1 Corinthians 9 - 10.5.26
Scripture
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Observation
Paul is talking about how he operates in the mission field of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ! He needed to know the people’s language and customs before he could reach them. In order to have a voice and operate within their world, he needed to know how to become like one of them. (Being a former Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, he already had a leg up.)
I thought it was interesting how he even said that he became like someone under the law and like someone not having the law. He will do whatever he needs to do to win people to the faith, without compromising or becoming like the world. He knew how to live IN the world, but not OF the world.
The Apostle Paul knew that reaching a lost world meant that even though he was called to be set apart, he also had to be educated about how they dressed, spoke and lived their everyday lives.
Application
In order to reach people for the Gospel, we need to infiltrate the culture.
When I first became a Christ follower, I thought I had to quit everything that I had a passion for, such as the arts (music and dance), sports, movies, etc. and only have Christian friends with an ultimate calling of working in a church setting. I also started dressing extremely conservative. I’m all for modesty, but it was to an extreme.
However, as I was taking myself out of the world, I was also losing influence with those IN the world because I appeared too “holier than thou.” I was separating myself way too much from the lost people God had called me to reach.
When I was in college and talking to some students who were getting reading to go into the mission field, they told me that they spent months prepping (before heading there), by learning the language, culture and customs of the people who they were about to preach the Gospel too.
Also, in some areas that didn’t allow Christian missionaries, they would have to learn another trade (like being an engineer or school teacher), in order to get a foot in the door of that country.
Even when I studied children’s ministry (before having kids), my professor would tell us to find out the types of cartoons that the kids were watching and study what they were interested in so that I could begin to connect with them.
As I look at the life of Jesus, He spent time teaching in the Temple, but He also spent A LOT of time outside with “sinners” and in the world.
We must be interested and ask more questions to people who are different than ourselves. We cannot reach a lost generation if we are unwilling to learn and be surrounded by unbelievers. As the Bible says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” -1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV
What would draw people to listen to my testimony and the Good News I have to share about Jesus? Why would they care if I don’t even care about their story?
We must meet people where they are at, just like Jesus met us where we were at.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that in order for my light to shine brightly for You, I need to be willing to be in dark places, where the people who need You are. You say that it is the sick who need a doctor, not the healthy. You have brought me through so much in my life and it’s easy for me to forget that that’s NOT the end goal. Please forgive me. Please reveal to me the everyday places where Your light can shine most brightly for Your Kingdom. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Deuteronomy 8 - 10.2.26
Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:6 - 20
6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.
Observation:
God is asking the Israelites to “observe the command of the Lord and walk in obedience.”
The word “observe” stood out to me. Besides the fact that I just wrote it here, I find it interesting that instead of just saying obey, God said to observe. The word “observe” has three main meanings. One is to notice or perceive something and register it as being significant. The others are to watch carefully, attentively and to hold in honor as when we are observing a holiday or moment of silence..
So, when we observe the commands of the Lord, we are more likely to follow through and walk in them. When we incorporate and truly observe them, give them significance, study them, and honor them for all they do in our lives, we are honoring God our creator.
God provides for and rewards those who revere Him by bringing them into a good, beautiful land with everything they need and want.
He then warns them not to forget when they are satisfied and flourishing, that He is the one who provided all this. They used to be slaves and spent time wandering in a “vast and dreadful wilderness.” Until He delivered them.
God is the one who gives us the ability to produce wealth.
Application:
I need to put into practice meditating and thinking on God’s commands.
Asking:
What does each one mean?
What would obey this look like?
How would it affect others?
What steps can I take to put this into action?
What boundaries should I put in place so temptation or distraction does not hinder my obedience?
Most of all, remember I am nothing without God’s hand working through me and for me.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I could easily point my fingers at the people who in Biblical times strayed from God after all the miracles they saw first hand. However, I have your word, my own personal experience and the testimony of others declaring how wonderful and faithful you are and I stray at times. Please forgive me. Thank you for all you’ve done to ensure my success and future. Especially Jesus paying the price for my sins so I can be with you for eternity. When life seems like a wilderness, help me remember how faithful you are and that this season will pass. In times of abundance and prosperity, help me keep my eyes on you as the source of everything that is good. Thank you for your strength, grace and mercy and that you have an excellent plan for me. Amen
- Cindy Howard
Deuteronomy 7 - 10.01.26
SCRIPTURE
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.
The LORD your God has chosen you—out of all the peoples—
on the face of the earth—to be His people—His treasured possession.
The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples—for you were the fewest of all peoples.
