How Do You Respond: Grace or Judgement?

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201%3A4-9&version=NIV;ESV

 

How do you respond when… someone cuts you off in traffic and then puts on their breaks? When you feel like someone has slighted you? When your boss makes a derogatory remark about you? When your spouse doesn’t meet your expectations? Do you respond with grace… or with judgement?

 

During the first century, the Jews were steeped in the law. Grace was a foreign concept to them. As a result, Jesus had numerous confrontations with the religious leaders; Paul was beaten and persecuted multiple times; and the early church struggled with the issue of requiring circumcision.

 

There is something deep within the human heart that doesn’t want to forgive; doesn’t want to show grace; but instead wants to judge and condemn.

 

It’s somewhat surprising that Paul writes in his letter to the believers at Corinth that he gives thanks for the grace shown to them; because they show so little grace to others. The Corinthian church struggled with divisions, immorality, discrimination against the poor and many other serious issues.

 

There’s a need for introspection. The Corinthian church needed it, and we need it.

 

How did you answer the questions in the first paragraph? If you are honest, you could probably add some of your own more pointedly personal questions. But, no matter how deeply imbedded our struggles, God’s grace and His faithfulness will win the day.

 

⁴ I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge… ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.      ESV

 

So the choice is yours. How will you respond to God’s grace and faithfulness? Will you

show grace, or will you show judgement to others? God gave His grace to us so that we might share it, not keep it for ourselves.

 

 

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You Are My Sunshine

Philippians 1:1-11;  Philippians 1:27-30

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A1-11%3B++Philippians+1%3A27-30&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? Was it the unexpected loss of a loved one? The loss of your job or maybe even your career? The breakup of a relationship? For me, it was our first child who was still born.

 

We were young and excited to become parents. In preparation, we wallpapered the nursery; refinished the high chair that I had used as a baby; my wife’s sister gave us the crib her son had used; and we got lots of gifts at a baby shower. One of the gifts was from my Mom. It was a little stuffed wind-up sun that when you wound it up it played, “You Are My Sunshine”.

 

That night my wife stayed in the hospital and I came home to an empty house. It wasn’t a house filled with the joy of a newborn, but a house filled with emptiness. The high chair was in the kitchen never to hold our daughter. The nursery would never hear her cry or see her sleep. She would never hear “You Are My Sunshine”.

 

Paul knew what it was like to experience loss. In fact, he wrote to the Philippians while in prison; so he had lost his freedom to come and go as he pleased. One of the ramifications of that is he lost relationships because he couldn’t travel freely.

 

Paul also wrote about being a “slave to Christ” which means that he willingly gave up

certain rights and relationships that he might have enjoyed otherwise. For instance, he might have gotten married had he not been so driven in his commitment of following Christ. All this to say that Paul knew the pain of loss.

 

Most of us will never experience the pain and suffering that Paul did due to persecution. But in this world you either already have experienced loss, pain and suffering, or you will at some time. When that happens Paul’s words to the Philippian believers should encourage you.

 

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.    NLT

 

It is Paul’s concern, goal and prayer for the Philippian church, as well as for you and me, that God’s good work is completed in us; that we keep our focus on our Lord. Maybe the writer of Hebrews said it best.

 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.           Hebrews 12:1b-2a NIV

 

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This is My Prayer

Psalm 86:8-13

(Two for the price of one.)

 

 

David prayed this prayer in the midst of his trials of everyday life. Following his example, here is my prayer.

 

⁸ Where among the heathen gods is there a god like you? Where are their miracles?   

Heavenly Father, there are no gods like you. None can come close. Not Baal nor Ashtoreth nor any of the ancient gods that David had in mind. Not even the gods that I create today. Not the god of financial security, or the god of being loved and accepted by others; not the god of winning; not the god of religious works.

 

¹⁰ For you are great and do great miracles. You alone are God.

Only you are God. None of the gods that I create come close. They might fill a temporary need. They might make me feel good for a short period of time. But you’re

the only true God; the only Living God.

 

 ¹¹ Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name.

Speak to my heart Lord. Not just to my mind, but to my heart. Help me to be open to your Word; to your will; to your direction in my life; to your plan.

