1 Chronicles 14-16; 1 Corinthians 16; Psalm 132, 106

I love the focus of our bookends today – celebration, thankfulness and praise. I remember a number of books written about praise when I was a teenager and those truths have remained with me till today.

He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel. – 1 Chronicles 16:4 NASB

Simply remembering is important and yet neglected. Spurgeon noted a number of ways that I can remember the great things God has done. One of them was to spend time alone so that I can meditate on those great things.

For I do not want to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. – 1 Corinthians 16:7 NASB

It is when I spend time alone with God – meditating, remembering, celebrating, being thankful and praising Him – then I have something to give away to those I meet during the day. What else do I have to give to someone – some talk, or some truths from a book I just read? I would rather give Jesus.

Behold, we heard about it in Ephrathah,
We found it in the field of Jaar. – Psalm 132:6 NASB

There are some who desperately are seeking Jesus. David here is looking for the ark. He found it. It reminds me of the challenge laid before me when it comes to the things of God – ask, seek and knock, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. When my heart is set on finding the place where God wants to meet me, cheering happens in that heart of mine and praise is a natural outpouring. That is why I think God instructed the people of Israel to build a temple that would travel with them – so His presence would always be with them.

Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting. – Psalm 106:1 NASB

It is amazing how stress and anxiety and the troubles of my world do not seem so bad when I am in praise. The anger I was feeling is no longer important. The temptation I was experiencing has somehow dissipated. What a miracle drug, if you will, to sing and thank God.

Father, I am in Your presence and there You are allowing me into Your safe place. I want to start crying because I have never felt love like that in any other place. I want to release myself completely to You and I know You will take me and heal me. I seek You and when I do not, send the Holy Spirit to come and get me. You are what I have been looking for my whole life.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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1 Samuel 27; 1 Chronicles 9; 1 Corinthians 10; Psalm 141

A strength of mine, when it comes to my walk with God, is worship. I had forgotten part of the employment of Levites were singers. I am not saying I can sing, but rather that I like singing as part of my worship to God.

 Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free of other duties; for they were engaged in their work day and night. – 1 Chronicles 9:33 NASB

I see worship as a way to take my mind off of my troubles and issues that rob me of my joy. I also turn to worship as a way of avoiding temptation. I learned not to fear temptation as long as I did not embrace it. Worship allowed me to face it and overcome it.

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB

As a guy, there is the enduring temptation in the area of sexuality. I remembered a sermon when I was sixteen on how to worship God for the amazing creation He created. That worship would not allow the temptation to go any further. I was thinking about King David going to the roof – was he going there to have some time alone with God? The idea of being alone with God was quickly changed with a moment of temptation. If David was going to write a new song or to pen a new poem to God, look how easily it was thwarted. I do not take lightly the gift of worship in my spiritual walk.

My alone time with God and the victory obtained there with worship bring me the strength I need during times of temptation.

Lord, I call upon You; hurry to me!
Listen to my voice when I call to You! – Psalm 141:1 NASB

Worship is not only singing, it is also prayer. “Hurry to me” expresses the immediacy of my temptations and needs. Help cannot come too late.

May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The raising of my hands as the evening offering. – Psalm 141:2 NASB

With a combination of singing, prayer and a posture of raising my hands to give and receive, I express my earnest and expectant thoughts in worship.

For my eyes are toward You, God, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. – Psalm 141 :8 NASB

My eyes are focused only on God, in Him I find my expressions of worship and He does not fail me.

 “In all times, in all places, on all occasions, I will cleave unto the Lord, and put my whole confidence in him.” – Clarke

Father, I love spending time in worship. Thank you for this wonderful gift that connects me with the Holy Spirit.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

1 Sam. 24; 1 Chr. 8; 1 Cor. 8; Ps. 57,58

“May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds, So you can be sure I will never harm you. May the Lord therefore judge which one of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!” 1 Samuel 24:12-16 NLT

Saul was hunting down David to kill him, but when David had the opportunity to take revenge on Saul he didn’t. He still respected Saul as God’s anointed King. And David had the courage to stand up to the group that was urging him to kill Saul. He knew who his advocate was. He placed his trust in the Lord for justice. Do I?

