these times I feel so lonely and depressed because I'm a "failure" at life.  (simply because I cannot do one thing or another)

Stupid right?  Well, for me, I actually feel this.  I feel like just because I can't speak well, teach well or be a good leader, I'm a failure at life.

Then these verses invade my soul.  They tell me that my achievements are different from others.  If they were all the same, well it's not much of a body now is it?  They have their achievements that God has set out for them to do, I have my own.  And rather then being envious, I should be glad when one is honoured and be sad when one is in failure or hurt.

Another part really hit me.  Some parts are treated with special honour, some are not since they are already presented.  These gifts of ours also give us different treatment, though we are all equal.  For example, a pastor is seen as a leader and is scrutinized by everyone, as opposed to a child in the church who is still learning.  We are still all equal, but treatment is by what God has given us.  Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?

Day 19: 1 Corinthians 12 "Spiritual Gifts"

Without reading the passage, here is my reflection on the title:

gifts are things that God has given us expecting nothing in return.  however, there is the expectation that the gift is used, otherwise all the effort that the person made into giving it is gone to a lost.  don't you ever feel guilty leaving a gift on the side and never touching it again?  for me a fine example are my bags.  i got so many of them as gifts but i make sure i use all of them because they were given to me.

spiritual.  it's an adjective.  does that mean that the gifts themselves have to do with the spiritual world (ie speaking in tongues, seeing spirits) or just that they come from God? (but then again, don't all gifts technically come from God...?)

Reading....

OHHHH I LOVE THIS!!  you see, these gifts are all from the HOLY SPIRIT!  the one and the same.  all these different gifts for different purposes for different people, they are all from the SAME Holy Spirit.  And there is the gift of faith, message of wisdom, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.  all to different people, all the work of the one and same Spirit.  and God gives them to people as he determines.  no other reasons.

What's my gift?  I know that I have the gift of quick learning, the gift to be able see the joy in everything and the gift of loving children.  I thank God so much for them and ask Him to help me use them to their epicness.  I want them to affect other people's lives.  And it reminds me that the more you use his gifts, the more you will receive from him (parable of the talents).  seriously.  I want to glorify him soooo much!!!

Day 18: 1 Corinthians 11 "The Lord's Supper"

"But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgement.  When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."

be hard on ourselves to save ourselves later hardship
just like when the Lord judges us, it's not that he is harder on us than everyone else because he is being cruel but he wants to save us.  the world will be condemned.  it will die.  those people will be in agony forever separated from God.

Day 17: 1 Corinthians 11 "Propriety in Worship"

propriety:

conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.

(dictionary.com)

 

So what is the proper behavior to have?

 

head of woman is mean, head of man is Christ, head of Christ is God

man: prays or prophesies with head uncovered since he is the image and glory of God 

woman: prays or prophesies with head COVERED since she is the glory of MAN

 

wait...really?  then how come we don't cover our heads?  and it's verses like these that make me think the woman's lib has gone too far with some rights...

 

because: woman came from man and woman was created for man.

 

HOWEVER, in the LORD, woman is not independent of man, or the other way around.  For as woman is born from man, man is born from woman.  BUT everything comes from GOD.  

 

then it says: judge for yourselves whether covering a woman's head is right just like long hair for a woman is right and short hair for a guy is right.

 

interesting verses...still a bit confused with exactly how guys/girls are supposed to be.... 

Day 16: 1 Corinthians 10 "The Believer's Freedom"

"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

Day 15: 1 Corinthians 10 "Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper"

To put it quite simply: I understand nothing.

The only feeling I can get is one of disbelief over how these people are living.  Give up idolatry.
idolatry:

excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc.

(dictionary.com)

(see, after teaching VBS kids around the age of 8/9 and having to explain every other word to them, I have to make sure I understand the words fully myself)

 You cannot be part of the Lord and part of demons.

 

This also brings up the point that our faith is not blind adoration.  We have reasons so many of them to believe in God.  We have constant experiences that reveal God to us.  It's not blind.  No where near.  Even though my faith does not require me to go find all the answers, they are all there.  cool huh? 

Day 14: 1Corinthians 10 "Warnings from Israel's History"

This is where the old testament really comes in.  We read all about Israel's history and what they did and this is where we really need to take heed of the mistakes they did and not repeat them ourselves.

I'm actually able to relate to this really easily.  You see, I have the middle sibling syndrome (or whatever it is called).  I'm not spoiled like the youngest child nor do I do all the mistakes first like the oldest child.  I get to see everything and usually I take it and not repeat the same mistakes.