 

I want every fiber in my body, in my being to desire you Lord, and you alone. I want every fiber of my being to desire your will in my life. I want every fiber of my being to cleave to you alone oh Lord. To hold, to abide, to be loyal and to be faithful to you and you alone Lord.

 

 ¹² With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever…

Lord, I want to give you all the praise and glory for anything good that has happened to me in my life. For my wife; for my daughter; for my job; for touching people’s lives. I want to say thank you Lord.

 

^13 …for you love me so much! You are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell. TLB

And thank you Lord too for loving me so much; more than I deserve; more than I can

comprehend. Thank you Lord that you find something worthwhile in me that you died for my sins; that you brought me from the depths of Hell to be in your presence; to be held in your arms. Thank you Lord.

 

Amen.

 

 

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Show Me the Money

Psalm 86:8-13

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2086%3A8-13&version=ESV;TLB

  

In the movie Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who is restarting his career based on idealistic principles that downplay the almighty dollar and promote relationships. The only problem is that the athletes are looking for the money. In an iconic scene, Cuba Gooding Jr, who plays a NFL football player, gets Cruise to scream into his phone, “SHOW ME THE MONEY”!

 

As important as money is, most of us don’t have visions of becoming rich and famous, but we do want enough money to live comfortably and to enjoy the pleasures of life. However, even such benign motivations can lead to creating our own gods; to creating idols that we worship with our time, talents and treasure.

 

⁸ Where among the heathen gods is there a god like you?

Where are their miracles?             TLB

 

When David wrote these words, he probably didn’t have money in mind. He might have been thinking of Baal or Ashtoreth or Dagon or Molech. Or, he may even have been

thinking of how he made Bathsheba his god and the pain that it caused.

 

In verse 8, The Living Bible asks us a penetrating question that actually points out the deficiency of manmade gods. Yet our nature pushes us to other gods; pushes us to find other objects of worship; pushes us to try to find meaning in life outside of the true God. We can’t help ourselves; but He can, He has and He does.

 

¹⁰ For you are great and do great miracles. You alone are God. ¹¹ Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name. ¹² With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever, ¹³ for you love me so much! You are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell.         TLB

 

Let us respond to the Living God, the only God, as David did; by following Him

wherever He leads; by worshiping Him with every fiber of our being; by praising Him with all our heart and giving Him all the glory.

 

“SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!” It was a funny scene in an entertaining movie, but so hollow compared to the one true God.

 

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Today's passage is a twofer. That is two for the price of one. Enjoy.

 

 

 

There is No “I” in TEAM

Romans 12

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

“There is no “I” in TEAM”. It’s a nice platitude, but is it practical; is it realistic?

 

I love college football and am a huge fan of my alma mater, Michigan State. This year they have three running backs, and all three are very talented. In fact, they have all started in years past and have had great games.

 

Gerald Holmes is a senior, but he isn’t the feature back. Yet he stands out to me because he’s willing to do the dirty work that doesn’t gain headlines. He is probably the best blocker of the three. And, when he’s on the bench, and there’s a big play by one of the other backs, he’s right there cheering them on. He believes, “There is no “I” in TEAM.

 

Although he didn’t use this saying, Paul urged the Romans to live by it.

 

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to

one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.       NIV

 

Any coach could quote these verses to motivate their team to play as a team and not a bunch of individuals. Any boss could encourage their employees with the same message to work as a team. Any parent could remind their children that being a family means sharing. Any pastor could preach about using your gifts for the good of the body of Christ.

 

However, human nature trends in the opposite direction. If left to their own devices, players competing for playing time do what’s best for them, not for the team. Employees bicker and backbite instead of encourage. Children argue and fight. Churches gossip and divide.

 

But God has called us to work together as a team in all of our circumstances. God has called us to love with sincerity for the good of the team; to use the gifts He has given us, for the good of the team; to sacrifice what might benefit us most, for the good of the team.

 

It is true that there is no “I” in TEAM. However, there is a “U” in the body of Christ when “you” offer yourself as a living sacrifice.

  

Therefore, I urge YOU, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.        NIV

 

 

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