Dad's Ramblings -- Speaking The Truth In Love

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
I Corinthians 16:23-24

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen."
 
In this letter to the saints at Corinth, Paul had identified serious problems and given strong rebukes – concerning their attitudes and pride toward other parts of the Body of Christ, their acceptance of sin in the church, their treatment of others in the love feasts, their misuse of spiritual gifts, and errors regarding marriage. After all that, Paul concludes by affirming his love for them. Love and reprimands are not enemies of each other. True love speaks the truth in love. It is so much easier to avoid correcting error than it is to confront it. Even though Paul stressed the kind of love that is longsuffering and patient, bearing all things, this did not deny the need to face reality with honest correction. By nature, I hate confrontation and correction. I would rather let things slide. And when I do correct, my negative emotions get the best of me. Lord, help me to speak Your truth in love.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Sometimes love requires confrontation.
 
Have a loving day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Loving Jesus

LOVING JESUS
I Corinthians 16:22
 
"If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!"
 
How could anyone not love the Lord Jesus? When I think about how much He loves me – His sacrifice and death on the cross – I am filled with overflowing love. It is a hard heart that would not love someone who died for us. The Psalmist caught a glimpse of the Lord when He wrote, "[To the Chief Musician....A Song of Love.] My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King. You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips...." (Psalm 45:1-2). Just a glimpse of the Lord Jesus, and a person is bound to fall in love with Him. Not only that, but He is coming again to get His bride. Oh, how I love Jesus.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Anyone who has truly known Jesus will love Him.
 
Have a loving-Jesus day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- A Refreshing Breeze

A REFRESHING BREEZE
I Corinthians 16:17-18
 
"I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Archaius, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men."
 
Some people are a joy to be around. They are like a refreshing breeze on a hot day in Arizona. They uplift and encourage, and you feel lighter after being in their presence. These three men had the gift of encouragement. We need more of their kind. Lord, help me to refresh someone's spirit today.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: An encouraging person is like refreshing breeze to a discouraged soul.
 
Have a refreshing day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Addicted

ADDICTED
I Corinthians 16:15-16
 
"I urge you, brethren – you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints – that you submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us."
 
The household of Stephanas had a passion to serve the Lord and His church. The old King James Version renders "devoted" as "addicted" – addicted to the ministry. Addictions are often a negative force in a person's life. They are usually life-controlling and cause problems. Being addicted to serving the Lord is a positive thing and brings blessing. I can't think of a better "addiction."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Devotion to ministry brings blessing.
 
Have an "addicted" life. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Fragile Faith

FRAGILE FAITH
I Corinthians 1613-14
 
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."
 
Faith in Christ can be a fragile thing. Life's circumstances tend to undermine it. My flesh is at war with it. The surrounding culture does not encourage it. And Satan wants to destroy it. The one thing that will keep faith strong is my love for Jesus. Whatever else attacks my faith, I know that He loves me because He died for my sins on the cross. "O how I love Him, how I adore Him. My strength, my sunshine, my all in all. The great Creator became my Savior, and all God's fullness dwelleth in Him." Oh, what a wonderful Savior!!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Love for Jesus will strengthen fragile faith.
 
Have a strong day in Jesus. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Will of God

THE WILL OF GOD
I Corinthians 16:12
 
"Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however he will come when he has a convenient time."
 
It takes a strong person to say "no" to an apostle. Apollos had the confidence that he knew God's will for himself and was able to deflect the strong urging of Paul. In the 1970s and '80s, there was a movement among evangelicals called Shepherding that demanded total submission to one's spiritual authority. The individual believer could do nothing without the permission of the "Shepherd," and had to obey every command of his covering authority – whether a pastor or a husband. While there were good teachings regarding submission and authority, it was taken to extremes so that the individual lost his autonomy, and the Shepherd became a mediator between the believer and God. We need to listen to the counsel of authority, but also understand that we stand before God without a human mediator. There is only one mediator between God and man – the Lord Jesus (I Timothy 2:5), and we answer to Him, not our spiritual authority.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The believer needs to seek God's will for himself and not rely on some "authority" to tell him what to do.
 
