Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 9:12-15    “If others be partakers of   this   power over you,   are   not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live   of the things   of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for   it were   better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.” As Paul continues to make his defense concerning the support of the ministry, it would seem that some may have called into question his purpose in coming to Corinth to begin with. Since there was an obvious division among the brethren over who was to get the credit for them havi...

1 Corinthians 9:8-11     “Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he   it   altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt,   this   is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things,   is it   a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” In verses four through seven, Paul has laid out his case for his reasonable privilege and authority (power) that he and others who minister spiritual things have their physical needs met. Paul did not exercise this power among the Corinthians so that he might reach those that would otherwise accuse him of laziness or taking advantage. However, he made sure it was clearly understood that his decision not ...

Psalm 113:1-6    "Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.  (2)  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.  (3)  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.  (4)  The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.  (5)  Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,  (6)  Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" As I read this Psalm this morning, my mind drifted to the thought that many of the Psalms begin with the words, "Praise ye the LORD." This one speaks it twice in the first verse and then proceeds to give many reasons why we should constantly be giving praise and honor unto the Lord. We saw yesterday that His name is precious and is to be praised "from this time forth and for evermore." We should be aware of the presence of the Lord fr...

1 Corinthians 9:5-7    “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and   as   the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?” In the first verses of this chapter, Paul has established his seal as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He has further established that he is the apostle that was sent to the church at Corinth and therefore had both the right and responsibility to answer their questions with boldness in the Spirit. He continues by instructing the brethren concerning their ability and freedom (power) as apostles and ministers (his inclusion of Barnabas points to this). It is not my intention to belittle the faith of those that hold that a minister (whether referred to as priest, bishop, or some othe...

1 Corinthians 9:1-4    “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink?” Paul has addressed many issues that the church at Corinth was facing in that day. He has given advice with the authority of the Holy Spirit, and held the brethren accountable for their actions. Knowing our Adam nature, I can imagine that there were some at Corinth who had the attitude towards Paul of “Just who does he think he is!” Paul is here answering that attitude so common to our nature when we have been rebuked. Although posed as questions, Paul is not really asking as though there were some doubt about the matter. He is directing our attention to who he is and the proof of his claim. He begins with the calling that gives him t...

Psalm 112:1-4    "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.  (2)  His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.  (3)  Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.  (4)  Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous." Back in Psalm 111:9, the Psalmist declares "...  holy and reverend is his name." Today, we read "Blessed is the man that feareth (holds in reverence) the LORD."  The first one speaks of a definite statement. The second one tells us that there is a blessing in holding the name of the Lord in reverence in our hearts and minds. The third commandment demands that we do not take the name of the Lord in vain. That is, we are not to speak it in such a manner that is less than the holiness that is declared in the very name of the Lor...

1 Corinthians 8:8-13    “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” Paul stresses again that whether or not meat (food) has been offered to an idol is not the real issue. Eating meat offered to idols just because we can does not prove our faithfulness to God. Flaunting our knowledge that we have l...

Psalm 111:1-2    "Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.  (2)  The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." "I will praise the Lord with my whole heart."  How many times in a day do we use those two words, "I will ..." I will do this or I will do that. I will go here or I will be there. I will get this done.  I will, I will, I will. The Psalmist said, "I will praise the Lord." He made the determination to do that, whether it be on a specific occasion or a continual matter.  The Psalms are filled with the instructions that tell us to praise the Lord, but do we give it an answer from our heart? "Praise ye the LORD."  Yes, Lord, I will praise you with my whole heart. I won't simply go through the motions of saying or singing praise to you; rather, I will give my entire being to the action of praising you. I will pra...

1 Corinthians 8:4-7     “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol   is   nothing in the world, and that   there is   none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us   there is but   one God, the Father, of whom   are   all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom   are   all things, and we by him. Howbeit   there is   not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat   it   as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” How wondrous is the power of the Holy Ghost to reveal to us with certainty that there is “none other God but one!” When we truly understand that there is only one God, then we understand that all idols are empty. Even...

Psalm 110:1-3  A Psalm of David. "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  (2)  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.  (3)  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth." I pray the Lord will allow me to write what I am seeing in these verses. And I pray the Lord will allow us all to see the glory and beauty that is expressed in these verses. "The LORD said unto my Lord." You can go to Acts chapter 2 and read Peter's message on the day of Pentecost to see the explanation for these words. I will simply say that this is showing the words that were spoken unto by our Heavenly Father to Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. There are words that show this conversation was about the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the salvation of His people. The Father sai...

1 Corinthians 8:1-3    “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” It is obvious by the varied topics Paul has addressed up to this point that there were multiple areas of concern among the brethren at Corinth. They were not clear on their singular unity in Christ (1Co 1:12, 3:23). Great sexual immorality existed among them, and they lacked the proper attitude toward such behavior (1Co 5:1-2). They abused each other with the secular law (1Co 6:1), and there were questions about the legitimacy of marriage and how to conduct themselves (1Co 7:1-40). Since Corinth was a region where idolatry was common, it is not surprising to find questions arising concerning things offered to idols. The question often arose around the practice of some Christians wh...

1 Corinthians 7:36-40     "But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of   her   age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then he that giveth   her   in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth   her   not in marriage doeth better. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” It is obvious in this chapter that the question of whether or not to marry was an important issue for the Corinthians at the time of Paul’s writing. Paul’s use of ...

Psalm 109:21-26    "But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me  (22)  For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.  (23)  I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.  (24)  My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.  (25)  I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.  (26)  Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:" To be quite honest, I tried to avoid this Psalm. As I began to read it, I felt a heaviness come upon me as I read how the Psalmist was about as low as a man can go in his spirit. He was asking God to have a special place beside his enemies where Satan would stand. I really tried to just move on to the next Psalm without writing anything about this one. But I came to verse 26 and I realized that whether we go as deep in the ho...

1 Corinthians 7:32-35     “But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please   his   wife. There is difference   also   between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please   her   husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.” It is important for us to realize that Paul is still continuing here with his advice and not something that he has received as a commandment from God (1Co 7:25). At no time should we read Paul’s counsel here as disparaging towards marriage or the abilit...

Psalm 108:1-3  A Song or Psalm of David "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.  (2)  Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.  (3)  I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations." I've said this before and I will say it again, "I'm so thankful that God created music." There is something about the harmony in a song that touches the very seat of our being. I believe music is born from our emotions whether it be joy, gladness, hope, assurance, peace, or even sadness and sorrow. To me, that is why music makes its way to our hearts. Music moves from one heart to another, from one's emotion to another's emotion.   One of the saddest times is when the heart cannot sing. I'm not sure what David had been through when he wrote this Psalm, but he begins with the thought that his heart is ready to sing. His emotions were ready to be awakened and his heart w...

  Our text is in the book of Joel, chapter three, verses one through three.   For the sake of context, we will begin the reading in chapter two at verse 28.   This is part ten of this series.   Perhaps a brief review with a few reminders is in order. We do not have a concrete date for the life and writing of this prophet. It is difficult to discern from this book whether Joel wrote this prophecy before the division of Israel, or before the exile to Babylon. We do believe that Joel wrote of an actual calamity of locusts brought by God as a chastisement on Israel. As this is prophecy, we should also understand that more than one fulfillment is of this prophecy is possible. As concerns prophecy in general, there is usually a near fulfillment that the original hearers would observe, and a far fulfillment that is a future event. That future event is always future from the writer’s perspective. That future fulfillment may be in the past from our perspective.  It is al...