11Nov
10Nov
Married, And In Trouble
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
1 Corinthians 7:28b But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you.O-bservation:
In this, his first letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul the Apostle set out the guidelines for marriage. Trying to dissuade single people away from marriage, he warned them that if they married they would face MANY troubles in life. He wanted to spare these young people from the trouble.A-pplication:
Sparing your children from the trouble you had growing up sometimes feels like a parent’s mission. Remember though, the problems you had helped form you into the person you are today. You figured a way through the trouble and to the other side of victory. Paul’s efforts, trying to love and help young adults by leading them away from getting married, proved futile. Many speculate that Paul had been married and it hadn't gone well. He knew a lot about marriage, but we never hear who his wife is. Perhaps for St. Paul it was easier to teach marriage than it was to live out a happy marriage. Marriage is God’s plan and God’s directive; but it's important to keep in mind that marriage definitely has an upside. At the same time, if you are married you know that you're, "Married And In Trouble."P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, I'm happy that you brought a wonderful wife into my life as a young man. Yes, there has been much trouble, but the trouble helped make us victorious. You always know what's best. Amen
09Nov
It Could Be Worse!
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
1 Corinthians 5:5 Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.O-bservation:
St. Paul had been alerted to the fact that there was rampant immorality in the Church at Corinth. The man mentioned in verse one had been sexually active with his mother! The Apostle told the church to hand him over to the enemy in order to save him for eternity.A-pplication:
Whenever you hear of something that is mentioned in the Bible that you initially push back on, remember, "It Could Be Worse!" In this case Paul said, "Turn this man over to the devil so he learns his lesson and is ready for change." Sometimes, when we gloss over sin we are actually saying to that individual, "I really don't care about your eternal soul." Surely that can't be the case with people who are "All In" with Jesus. We must get involved with people's messes. Not in a meddling way, but in a redemptive way. If we don't, "It Could Get Worse!"P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, Help me love people in their mess. I don't want them to be lost eternally. Amen
08Nov
Please Demonstrate That
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.O-bservation:
St. Paul reminded the church at Corinth of his previous times there. He wanted them to think back and take note that they were not attracted to what he said; they were attracted by his demonstration of the power of God.A-pplication:
I've been around the sun a few times and I believe people are absolutely worn out with our words. Paul was addressing that very issue in this passage. Later he would tell Timothy that a time would come when people would have "Itching Ears." By that he meant people would run here and there to hear the most popular preacher or teacher. That time is NOW. Yet in the part of the world in which I live, we've never had more bigotry, hatred, war, and downright depravity than we do now. What's the problem? With all the great podcasts, internet religious programming, Kindle and Amazon instant religious book downloads, people are really just begging, "Please Demonstrate That!" We're strong on talk ... weak on DEMONSTRATION!P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, As I watch the rising sun this AM, I'm begging for a demonstration of your power in my city! Amen
07Nov