Have a "God's will" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- This Younger Generation

THIS YOUNGER GENERATION
I Corinthians 16:10-11a
 
"And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one despise him ...."
 
Why would anyone despise Timothy if he served the Lord as Paul did? Perhaps it was because he was young (see I Timothy 4:12). Sometimes we older Christians have a hard time valuing and accepting the ministry of younger people because we don't think they are qualified. Paul was not afraid to mentor young people, and he exhorted these brothers at Corinth to accept Timothy so he could minister among them without fear of being rejected or criticized. ("This younger generation doesn't do things the way that we did them.") God raises up young people in each generation to carry on the work of the Kingdom. As older Christians, we need to encourage them – not dis them.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God raises up a new crop of ministers in every generation to carry on the work of
His Kingdom.
 
Have an "encouraging" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Opportunity and Challenges

OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGES
I Corinthians 16:8-9
   
"But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

Paul was no stranger to the challenges of Ephesus. He experienced some of these adversaries prior to this on his missionary journey to this city. Ephesus was a stronghold of the cult of the worship of goddess Diana, and there was a huge riot when Paul preached the Gospel (Acts 18:21-41). So Ephesus was not a welcoming place to minister. Yet Paul did not run from the challenges because he saw great opportunity. So he stayed there and persevered in the face of adversity. Opportunity is always accompanied by challenges, whether family, friends, culture, finances, discouragement, or personal doubt. The victorious person perseveres in the face of adversities because he sees the opportunities.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Opportunity and challenges go hand in hand, and call for perseverance.
 
Have a persevering day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Lord Willing

THE LORD WILLING
I Corinthians 16:5-7
 
"Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia ... And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. For I do not wish to see you now on the way, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits."
 
None of us knows the future for certain – what tomorrow or next year may hold. The future is fuzzy, filled with "wherever" and "may be."  As we make our plans based on our wishes, hopes, and desires, we need to allow for what the Lord permits, because life has a way of throwing us curves. As James wrote, we say we will do this or that, or go here or there, when we ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15). The Christian can rest in the confidence that "My times are in Your hand" (Psalm 31:15).
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The future rests in God's will and permission.
 
May today be a day of resting in God's will. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Three PPPS In The Offering

THREE PPPS IN THE OFFERING
I Corinthians 16:1-2
 
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."
 
Giving is a part of Christian discipline. Yet many people are haphazard in their giving and do not have a plan. Paul advocates – indeed commands ("you must do") – a plan for giving. This plan involves Purpose ("for the saints"), Preparation ("lay something aside"), Proportion ("as he may prosper"), and being Systematic ("on the first day of the week"). That's where the tithe given each payday comes in handy. Because it is proportionate and systematic, it does not depend on one's feelings. As with anything else that is worthwhile, giving probably won't happen without a plan.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Our giving to God should not be haphazard but systematic.
 
Have a giving day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Steadfast, Immoveable, Abounding

STEADFAST
I Corinthians 15:58
 
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
 
It is tempting at times to feel, "What's the use? I don't see any fruit from my service for Jesus."  Evaluating ministry based on results can be discouraging when there are no apparent results. But I think God's evaluation of ministry is based on faithfulness rather than results. Any labor for Jesus is not just for this world, but for eternity. Whatever is done in Jesus' name is not in vain – even if it is just a cup of cold water to a thirsty man (Mark 9:41). So we faithfully do what He has called us to do and leave the results to Him.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Steadfast faithfulness is more important than external accomplishment.
 
