Knowing Love:

There once was a little boy who never knew love until a girl broke his HEART

1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3
Bible Study Notes

Verse 1:
“mere infants in Christ” – Paul is speaking or writing to listeners who were converted believers that were like children in their understanding, knowledge, and experience of the Lord.  They had very little ability to judge spiritual matters and were not skilled in the idea of righteousness. 

Verse 3:
“are you not worldly?” – It is disappointing to think about how many so called “Christians” live and act like the rest of the world.  This plague doesn’t just effect those in the congregation because many professors and preachers portray themselves as Christians, but are also driven by vanity and are quick to despise and speak harshly about others.

Verse 7:
Full verse – No glory belongs to us as ministers or missionaries because we are nothing in ourselves.  The Lord gives us all of our abilities, assists us in exercising our gifts daily and spiritually, and makes us useful for His own glory.  He deserves all the glory!

Verse 8:
“each will be rewarded according to his own labor” – Some Christians will take their spiritual work more seriously and will pursue the Lord more whole heartedly than others.  The Lord will reward people differently according to how well they carry out their spiritual tasks. 

Verse 17:
Full Verse – If a Christian spreads false principles that portray the church of God unholy, they are bringing destruction upon themselves.  Christians should strive to be pure and clean in both heart and conversation.  If someone is unconcerned with their personal holiness or the peace and purity of the church, they are absolutely deceiving themselves if they consider their body a temple of the Holy Ghost. 

Verse 18:
Full Verse – The thoughts of the wisest man on earth are still vane, weak, and erroneous. This fact should teach us to be humble and make us willing to be taught by God so we’re not led away by our own human wisdom and skill from the revelation of Christ’s simple truths.

“Always”

“Always” – Kyle Nesbit (ref. Building 429)

I was standing in the pour raining
One dark November night
Fighting off the bitter cold
When the box caught my eye
The edges were torn and the box was filled
And then to my surprise
On top laid a photograph
And my heart just stopped inside
It would have been five years today
I miss her smile, I miss her face
What is my heart and soul supposed to say

But I believe always always
Our Savior never fails
Even when all hope is gone
God knows our pain and His promise remains
He will be with us always

I’m living in a broken world dreaming of my future home
My heart is barely keeping pace
When her memories find me all alone
I remember the way I felt
When she said the final goodbye
Fighting just to keep the tears
And the anger locked inside
I’m barely holding on to faith
But I know deliverance is on its way

‘Cuz I believe always always
Our Savior never fails
Even when all hope is gone
God knows our pain and His promise remains
He will be with you always

Friend I don’t know where you are
And I don’t know where you’ve been
Maybe you’re fighting for your life
Or just about to throw the towel in
But if you’re crying out for mercy
If there’s no hope left at all
If you’ve given everything you’ve got
And you’re still about to fall
Well hold on, hold on, hold on

Cuz I believe always always
Our Savior never fails
Even when all faith is gone
God knows our pain and His promise remains
Always, Always
He will be with you always
He will be with you always
He will be with you

Free Fallin – John Mayer

Free Fallin – John Mayer

And I’m a bad boy ’cause I don’t even miss her

I’m a bad boy for breakin her heart…

I wanna glide down over mulholland

I wanna write her name in the sky

Gonna free fall out into nothin’

Uhhhh..

Gonna leave this world for a while

And I’m free, free fallin’, fallin’

Yeah I’m free, free fallin’, fallin’

Knowing God’s Ways:

Someone accused me the other day of “being proud and arrogant for assuming that I could know God’s ways!” 

I’m writing this to explain that the Lord commands us to seek Him – to have a desire to know Him and His ways.  He tells us that if we seek Him, we will find Him. The author of Proverbs wrote, “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me” (Prov. 8:17). God loves each one of us, and I believe those who love Him deeply discover the depth of His love in ways that cannot be humanly expressed.

When we know someone intimately, we begin to know what that person likes, how they respond, and what they love about us. God’s acts are one thing, but His ways go much deeper. We can see His actions, but when we begin to understand why He does certain things, then we will develop true insight into God.

Daily Prayer:

Lord help me expand my faith, let me trust You in a big way, and take my life and use it for Your purposes. 

I want to walk in Your ways.  I want to know Your plans for my life.  Teach me to understand what is Your best and keep me from walking outside of Your ways because I know that path will be expensive.  I understand Your ways are better than my ways.  I know Your plans and purposes are far greater than anything I could do on my own for myself.  Thank you for giving me many of my hearts desires, but help me enjoy them by directing me on how to walk in Your ways.  It’s in Your Holy and precious name I pray, Amen.

Please Don’t Stop The Rain:

When the “Lord” decides for it to rain

You can do nothing to make it change

You can pray for sunny skies

But if it’s “His” will, you can’t stop the rain

If you’re feeling like there’s no place to run

“He” can be you’re shelter till the pain is done

“His” offer is life that lasts forever

If temporary pain is the price, you wouldn’t wanna stop the rain

The world says time is on your side

But you’ve been on your own for far too long to let Him pass you by

You see life in this world is a crazy thing

You’ll experience good and bad times

And everything in between

And you won’t know which way it’s going to go

With “Him” you’re getting a little closer now

In finding what this earthly life is all about

Yeah, I know you can’t stand it

When things don’t go your way

But learn you’ve got no control on what happens anyway

If you’re feeling like there’s no place to run

“He” can be you’re shelter till the pain is done

“His” offer is life that lasts forever

If temporary pain is the price, you wouldn’t wanna stop the rain

Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall

Please don’t stop the pain

Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall

Please don’t stop the rain

LOVING THE UNWANTED:

Loving The Unwanted

 

Verse of the Day:

Matthew 25:34-40

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

 

Devotional:

We all know there are people around us that feel unwanted, forgotten, unloved and who are lonelier than words can describe.  What is sad is that most of us, myself included (I struggle with a severe judgment problem), honestly don’t care to be around these people.  For whatever reason we them as unattractive or unappealing and it’s hard to respect someone when you look at them this way.  Here are a few suggestions on how we can show the unlovable grace and love…

1) When were tempted to think negative thoughts, stop and whisper to ourselves, “This person might really be hurting. I refuse to turn against him or her! Lord, how can I express Your love?”

2) Most people’s ugly surface characteristics are probably normally just a cover-up. Respond to ugliness with grace and kindness to unmask the “real person” down inside.

3) Look for new ways to reach out and encourage others. Fight the old urge to reject and criticize. Go out of your way to show that you really care.

4) Be available rather than distant. Loving the unlovely takes time and effort. Availability is not optional; it’s essential. 

 

The New Testament is filled directives like these that can teach us how to love. Of course, it’s easy to miss them when we are blinded by the most common disease known to humankind: selfishness.

Stand There by Kyle E. Nesbit

Stand There by Kyle E. Nesbit

 

I just sit here as my thoughts run

And I tell myself things will be better by the next sun

But they aren’t though

Cause something is missing down in my soul

Bitterness is gapping wider the hole

So I stand up and raise my hands in the air

Set my eyes to the Lord, wonder does He care

It’s a human condition, the selfishness we share

The lost are seeking and all we do is stand there

 

While I’m Waiting – John Waller

MY PRAYER TODAY:

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait