1 Corinthians___8

Scripture

1 Corinthians 8:1b

But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

Observation - What does it say?

The Corinthian Christ-followers had been struggling with what to do regarding things scripture wasn’t clear about. Can you eat meat that’s been sacrificed to an idol? To some it seemed wrong, as if they would be somehow participating in this idol worship. To others it seemed fine because in their hearts they knew they only worshiped the one true God. Paul sets the stage for how to handle these situations: in love.

Understanding - What does it mean?

As Christ-followers, we should be most concerned with building others up in love.

Sometimes it’s better to refrain from doing something you believe to be acceptable, for the sake of other believers who have different convictions. Romans 14 goes into more detail on these issues Scripture isn't explicitly clear about, saying that we must follow our convictions. If we are convinced something is wrong but do it anyway, we sin. If another person is convinced the same thing is acceptable and they do it, it isn't sin for them. 

So the point is, we should love others enough to refrain from doing what we're free to do, if doing it will embolden them to join you and sin. For us, maybe it's not considering not eating meat sacrificed to idols, but refraining from watching the rated R movie or drinking alcohol when believers who see problem with those things are present.

Life Application

God, please fill my heart with your love. I desire love more than knowledge. I desire to deeply carry people in my heart more than my freedom to do certain things. Break my heart! Fill my heart with love! With compassion! With empathy! In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.

 

- Levi Thompson

Psalm 45

Scripture

 

Psalms 45:10-11 NIV

 

“Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”

Observation-What does it say?

 

This Psalm is a wedding song! It is also “a prophecy of Messiah the Prince, and points to him as a Bridegroom espousing the church to himself, and as a King ruling in it, and for it.” (Reference: Matthew Henry’s commentary on Christianity.com)

 

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with the Church.

 

Christ is the Husband (bridegroom) and the Church is the Bride. We forsake ALL others after getting married because after vows, we become ONE flesh and make a commitment for life with our spouse. The same goes with our relationship with Jesus. We need to be ALL in, not just partially in, for our Lord is a jealous God and does not want anyone or anything to come between us and Him.

 

Life Application

 

Have you forsaken all others and things for our Groom (Christ)?

 

Moses and I are taking Pastor and DeLaine’s DSU course, 6 Great Dates! It’s an awesome reminder that we need to keep investing in our marriages and date each other in order to keep the spark alive!On the flip side with our faith, are we putting the same time and investment into our relationship with Jesus as we did in the beginning?We need to remind ourselves of the fire in the beginning of our faith and go back to our First Love. We must be reminded of our testimonies to reignite that spark, the same way we need to remember what we love about our spouses in order to keep pressing forward as a couple. This Wedding Psalm is a great reminder of that!-Michelle Gaddi

Malachi 1

Scripture 

Malachi 1:11-13   For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.  “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’  You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord.  Observation-What does it say?  The text ascribes authorship of this book to “Malachi.”  The name Malachi translates into “His messenger.”  Therefore, it’s possible the name is a pen name for the author, or it could be his actual name.  Malachi was influenced by the prophecies of prosperity found in Haggai and Zechariah.  But, despite these messages of hope and prosperity, the people of Israel had fallen into sin.  They had ignored acts of worship like tithing and honoring the sabbath.  In the opening of the book, Israel is told to look at their brother nation, Edom, who was also overrun by Babylon.  Edom had also forsaken their worship of the Lord, but God did not restore them.  This warning should evoke God’s greatness and bring them back to worship. Understanding-What does it mean?  Tax season is here.  Oddly enough, it’s a time of year that I enjoy.  When we sit down with our tax guy, it gives me a moment to reflect on how much God has blessed us in the last year.  I don’t mean to sound like we are living with an excess of cash.  Rather, we get to see how God has been faithful in making sure our bills are paid, we are fed and covered.  Our tax guy looks at what we have tithed and comments on how he doesn’t know how we can afford to give so much.  Every time he does, we tell him it’s a miracle and that God doesn’t work out finances like we expect.  Without fail, we have received a return on our taxes and it feels unexplainable.  When I was a young adult, I remember standing around with a group of men who were all a little older than me.  The subject of tithing was discussed and I clearly recall one of the younger men say, “I always pay my tithes, because I don’t want to test God in that way.”  Ultimately tithing is an act of worship, but one that God has called us to from the very beginning of time and one that he takes very seriously.  God asks for our first fruits.  Multiple times in the old testament, we see stories of when the first fruits were substituted with something less.  For example, Abel gave his first fruits, while Cain gave something less.  God found favor in Abel’s offering, but He was displeased with Cain.  Here in Malachi, we see a warning of what is to come if this worship is ignored.  
Life Application 

 

God, help me to not grow weary in worshiping you.  Help me to trust that when I bring my first fruits, you will be faithful to fulfill my needs.  Let me never forget your great works. 

 

-Tyler Galloway