Have a steadfast day of serving Jesus. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Sting of Death

THE STING OF DEATH
I Corinthians 15:54-56
 
"So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'Oh Death, where is your string? O Hades, where is your victory?' The sting of death is sin, and the strength
of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
 
The older I get, the more funerals I get to attend as people my age succumb to the inevitable. There is a difference between funerals for Christians and for unbelievers. For the non-Christian, we can only talk of how good a golfer he was, or what a good parent he was. But for the Christian, there is the added dimension of the future. But no matter how much we try to dress it up by talking of the joy and celebration of the person going to heaven, the sting of death is still real. There is pain for those who are left. Death is not fun. Christ's resurrection give assurance of our own victory over death. We do have hope for the future through the victory of our Lord Jesus over death.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Jesus' death and resurrection takes the poison out of the sting of death.
 
Have a victorious day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Trumpet Will Sound

THE TRUMPET WILL SOUND
I Corinthians 15:51-53
 
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality."
 
We are listening for the sound of the trumpet. Here's the scenario: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words" (I Thessalonians 4:16-18). Jesus said, "Be ready."    Keep listening!!!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The Believer is listening for the sound of the trumpet.
 
Have a listening day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- To Be Like Jesus

TO BE LIKE JESUS
I Corinthians 15:47-49
 
"The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made from dust; as is the heavenly Man, so are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man."
 
We sing the song, "To Be Like Jesus," in the sense of being holy and compassionate as Jesus is. But some day we will truly be like Him. John echoed this when he wrote, "...when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:4b). For a few years here on this earth, we bear the image of Adam – man of dust – with all its weaknesses and limitations. But when Jesus comes, we will bear the image of the heavenly Man – spiritual – without weakness or limitation. Jesus showed us what that new body is like when He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. It was physical, yet not bound by natural physical laws because it was a spiritual body. So shall our resurrected body be. What a glorious thing!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Our resurrected body will be like Jesus' resurrected body – spiritual and not bound by physical laws.
 
Have a "man of dust" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- A New Body

A NEW BODY
I Corinthians 15:35
 
"But some will say, 'How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?' "
 
To answer this question, Paul used several illustrations.  He compared it to the different kinds of bodies of humans, fish and birds, and stars and planets which have various beauties. But the main illustration is the planting of a seed, such as wheat. It is sown in the ground and dies. But out of that death springs a new life. The new plant is the same but different. So it is with our death and resurrection. The old seed (our earthly body) that is sown in the earth is natural, corruptible, dishonorable, and weak. But the new body will be spiritual, incorruptible, honorable, and powerful. God will give each seed a body as He pleases (vs. 38).  The new body will be a glorious body that will never be weak, get sick, or die. Now that is something to look forward to, for sure!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The resurrected body will be like our earthly body but will be different in that it will never suffer pain nor die.
 
Rejoice today in God's promise of a new body without pain or death. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Livd It Up!!

LIVE IT UP
I Corinthians 15:30-34a
 
"I affirm ... I die daily. And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!' Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.' Awake to righteousness, and do not sin...."
 
Nihilism and Hedonism are brothers. If there is nothing after death and no accountability, why should I deny my baser desires? If this life is all there is, I may as well live it up. But there is life after death. There is a heaven to gain and hell to shun. So I need to choose carefully those whom I keep company with – people who will support and encourage a godly life. I want to live it up – toward heaven.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Knowing there is life after death leads to godly living.
 
Have a "living it up" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Baptism For The Dead

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD
I Corinthians 15:29
 
"Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?"
 
Apparently there were sects who thought that baptism saved, just as there are today, and the logical extension of that belief was to baptize everyone – even people who had died – so they would be saved. But baptism in Scripture is always in the context of repentance and faith. Dead people can't repent or have faith. Paul was not endorsing the practice. This is not a declaration or proclamation promoting baptism for the dead. But this does reinforce the warning not to base a doctrine on some obscure Scripture that is found nowhere else in Scripture. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everything be established (II Corinthians 13:1). This will help guard against doctrinal error.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The practice of baptism for the dead is not a Christian doctrine.
 
Have a witness-led day doctrine day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- History Fulfilled

HISTORY FULFILLED
I Corinthians 15:23-26
 
"But each one in His own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."
 