In the same way, we should do that with Israel's story.  They were punished for sinning.  There are always consequences for sinning. 

And this is my favorite verse that I will never forget: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 10:13

Day 13: 1 Corinthians 9 "The Rights of an Apostle"

This brings up a lot of points that I have thought of before.

There is the first point that I thought of: I never understood what it meant when the verse said "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."  If you take it literally, it seems so out of place, it's against animal cruelty.  And yet how can you take is symbolically?  Anyways, I find it interesting that Paul uses it to compare to us, that we have the "right" to partake of the harvest of the work we're putting in.

That brings up something else: "rights" We have the right to have this and that but Paul says that he doesn't take any of these rights, rather he would rather not have any of them as long as he is serving the Lord.  the bar has been put quite high for us.

Lastly, when he talks about becoming like a certain person to share the gospel to that person, it makes me really think.  You can take it on the surface and saying that Paul is not staying true to himself and it's all bad being easily influenced by everyone, but I think the total opposite.  What Paul is doing is not changing who he is and what he believes in (as the parts that say contrary to the persons view) but rather is living their life to experience what they experience and be able to share the gospel with those people.  He is learning their problems, their concerns, their happiness to be able to share the gospel and share the things they need while others may not.  It's an amazing thing.  I find the more I experience things, the more this becomes true for me.  I have learned how to love, now I understand what others feel when they go through it (well, to a point).   I have learned what school is like, so I understand the difficulties of homework and teachers and stuff...

Amazing what God gives us isn't it?

Day 12: 1 Corinthians 8 "Food Sacrificed to Idols"

Bit confused with this passage, especially since offering food is not prominent in the society I live it.

Sometimes I find it hard to understand the practices of the Israelites because we don't do them or anything similar.  However, I did enjoy the part where it says knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.  In other words, love is what we are aiming for, it is what we want.

It also talks again about being weak and that being the reason some things happen and don't cause yourself or others to sin...

Day 11: 1 Corinthians 7 "Marriage"

This section is epic, especially considering what I was talking about a little bit ago with some campers.

Let's try to sum it up: Marry one man (or woman if you are a guy) and stay true to that person.  It is better though for you to not marry at all and stay completely devoted to God.  However, because of our compulsions/passion, it is better to marry than to sin (sexual immorality).

I personally love the part where it talks about why marriage is acceptable but not the best.  It is true that when you get into that type of relationship, your focus goes from all on God to partly on God and partly on that person.  And both Paul and I agree that this is not wrong, it just makes life more difficult.

I guess it is true when they say marriage is just a lot of work, however, it can bring us so much joy as well.  I can't wait ;)

Day 10: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ""Sexual Immorality"

The first verse sums up everything.  "'Everything is permissible for me' - but not everything is beneficial."

We can do whatever we want, but we only go back and hurt ourselves if we follow the path of sexual immorality.  And what is it exactly?

16"Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?  God it is said, 'The two will become one flesh.'"  Makes me think that uniting with anyone aside from the spirit is wrong.  It hurts us because of the uniting and the breaking, it hurts God because our bodies is his temple. 

I just realized, our bodies being a temple also goes along with the idea of living out our lives in a Christ-like way.  Everyone looks to the temple for what the faith looks like don't they?

This verse also hits home to me.  I've been struggling with my own sexuality and issues concerning it.  It puts it plainly: it's wrong.  "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord" "Therefore honor God with your body"  One thing to know, another to act on it.  But my spirit longs for that uniting with God and only God.  I want to be one with him.  I want my life to be of only him.  Again, words are easy to say, hard to do.

Day 9: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-11 "Lawsuits Among Believers"

I read the title and went...LAWYERS, calling all LAWYERS

7"The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already."  I love this verse.  For the simple truth: the fact that we fight shows that Satan has already won.

Okay: epic news.  EPIC PART:

verses 9 and 10 makes me lose hope.  all these people who commit these sins are not going to heaven.

verse 11 then goes and says "And that is what some of you WERE.  But you were WASHED, you were SANCTIFIED, you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and by the SPIRIT of our GOD."  we can have hope because there is Jesus and God.  we're not lost.  nowhere near.

don't fight.  simple yet true.  1) bad show in front of unbelievers (what would they think of the faith?).  2)Satan wins. 3) we're only justified through JESUS!!!!

Day 8: 1 Corinthians 5 "Expel the Immoral Brother!"

This is actually for yesterday...