“When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you my son David?” Then he began to cry. And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.” 1 Samuel 24:16-20 NLT

When have I am wronged or betrayed, how do I react? It might not be as severe as David, but it hurts just as much. I’m thankful for a God that understands. And that I can go to him with all of my emotions and feelings.

“The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for this who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.” Psalms 58:10&11 NLT

Dear Father, I pray that my heart would be moved to compassion for others. And that I would seek forgiveness. I pray that like David, I will trust you to make things right. Help me to have a posture of humility. And to truly love others like you love me. I have a very real enemy who is after me. But, you already have the victory, Jesus. Amen.

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” Psalms 57:1&2 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)

1 Cor. 15:29-16:24; 2 Cor. 1-2

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your Labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 NIV

I began my morning workout listening to a sermon that was about these verses and I knew God had a word for me. The pastor asked a question that stuck with me. “How can I expect victory with partial obedience?” Because, deep down I knew I haven’t been living in victory. Instead, I’ve been going through the motions and “limping” my way into the new year. Sometimes I am tempted to quit on the process. But, then I remember that I am not fighting for victory, but fighting from it. It’s a gift that I have to receive every day.

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” 1 Cor 16:13 NLT

The devil would want nothing more than for me to give up.

“We think you ought to know dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But, as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. And you are helping us by praying for us. Many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety..” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NLT

Dear Father. Thank you for your grace and mercy. I surrender my will to you. Thank you for the power of prayer. That you hear me and answer me. Your mercies are new ever morning. Great is your faithfulness. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

1 Corinthians 12:12-15:28

²² On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, ²⁴ which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ²⁵ that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

I Corinthians 12:22-26 ESV

The depth of the analogy of the body and the church runs deep. Just this passage shows layer after layer of this comparison, not to mention the other references to this concept in Romans, Colossians, Ephesians, and Hebrews.

In a recent bible study discussion about this concept, one lady said, “I must be the toenail.” She had deduced that toenails were nonessential and so was she. Now, we might all have days we feel non-essential, but just that week I had lost a good chunk of a toenail while running, and I could verify that even a toenail plays an important role in our body function.

While I do not think Paul’s purpose in writing this passage was for us to match body parts to ourselves or others in the local or global congregation, he does have many other purposes in using this illustration.

The church is made up of different people with different roles to play and different gifts.

The church is interconnected, and reliant on one another.

We cannot discredit someone else’s (or our own) place in the body of Christ.

The church is both complex and uniform, diverse and united, many yet one.

I should not diminish someone else’s place, nor should I discredit my own. On the days I feel like a toenail (or appendix or whatever organ I have deemed non-essential), I need to remember that even a cracked or missing toenail affects the whole body. It is not okay for me to sit on the sidelines uninvolved or feeling inadequate. I am a part of the body of Christ and I am indispensable!

What does it look like to function as the body of Christ? The next couple chapters lay that out with a little more detail.

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:13 ESV

As I move about my life as the body of Christ, my faith in God and my hope of eternity with him, should overflow in love. Love that sacrifices self. Love that champions others. Love that swallows harsh reactions, love that celebrates, love that shoulders burdens, believes the best, endures the worst.

Love. God’s love. It reconciled me to him and should be the driving force behind each breath I take as a member of the church, his body, on earth.

Loving Father, you have created a marvel in your creation of the Church. The task you call us to would be impossible on our own or with simply human guidelines and so you reminded us to do it all in love. May love craft my everyday as I seek to fill the role you created me for. Thank you for the powerful tool that is the body of Christ and for my part in it. In Jesus name, amen.

Erin (6intow)