There is an order to history. History is not just a stream of time that flows with no destination. It is a progression toward an end. History began with Adam and Eve, and has moved steadily through the ages to the birth of Jesus and His death and resurrection (which fulfilled many prophesies and types) and even now is moving toward Christ's second coming and the ultimate fulfillment of His kingdom, rule, and authority on earth. That will be the end of history for this world, but I don't think it will be the end of God's plan. I envision that God has plans to fulfill in eternity, because going nowhere does not fit into an intelligent mind. There need to be challenges and anticipation – even in eternity.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God has plans to accomplish in this world and also in eternity.
 
Have a anticipating day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Resurrection of the Body

RESURRECTION OF THE BODY
I Corinthians 15:20-22
 
"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."
 
The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is not usually in the top ten list of sermon topics. About the only time we hear it preached is at Easter and at funerals. But it is a vital Christian doctrine. The Holy Spirit included this subject in the "top seven" list of doctrines (Hebrews 6:1-2). God intended man to live forever when he created Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden where the Tree of Life was planted (Genesis 2:9). Adam and Eve could eat of that tree. But they sinned and were banished from the Garden and the tree. So separated from the Tree of Life, death entered by the first man's sin, and all future descendents of Adam were denied the Tree as well and they also die.  But Christ, the second Man, conquered death through His resurrection making the way for the rest of the human race to live forever – not just spiritual life, but resurrection of the physical body to eternal life. "May your whole spirit, soul, and BODY be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:23b). What a wonderful plan God has for us in the New Heaven where the Tree of Life will yield its fruits (Revelation 22:2).
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The future of the Believer includes not just eternal spiritual life but resurrection of the physical body as well.
 
Have a resurrection day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Miserable Life

THE MISERABLE LIFE
I Corinthians 15:19
 
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
 
Living for Jesus brings benefits to this life – peace, freedom from addictions, purpose of life, and a host of other blessings. But if there was no assurance of life after death, we would be deceived and miss the "pleasures of sin for a season." I would be a miserable life if there was no hope of eternal life. The Christians does not just live for the blessings of this life – as good as it is — but we live for heaven.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Assurance of eternal life is what makes living for Jesus worthwhile.
 
Have a blessed day. Love you.
　
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Resurrection

RESURRECTION
I Corinthians 15:13-14, 16-17
 
"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty .... For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
 
Easter is the heart of Christian faith. Remove Christ's resurrection and Christianity is gutted, and becomes like any other religion – based on the teachings of a dead man. It is difficult to grasp the idea of resurrection because it is against logic and reason to the unregenerated rational mind. That's why the Greek philosophers called Paul a "babbler" when he spoke to them of resurrection (Acts 17:16). But God's thoughts and ways are usually different than our ways (Isaiah 55:8). With God, nothing is impossible. Our faith is empty without resurrection. But, praise God, the tomb was empty, not our faith.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Without Easter, our faith is empty.
 
Keep the faith, baby! Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- By God's Grace

BY GOD'S GRACE
I Corinthians 15:10
 
 
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
 
No one can boast of who they are or what they have accomplished, because it is all by God's grace working in us. So we give God the glory for whatever we are or do.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God's grace works in us to be and to do His good pleasure.
 
Have a "grace" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- No Grudges

NO GRUDGES
I Corinthians 15:7–8
 
"After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostle. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as one born out of due time."
 
Jesus does not hold grudges. It is an amazing thing to me that Jesus sought out His half-brothers, and especially James, the oldest of the brothers (Matthew 13:55). His brothers – who did not believe in Him (John 7:5); who were offended by Him (Matthew 13:57); who in fact thought that Jesus was crazy ("out of his mind," Mark 3:21); who did not want to be associated with Jesus so they stood "outside" while He taught (Mark 3:31-32). James, who forsook His mother in her greatest trial while her beloved Son was dying on a cross (John 19:25-27). And Paul, who persecuted Jesus' beloved church (I Corinthians 15:9). What an amazing thing that Jesus has an open heart to all – even to those who do evil against Him. What a wonderful Savior!!!!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Jesus loves everyone, even those who do not believe.
 
Have an "ungrudging" day. Love you.