Hmmm I like this chapter because it brings up a really good point in the old testament that I always wondered about.  It said that we had to "expel the wicked man from among you." (Deut.17:7)  They did this in the form of outcasts, stoning and various other things.  Are we supposed to continue this?  especially since Jesus has come.  But then Paul also says this:

11"But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.  With such a man do not even eat." 

This hurts me because I call myself a sister in Christ but I know I have struggled with these sins before and am still now.  Does this mean I should be cast out? 

Day 7: 1 Corinthians 4 "Apostles of Christ"

20"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power"

1-7 talks a lot about judging.  how we are not to judge and only God's judgement will count.  however, I feel like there is something else there, something important that I can't grasp.

I love the next part:
"we have been made a spectacle to the whole universe...We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are honored, we are dishonored!  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless...when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly."

Day 6: 1 Corinthians 3 "On Divisions in the Church"

Lots of meat to digest in here.

divisions: i believe that it basically says here that there should not be any divisions in the church.  why? 6"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but GOD made it grow." We are all workers of God and it is GOD who ultimately makes things grow.  I feel like there is so much more to this section but it is hidden from me.

building: i understand the analogy of building from the foundation up.  but why is it that "the Day will bring it to light"?  and "the fire will test the quality of each man's work"?  As Day is capitalized is it referring to Jesus and Jesus will show the work that people have done for him?  and the fire...is it suffering so that it will separate those who put little effort and work into Jesus' commands and those who really poured their lives out for him? 

temple: i find this a very adequate explanation why murder/suicide is wrong.  killing God's temple is wrong.  you will be destroyed for doing such a thing.  harsh yes, but it's the truth. 

foolishness/wisdom: we are to be foolish and not think ourselves wise.  this section actually really hits to my heart.  you see, sometimes i consider myself pretty wise.  i think i know all the answers (though in reality i know like...nothing).  but compared to God, i know nothing.  it's like the story of Job.  at the end of the book God asks were you there at the beginning of creation?  do you know how everything works?  you are not God.  He is.  It also makes me think about the verse that says God's strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.  we need to humble ourselves to God can shine through us.  It makes it clear that things cannot be done by ourselves, only by God.  which i need constant reminding of.

Day 5: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 "Wisdom from the Spirit"

This is an epic passage. two main points for me. one God's secret wisdom. hidden from us so that we may make our free choice to follow him or not and will be our glory. two the spirit. in this way the spirit is described as the key to the spiritual world, as the way to know what God wants you to do. the HOLY spirit tells us. if we don't have him, we can't listen to God. it's impossible.

Day 4: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

this part reminds me of the verses that talk about God is perfect through our weakness, through what we cannot do his strength will shine through, something i find personally hard to keep on believing in.

Day 3: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

it's the foolish that are the chosen ones in God's kingdom. not those who are so rich, powerful or anything like that. makes me rethink my priorities in life.

Day 2: 1 Corinthians 10-17

there aren't supposed to be any divisions in the church, and yet humans make them occur. it is through our mistakes and choices that it happens...so denominations are wrong?
but then what should we believe in? what is the "right" and "true" system of belief? i guess that also has to do with our own devos and discovering of who God is. but all the different denominations does really bother me...hmmm

Day 1: 1 Corinthains 1:1-9

out of the first part one thing stood out to me the most: Paul was called to be an apostle by the WILL of GOD. In other words, the way we serve is determined by Him and we need to listen to Him for it. Though I guess God's way of telling Paul was pretty epic.

Thanksgiving:
- thank God for you (you as in Vivi :D)
- He will keep us strong to the end (keep us strong against sin, a promise to hold onto when we are deep in temptation, for example, me talking with mr wan)
- for God called us into fellowship, a relationship with Him and Jesus (like our relationship!)
- he is faithful (meaning...he's always there, will always do what is best for us, what else?)

getting a little long but I wanted to add one more thing
you know how I can't seem to stop talking to you-know-who? well i realized that that is how it should be with God. we long with the deepest part of our souls to get to know him (read the bible), talk to him (pray), and spend time with him (devos). we just have special words for our lover, God. don't know if you have the say perspective here, but this is what i've experienced.

First post

Here's the first post with a little explanation about this blog before we jump right in.

A little while ago I had asked my best friend if we could start doing devos together everyday over the internet.  For those who don't know, it's a time just to spend with God, and for us it's in reading the Bible, prayer and discussion.  We want to read His word, reflect on it and take something away, something that really matters to us.

We decided to start in 1 Corinthians and at this point read one "story" a day.  Please feel more than welcome to join us.  It's a journey.

(Oh and one more thing, since we had already started, I'll post everything from before today and then we'll go from there.)