Day 185/260: Read 1 Corinthians 9

Athletic metaphors can be used to help one understand the seriousness of the Christian life. One would not enter into an athletic endeavor without first training to ready himself to compete effectively. There is no point in competing if the goal is not to be the victor.

Paul encourages the Corinthians in the Christian race, “Run in such a way that you may obtain (the prize).” Just as an athlete trains his body—“is temperate in all things”—so, too, must the Christian train his behavior and lifestyle. Getting caught up in some sinful activity will only damage your ability to run the Christian race successfully.

“Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.” It is important, when training for a physical competition, to know your goal so you can healthily take care of your body. One can know what sort of diet he needs and what exercises to do to achieve the type of muscles needed for a specific athletic event.

Similarly, in the spiritual sense man can know what is right and what is wrong by studying and learning what God has revealed. In applying those things to his life, he can confidently live for Christ, knowing the outcome. “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5).

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

1 Corinthians 6:20. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Pray

Pray for strength in your spiritual training through the Word.

Day 184/260: Read 1 Corinthians 8

One of the hallmarks of Christian character is humility. The one who understands that he does not know everything is a wise man. Paul says, “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.”

The life of a Christian is a life of growth, of understanding that there is always more to learn and always more to understand. Those who know more have a great responsibility in bringing those with less knowledge to a better understanding of spiritual matters, but we must be careful that we do not cause a person to be uncomfortable in participating in certain activities that may violate their conscience.

Paul uses the example of eating meat sacrificed to idols. Of course, we idolatry is wrong. There are some who have difficulty separating the meat sacrificed from the act of sacrifice, and to that person, it would be wrong to eat that meat because of their conscience. But for the one who is able to separate the sinful act from the thing used in the sinful act, he may eat. However, he should not cause one with less understanding to do the same, and should go as far as to abstain or give up his own personal liberty for the sake of the other.

Can you think of situations in your life in which you may need to give up some things in order to prevent a brother from stumbling?

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

1 Corinthians 6:20. For you were ___________ at a price; therefore ___________ God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Pray

Pray for wisdom in practicing personal liberty, and strength in abstaining when necessary for a brother’s sake.

Day 183/260: Read 1 Corinthians 7

Let the Bible interpret the Bible. You cannot take a passage out of its context and interpret it in such a way as to contradict another clear passage of Scripture. The Bible truly is its own best commentary.

Much damage has been done to the sanctity of marriage due to dishonest handling of this chapter. We must understand what Paul says in this chapter in the light of what is taught elsewhere, including Jesus’ words in Matthew 19 concerning divorce and remarriage.

There is one and only one God-approved reason for divorce and remarriage, revealed in Matthew 19:9, and that is fornication (KJV). When Paul states that a believer “is not under bondage” if an unbelieving spouse departs, he is not giving permission to remarry if adultery is not the cause; he is not superseding Christ’s teaching.

Further, when Paul writes, “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called,” he does not have reference to a sinful condition such as an adulterous relationship.

When we come to Christ, we must leave behind everything that is not in harmony with God’s will; we must die to self. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

1 Corinthians 6:20. For you were bought at a ___________; therefore glorify God in your ___________ and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Pray

Pray for guidance in God’s Word to identify sinful situations in your life and seek to rectify them.

Day 182/260: Read 1 Corinthians 6

Brothers take care of brothers. Brothers settle disputes. Paul tells the church in Corinth that they need to keep their disputes internal, and deal with them internally. Do not bring the unrighteous world in to judge matters between the saints.

At one time, before they obeyed the gospel, those who were now called saints were unrighteous themselves. But when they obeyed, those former descriptions no longer fit. They were no longer “fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners.” They had put those improper activities away. Now, they were “washed…sanctified …justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Why would believers put themselves in a position to be judged by non-believers?

Sometimes, it is difficult to let go of the past. Sometimes it is difficult to forgive ourselves of the things we did before we understood the eternal ramifications. But we need to understand this: God forgives. And when God forgives, He takes away the eternal consequence.

I am justified. That is, I am seen by God just if I’d never sinned in the first place. Not because I’ve done anything of merit, but because of the blood of Jesus I can be forgiven.

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

1 Corinthians 6:20. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Pray

Pray a prayer of thanksgiving if you have accepted the truth of the gospel and have put away the former self; thank God for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Day 181/260: Read 1 Corinthians 5

Modern society revels in tolerance, and many religious bodies have bowed to the world’s cries for tolerance. Activities and lifestyles that are clearly deemed sinful, unrighteous, and unnatural in the Scriptures are accepted by “tolerant, loving people.”

Paul addressed a group of people who were tolerant of sin in the first century. The church at Corinth had one in their midst who was in a relationship with his father’s wife. How did the church react to this situation? “And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.”

There was no repentance, no sorrow for the sin committed, and the church as a whole were not confronting the situation. Paul warned, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”

Yes, God’s grace is grand and His mercy is abundance, but He will not tolerate open rebellion. He “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). When sin enters the house of God, it must be dealt with. “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

1 Corinthians 6:20. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Pray

Pray for purity among God’s people, starting with yourself. Identify sin in your life and pray for God’s help through His Word to escape it and defeat it.

Day 180/260: Read 1 Corinthians 4

“Let a man consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

God blesses us with talents and with opportunities. We must use those blessings to serve Him and to teach others the truth of the gospel. This is not a suggestion. If we have been blessed with the mercy and grace of God to have been taught the gospel, then “it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Requirements are not optional.

Consider the parable of the talents. Two men worked, using the money that was entrusted to them, and they produced more for their master, resulting in greater trust and blessing (Matthew 25:21,23). Yet the third servant hid that piece of money that his master left; when the master returned, the servant returned that same piece of money. What was his reward? He was called “wicked and lazy” (Matthew 25:26). He hadn’t done anything wrong…he hadn’t done anything at all, and that was the problem!

We have been given something much greater than a piece of money; we have been given the most valuable information in the history of the world. Are we being good stewards, producing more disciples for the Lord?

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

1 Corinthians 1:10. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Pray

Pray for opportunities to teach the gospel and boldness to teach it without compromise.

Day 179/260: Read 1 Corinthians 3

She began attending the services of the church with her grandson during Vacation Bible School a few years ago. The people were friendly, and she felt welcome every time she came through the door. Because of the friendliness found within the congregation, she was planted where she needed to be.

I had the privilege of being a waterer this week. We met together to study the Bible privately. She had questions, and we wrote those down, and we will get to those eventually, but there were certain foundations we needed to establish before we got to those. We opened the Scriptures and let God convince her through His gospel what she needed to do.

And that’s the key – “God gave the increase.” When she saw in the Scriptures that she had previously been taught incorrectly about religious matters, she wanted to make it right – not because “the preacher said so,” but because God showed her the truth through His Word.

In the first century, Paul planted and Apollos watered. Still today, Christians must be involved in sowing the seed, in planting and watering, but recognize that when all is said and done, it is God through His Word that gives the increase!

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

1 Corinthians 1:10. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same ________, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same ________ and in the same ________.

Pray

Pray for your friends and neighbors who are not members of the church, and look for opportunities to plant and water the seed of truth.