Costume Change

Read It:  1 Corinthians 9:16-23

16 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. 19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Learn It:

What an interesting conversation Paul is having here.  I always like to tell people to be true to themselves.  Don't change because God has called you just as you are to do the work with the gifts you already have.  Paul, however, seems to say that we (or maybe he's just speaking about himself and not necessarily to us) need to be all things to all people.  It would be as if we needed to act like a politician to be able to have politicians understand us. Or we need to act and think like a small business owner to get through to small business owners.  Now I'm not sure if Paul is saying this but it reminds me of Martin Luther's great saying that we need to 'sin boldly'.  The whole reason Luther said that was so that through our sinning the grace of God might work even harder in the world.  I think there might be some connection here but I think the whole point of Paul's talk here is to say that we need to go and interact with other people so that they too might be saved through the Gospel.  

Share It:

What are some ways that you might be able to do things differently so that you can fit in with people that you might not normally hang out with?  What are some creative ways that you can come up with as a family that could help you share the story of Jesus with other people?  What are some creative or new ways that you have experienced the Gospel shared with you or that you have seen?  Come up with some solid ideas and ways that could help you be 'all things to all people' so that you can share God's love.  

Live It:

This week simply try one of the plans you came up with to share the Gospel with someone that is different from you.  See how maybe thinking like them might help you share God's love with them.  

P.S. Sorry the weekly devotionals haven't been up.  We lost internet the other week and this being internet only it got put aside and forgotten about...but now it's back!

Bad food...Good servants

Read It:  1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11 So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12 But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. 

Learn It:

Paul is speaking with the people who lived in Corinth and the people there were a mixture of both former Jews and former pagans (gentiles).  Jews never ate anything sacrificed to idols but Gentiles did.  The issue Paul is addressing is an argument that Gentiles were still eating that food that was sacrificed and the Jews felt that they should stop doing that.  Paul addresses the issue by showing that since no other god exists but God alone then there really is no reason to be upset at the eating of this food.  At the same time, Paul also realizes that it will be harder for some people to accept this on both sides of the argument and encourages them to not point out this 'fault'.  Paul ends his talk on food by saying that he will never again eat meat if it means that by doing so people will continue to come closer to God in Christ Jesus.  Paul is willing to do what it takes to make sure that nothing stops people from following Jesus.  

Share It:

What are some things in your life that you see other people doing and it hinders your relationship with God?  It could be music, food, clothes, hair, tattoos, or anything else that maybe hinders you or even them from having a full and complete relationship with God.  What are some ways that you can encourage yourself or others to continue to have a strong faith and not allow those kinds of things to weaken it?  How could you help someone who does have something that is a stumbling block that you thought of above?  Talk about these topics and anything else that comes up during your conversation.

Live It:

Take this week and think about the things that might be hard for you or others and just pray about it.  Talk about it with your family and set goals to work toward having those things not bother or affect you as much as they do now.  Blessings!

The Strength of the Lord

Read It: Philippians 4:13 (NRSV)


 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 


Learn It:

This is a rather famous passage of the Bible that is used in many different circumstances of people's lives.  It is also a very common passage that youth pick when choosing their confirmation verse.  The thing to be noted is that this passage is not a passage about Paul but a passage about what Christ can do through Paul.  It is Paul's faith that gives him the ability to carry on through the good times and the bad times, or as Paul puts it through times of plenty and through times of having little. This passage then is not a passage about thinking better of yourself but about all the wonderful things that Christ does for us in any circumstance of our lives.  That is the great gift that God offers to us...to never leave us alone.

Share It:

What does it mean to you that you can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens you?  What are times in your life when you have felt strengthened to do God's work?  Did you rely heavily on God helping you through those times?  How can you see God when you have plenty and when you have little?  What does it mean to never be alone because you have Christ with you always?  Talk about these questions and anything else that may come up during your conversation.

Live It:

During this week when you face a difficult task in your day think about this passage and ask for God's help to get you through it.  See how relying on God's strength can help you through the good and the difficult times in your life.  

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Against the Flow

Read It: 1 Peter 3:13-14 (The Message)

If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought.

Learn It:

This is a great passage and I really like how The Message has worded the text.  If you are listening to the Word of God and acting out according to the grace that has been given to you by Jesus through the Holy Spirit then you can do great things.  Now the next part is the hard part.  There is a chance that you are going to suffer for that good thing you are doing.  The real question you have to ask yourself is...is it better to do what is right and endure hardship or to stop doing it...or even worse do what is wrong just because it is less stressful.  The NRSV instead of saying better off it says "blessed".  The idea of being "blessed" or "better off" doesn't mean that you are happy or excited about something but Paul is telling us that we are privileged.  We are better off than others because we have God with us and the Spirit inside of us.  Even if we suffer we know that through it all we have the Creator of the Universe on our side.  That should be more comfort than we need when it comes to hardship.

Share It:

What are some times in your life when you felt with your heart and soul that you were doing God's work?  Was it an easy task or was it difficult?  Were there obstacles or did you in some way suffer for it?  What was the outcome or was there an outcome?  Looking at the passage above read the last sentence and talk about what you think that line means and what impact it might have on how you do God's work?  Share with your family.

Live It:

Take this week and do some little things that you feel might be something God wants you to do.  God's work doesn't always mean solving world hunger or sickness.  Listen to your heart and soul this week to see if there is something that the Spirit is calling you to do...and act on it.

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Foundations

Read It: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NRSV)

10 According to the grace of God given to me (Paul), like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 

(parentheses author's words)

Learn It:

Paul was a tent maker by trade.  This allowed him to travel many places so that he could build tents for other people.  Even though he built tents and not houses he must have had a good knowledge of what was important to build a strong house.  The first thing any house needs is a level and solid foundation.  Then you can move on from there.  Each step of the way is important but without that solid foundation laid down by any master builder, like Paul, the greatest care won't stand against a poorly laid foundation.  Paul is urging each of us to make the most important thing in our lives Jesus.  We can focus on other things later but, first things first, our solid and firm faith in Jesus Christ.

Share It:

Share with your family what each of you does for a living.  Parents talk about your jobs or roles you play.  Kids can talk about being students or playing sports or instruments.  What is the most important thing that you need to know or do in what you do?  What skills or talents do you need to complete them?  If you weren't able to use that skill or talent would you be able to still do those things?  The skills of a trade or sport or job are foundational to being successful at it, what are ways that  you can build a strong foundation for your faith? What do you do well as a family and what things can you work on?

Live It:

Think about one solid way as a family you will be able to strengthen your foundation of your faith.  Will it be to pray before every meal?  Will it be to read a Bible passage before bed time?  You could also take one night a week to talk about how God was active in that week or that day.  Try to pick something that your family can do to remind you of the foundation of your Faith and how active that foundation is in your life.  The foundation of your faith in Jesus Christ.

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.