But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your
ancestors that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
KNOW therefore that the LORD your God IS God—HE IS—The Faithful God,
keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
Deuteronomy 7:6-9 NIV
OBSERVATION
In Deuteronomy we see how God chose a people—to be holy—His Treasured Possession. God did not choose this people because they were more numerous and stronger than other peoples. God chose them because they were the fewest of all the peoples—SO that HE might display HIS Mighty Power and Glorious works. God gave these people [the Israelites] His Law and Commandments to Live by so they would be set apart from all other peoples of the world. And God made a Covenant of steadfast Love with these people that would carry through to a thousand generations—A lasting Covenant with those who Love Him and Keep His Commandments. It was a stunning Covenant—Promising Blessing and increase in Children, Land, Crops, Cattle and Flocks, Grain, Wine, Oil—and protection from all sickness and diseases, and protection from their enemies. (Deuteronomy 7:13-24).
One thing God specifically warned His people about was to make sure they destroyed every idol, even the gold and silver covering them. Every single idol was an abomination and detestable to God.
““You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you,
for it is detestable to the LORD your God. Do NOT bring any detestable objects into your home, for then—you will be destroyed—just like them. You must utterly detest such things, for they are set apart for destruction.” (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)
As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land they had an ongoing history of grumbling rebellion, fear and distrust, disobedience, and—yes—idolatry.
Although there were a few—a remnant—who were faithful,
as a whole they had been unfaithful—time and time again.
God—The One and Only God—remained Faithful and Steadfast.
“If we are faithless, HE remains faithful— for HE cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
APPLICATION
What was True THEN—is True TODAY
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him—
who called you out of darkness—into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Believers are chosen by God to be holy—His Treasured Possession.
Believers are not the most numerous people on the earth.
Believers are among the fewest number of people on the earth.
This is SO God might display HIS Mighty Power and Glorious Works.
““You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult,
and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
“Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that
few of you were wise in the world’s eyes
or powerful—when God called you.
Instead, God chose things the world considers—foolish
in order to shame those who think they are wise.
And God chose things that are—powerless
to shame those who are powerful.
God chose these things…to bring to nothing—
what the world considers important.
As a result, no one can ever boast in the Presence of God.”
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
“Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it.
Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,
“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After supper—Jesus took another cup of wine and said,
“This cup—is the NEW COVENANT—between God and His people—
an agreement—confirmed with my blood—
poured out as a sacrifice—for you.” (Luke 22:19-20 NLT)
God Made a New Covenant with His People that was confirmed with Jesus blood which was poured out as a sacrifice for us. A lasting covenant with all who would love Him and believe in Jesus Christ completed work on the cross for their salvation.
God still abhors idols. God will Not share first place in our lives AND God will Not take second place. Just like delayed obedience is disobedience, Second place or equal positioning is NO position for God.
““If you Love your father or mother MORE than you love me,
you are NOT worthy of being mine; or if you Love your son or daughter MORE than me,
you are not worthy of being mine.
If you REFUSE to take up your cross and FOLLOW ME—
you are NOT worthy of being mine.
If you cling to your life, you will lose it;
but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
(Matthew 10:37-39 NLT)
When Jesus was asked by an expert in religious law to name the most important commandment, Jesus replied:
“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””
(Matthew 22:37-40 NLT)
Our idols may not be statues made of silver or gold but they are every bit as powerful to lure us away from God seeking first place in our hearts and minds.
When Jesus said we must take up our cross to follow Him, HE was literally saying that we need to be prepared to die—die physically—die to ourselves—our own ideas of what our lives should look like—SO that we can LIVE for Jesus. That’s not fun or easy. And at over 70 yrs old, I can share, it doesn’t get an easier the older you get. I’m thinking this is why Paul used the analogy that he “beat his body into submission” (1 Cor. 9:26). 🥴 I think I’ll stick with praying my way through and seeking greater opportunities for grace in fasting.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
When I think of all this I fall to my knees and humbly say Thank you. Thank You for calling me out of darkness into Your Marvelous Light. Thank You for your steadfast Love, Your mercy and grace, and Your open arms that called me back after a season of disobedience. I have been prideful and arrogant and worldly focused on unimportant matters most of my life. I am so very thankful You gave me my husband and brought us here to Canyon Country and to Desert Streams. I pray You continue to have Your way in me. Empty me. I am surely dust except You place Your Holy Spirit inside of me. Strengthen me by Your Spirit for this season of my life to finish strong and be pointing people to You. Only YOU can build in me what is necessary to live a life wholly pleasing to You. Help me to be living Your commandment out to the fullest measure to Love You with all my heart and to Love others as I love myself. I pray for greater measures of Faith not knowing what this will bring…for to have real faith is to be without and wholly dependent on You. I want to be among the few—faithful—remnant—by Your Grace. Have Your Way Lord Jesus. Have Your Way.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
Tina L Kudelka