Day 227: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, 10:1-13

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.” - 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness were not pretty. Because of their fear of the Canaanites (GIANTS!), they made an 11-day journey into a four-decade one (see Deuteronomy 1:2).

Paul points out four significant mistakes they additionally made during these nomadic years, before the promised land entrance.

1. Idolatry

2. Sexual immorality

3. Testing Christ

4. Complaining

We don’t have to work very hard to see that these four are still very much in play in our world today, working to drag us down.

Paul wanted the church in Corinth to know they weren’t beyond these same temptations. We are all capable of the most destructive behavior, but at the same time, we are not inevitably bound for these four lifestyles.

Not beyond, but also not necessarily bound.

How can we overcome? Let’s follow the Apostle’s advice (which is Jesus’):

1. Take heed/watch out. Don’t let pride lull you into the idea of invincibility.

2. What you are going through, temptation-wise, has been faced by millions of other Christians before you. Yours is not an isolated instance.

3. God is faithful and will not exceed your limits to be able to resist.

4. BONUS: God will provide a way of escape. Look for it. Take it.

Day 226: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18

“What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” - 1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As I made my way through our reading for today, many questions came to the surface. One of the main ones was this: “Why did Paul not claim his rights to take any financial support from the Corinthians?” It seems as though this was his same practice earlier in Thessalonica as well (see 1 Thessalonians 2:5-10).

The most influential leader (outside of Jesus) in Christian history was not “on staff.” Instead, he made a living as a leatherworker (making tents). This was a profession looked at with disdain among the Greco-Roman elite, but among the common people, this gained an incredible amount of influence.

The traveling Cynics and Sophists of Paul’s time were notorious for begging for money in return for their teachings. This would have made him stand out from acts like these.

What makes things even more interesting is that verse 12 of our reading seems to indicate that the Corinthians did cover the living expenses of their local ministers. Perhaps Apollos?

Paul was not a located minister. He traveled, taught, and encouraged. He wasn’t doing the baptizing or the pastoring. He had an important role to play. We all do.

This is yet another thing that makes Christianity unique. The paid staff whose profession is to serve the local church or ministries should not have all the influence or authority. We need everyone to contribute and lead as God has equipped us.

We should all be “compelled to preach.” This is the only way we will reach our potential as the body of Christ.

Day 225: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

“But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.” - 1 Corinthians 8:6

Writing about this verse, Leon Morris says, “We came from him and we live for him; he is our origin and goal.”

Paul is using this incredible language to describe the unimportance associated with other gods. Idols, though they can be very distracting to our worship of the true God, aren’t real. They carry no weight. Jesus Christ, active in creation and alive today; He’s the One who has given us life.

So we are free! Free to eat or drink whatever we’d like.

Yet in verse 9, Paul lays out his own conviction. Our freedom is not a license. Our freedom from Jesus is a gift, and it is to be handled with care and respect for others.

Would you be so stubborn as to exercise your freedom at the expense of someone else?

Paul chose “no” as his response. We should consider it as well.

Day 224: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

“A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.” - ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The following quote does well to help us understand what Paul is saying to those in Corinth during this second half of chapter 7: “Obviously not morally, because, if one course be morally better than another, we are bound to take it; but ‘better’ with reference to expediency in ‘the urgent necessity’ which rested on the Christian world in that day.” - H.D.M. Spence

Plus, we also have to keep in mind that Corinth was such a sexually confused place. Seeing examples of a man and a woman confidently married, or someone who is single being steadfast in their choice would be a powerful example to the city. By speaking of the "present distress," Paul is probably speaking to the climate in Corinth, and the entire Roman, toward Christians. I almost get the vibe of what Jesus said when foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70:

"How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!" - Matthew 24:19 NIV

"These are not the easiest times to be planning a wedding."

Also, by Paul speaking so much about the freedom of women in marrying or not, he’s putting himself in his own category in the first century (where women had zero rights).

For those of you in this stage of life, the number one question to ask a future spouse: “Will you love Jesus more than me? If so, I’m all in.”

Day 223: 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

'Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.' - 1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV

Our reading for today has probably been as misused as much as any other Scripture in the Bible. A majority of the confusion happens at the very top of the chapter, where Paul says that "it is good for a man not to touch a woman (sexual relations)." The ESV and NIV put the phrase in quotes to help us understand that this was most likely one of the questions the Corinthians had.

It is likely that the Christian men had bought into the lie that it was more righteous to have a celibate marriage, which to many of us seems insane.

This gave Paul the opportunity to launch into a teaching on contentment and calling.

These are two things many in our culture today are still struggling to attain. Many of us are constantly dissatisfied (social media fuels this). We need to get married. We need a different spouse. We need a different job. We need a better-looking car. Those who are married think, "If I were only single..."

