Tag: Paul

Morning Musings: 1 Corinthians 10:13

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“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Temptation is everywhere we look.  The Siren song of sin sings sweetly at every corner.  Sometimes it feels like all we ever do is drift from one temptation to another.  And yet, Paul’s observation here is true and powerful.  I think there are several things we can say about our efforts with the Spirit’s help to walk in the righteousness of the Lord based on what Paul says here.   Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 1 Corinthians 3:11-13

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“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw–each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

What kind of work are you doing?  If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a role to play in the advancement of His kingdom into the lives of the people around you.  As Paul has described in the previous few verses, different people have different roles to play in the process.   Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 1 Chronicles 19:3

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“But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, ‘Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he his honoring your father?  Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?'”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

According to the wisdom of the world, the best way for a new leader to establish himself in his position and among his peers is with displays of power and strength.  Hanun was convinced by his counselors that in order to show the world that he was a king not to be trifled with, he needed to respond to David’s offer of sympathy after the death of his father by treating the servants sent to bring the message poorly and humiliating them.  The message was: This is what will happen to your whole kingdom if you mess with me.  His counselors apparently didn’t know much about David.   Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Romans 16:17-18

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“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”  (ESV – read the chapter)

When it comes to non-Christians, the church is to be open to all people.  We should receive with grace and gladness anyone who is interested in becoming a follower of Jesus regardless of their background or what they’ve done.

In the church and among people who claim to be followers of Jesus the story changes somewhat.  Oftentimes today, people who are most concerned with protecting the purity and unity of the church work to keep out the world.  In the New Testament, the exact opposite approach is taken.  The biggest threats to the purity and unity of the church are never from without, but rather within.

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Digging in Deeper: Romans 13:1

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“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  (ESV)

This is one of the harder things Paul wrote.  The relationship of Christians to the authority of the state has been a stubborn knot to untangle since the beginning.  What does it look like to be subject to governing authorities as one who is chiefly subject to the authority of Christ?  If there is no authority except what has been instituted by God, what do we do about authorities that do not in any way seem to be godly?  Surely there have been authorities in place over the centuries that were not instituted by God…right?   Read the rest…