Day 219 Bible Readings – 1 Corinthians 3: 1-4 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 24-25, 1 Chronicles 26: 1-19, 1 Corinthians 3, Psalm 119: 1-8

1 Corinthians 3: 1-4 (ESV)

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

In 1 Corinthians 3 verses 1 through 4 Paul told the Church of Corinth that when he first taught them, they were not “spiritual people”. They had received the Holy Spirit, but they were not yet thinking or behaving like Christ. Paul said he had to teach simple things as a mother would feed a baby milk and not solid food, because they were not ready to hear his more advanced teachings. Paul tells the Church of Corinth to observe their own behavior to see if they are behaving and acting like Christ, or like people “of the flesh.” Paul’s advice is a good way to check ourselves to see if we are thinking, acting, and behaving as Christ would. Are you still experiencing jealous thoughts? Are you still experiencing strife in your life? If you are, then you need to change your behavior and model yourself on how Christ would have thought and acted.

I used to love that old saying of WWJD, or what would Jesus do? I think it is still relevant for us today in our daily lives and interactions. We may never truly behave like Jesus, but he is a reminder of how we can behave and think in order to lead a life that is obedient to God’s laws and plans.

Day 218 Bible Readings – 1 Corinthians 2: 12-13 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 22 & 23, 1 Corinthians 2, Psalm 118: 17-29

1 Corinthians 2: 12-13 (ESV)

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

Verses 12 through 13 from 1 Corinthians 2 shows Paul letting the believers in the Church of Corinth know that believers in Christ have received the Holy Spirit who is from God. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand the word of God and things given us to freely by God. The Holy Spirit also helps us to interpret spiritual truths to other believers in Christ.

The pastor of my church gave a sermon last year and told us we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us in all things, since Christ gave us the Holy Spirit as a Helper. I’ve been to rely more on the Holy Spirit since that sermon, and I can testify that the Holy Spirit has helped me to understand my Bible readings more and how to apply Bible teachings to my life. The Holy Spirit has also helped me understand more fully how God works in my life, and what God is trying to teach me in the trials of my life. The Holy Spirit is there to help believers in Christ, so call upon this helper to help you in your spiritual journey and walk with Christ.

Day 217 Bible Readings for August 6 – 1 Corinthians 26-31(ESV)

1 Chronicles 19-21, 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31, Psalm 118: 1-16

1 Corinthians 26-31(ESV)

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 

I love verses 26 through 31 from 1 Corinthians. Paul writes to the Church in Corinth and tells them that God chose them not because they were wise, powerful, of noble birth, but because God is great and would work through them. Bible commentaries have said the people in the Church of Corinth were beginning to think of themselves as great, but Paul reminds them that they weren’t great. God chose them because of their faith and because he could work through them to spread his faith. We should never think of ourselves as too lowly to be used or chosen by God. God will choose whomever he wants as long as the person has faith. But Paul reminds that once we are chosen by God, we must always remember that our greatness comes from God and because Christ is within us telling us what to do, what to say, how to act to fulfill God’s plan on earth. As followers of Christ, we can all be used to further God’s plan as long as we always remember that Christ dwells within us and we daily renew our faith in God and Jesus Christ.

Day 216 Bible Readings – 1 Chronicles 17: 7-8 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 16: 37-43, 1 Chronicles 17-18, 1 Corinthians 1: 1-17, Psalm 117

1 Chronicles 17: 7-8 (ESV)

“Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.”

Verses 7 through 8 from 1 Chronicles 17 shows the Lord telling Nathan what to say to David. I love how God reminds David of his humble beginnings as a shepherd and how God has elevated David to leader of his people. God also reminds David that he has always been with him and is responsible for all his victories. God then tells David that he will make him a great name in the world. These words from the Lord to David tells me that God is completely aware of everything we are doing and what our life has been like. God also reminds David and us that he is always with us. God protects us from enemies and is with us in all our victories. God also reminds us that he has a plan for us. It might not to be like David’s life, but God has a plan for each of us that is part of his greater plan for all of humanity. We need to be reminded that God is always with us and have faith that our life is a part of God’s plan.