The bottom line is this:

Yes, you may hate your current relationship, or job, status, and you probably have some very good reasons, but God has you where you are for a reason. Do the best you possibly can to obey Jesus in the midst of your situational calling. In doing so, we may find that we didn't have so bad to begin with.

"There is not a monochrome calling for believers, but all must seek and find what God has for them at different times in their lives." - Thomas Schreiner

Day 222: 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

Our desires, or our temptations/inclinations, don’t have to define us. Paul, in this chapter, isn't condemning occasional mishaps and mistakes. With clarity, he is saying that there are lifestyles that are not conducive to prepping us for heaven—in fact, these lifestyles show we’d rather be in hell.

This is not to discount the ferocity of the temptations that come with these ten lifestyles mentioned in verses 9-10. The struggle is real and cannot be dismissed as easy to overcome.

Yet, as Ben Witherington wrote so well, “Paul believes that God can give Christians enough power to resist sinful desires, even if they continue to have them.”

There is no shame in the temptations that come at us. Jesus Himself was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). But we have to decide who we want to be.

If we want to “belong to Christ,” we, in essence, admit that God knows the best way for us to use our bodies. Jesus desires for everyone on earth to be washed (from sin), sanctified (set apart as holy), and justified (declared not guilty). The choice is ours.

Day 221: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

'Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.' - 1 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

The situation in the Corinth church that Paul finds himself confronting was deeply disturbing. Sleeping with your step-mom is wrong on many levels, and something needed to be done to ensure the congregation's health. Paul's use of the word "purge" is all we need to know about the seriousness of this situation. This man needed to be distanced from the church so that he would (hopefully) understand the idiocy of his actions.

In verse 8, Paul contrasts two words with two more words. Malice (damaging evil) and wickedness (wicked nature) were to be put away in exchange for sincerity (unmixedness) and truth (integrity).

God's desire is for us to live genuinely good lives, not just for appearance's sake.

The Jews had three main festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles), and many others, they celebrated annually. Paul insists that Christians are always celebrating, always to be setting themselves apart.

"The believer’s perpetual festival is kept with sincerity, which refers to purity of motives, and with truth, which points to purity of action. Both are so characteristic of the Christian as to be compared to his necessary food, his bread." - Leon Morris

Day 220: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

'This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.' - 1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

Paul is obviously frustrated with the local "Christian" teachers in Corinth and the church's acceptance of what was being taught. Self-proclamation and pride are two red flags that should make us all think twice about being sucked into believing someone's superiority as an "expert" in the ways of Jesus.

The word Paul uses for "servant" is ὑπηρέτης hypēretēs, and it can also be translated as "assistant" or "guard" or "attendant." He wanted them to know that his status was that of subservience to Jesus. He wasn't in charge.

The word used for "steward" is οἰκονόμος oikonomos, and it gives the idea of someone who has been put in charge of an estate or household that is not their own.

Once church leaders, and all Christians, come to realize their role in God's kingdom, they are a joy to work alongside. Why? Because nobody is claiming the "boss" role. We recognize that we are assistants and caretakers in a kingdom that is strong beyond measure and will have no end (see Daniel 7:14).

What a privilege it is.

Day 219: 1 Corinthians 3:5-23

'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.' - 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

When we work for the God of all creation, and good things happen as a result, it can become easy to claim those outcomes for ourselves. I mean, we put the time in and made the sacrifices. Perhaps our names should be in lights?

Paul was very clear that he and Apollos were not the growth causers, though they were involved in the process. God may use many of us to do things we never imagined possible, but we cannot initiate growth.

This is when we realize that fervent, constant prayer and faithful time spent in the Bible are essential for those of us who claim to follow Jesus. God's powerful presence along can cause authentic growth among us.

Richard Pratt drives this home for us as he writes, "Their human leadership accomplished nothing apart from the Spirit’s power. Further, they only planted and watered because God told them to do so. The blessings of salvation on the church at Corinth came through the power and will of God."

Day 218: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, 3:1-4

'But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— ' - 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

How can we, as Christians, be so excited about something we haven't actually seen or heard? You can understand why someone who isn't a believer in Jesus would consider us people who have completely lost it. I mean, it does sound a little far-fetched.

This is when our interaction with the Holy Spirit is so important. He is a revealer and desires to bring us in on what God is doing now in the world and will do in eternity.

The day is coming when our new eyes and new ears will take in a new creation, and now is our time to soak in whatever glimpses the Gospel offers via the Holy Spirit.

Those in the world will never get it until they catch a glimpse of themselves.

Let's close with this on-point quote from Richard Oster in his commentary on 1 Corinthians:

"The intent of the citation is to highlight the radical dichotomy between the world’s inability to grasp God’s revelation and the church’s privilege of receiving it."

May we walk freely in and drink deeply of this privilege today.