Friday, March 29, 2024

DON’T BE IGNORANT OF GOD, LIVE WITH RESURRECTION FAITH

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 / Keywords 15:34

Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.

 

15:29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,


“Let us eat and drink,

    for tomorrow we die.”[d]


33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[e] 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.


Footnotes

d. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13

e. 1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander


1. Christian baptism in the name of Jesus Christ lacks power and purpose if there is no resurrection, for baptism signifies a new life and hope in Jesus that extends beyond this life.

2. Paul faced many dangers, enemies and sufferings to preach the gospel and live for Christ. That would be foolish if there is no resurrection and heaven. Paul admits we might as well just pursue fun, comfort and entertainment as much as we can, if tomorrow we die and that’s all (Isa 22:13).

3. Paul quotes a Greek poet, whom the Corinthians would be familiar with: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Bad company rejects the resurrection and lives for here and now. Paul urges them to wake up, come back to their senses, and repent of such ignorant, shameful living. Rather, they should know and live according to God’s truth and power.

Prayer Father, may I not live like a fool, chasing the things of this world. May I rather live today with true knowledge of God and with living hope in Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.

One Word Don’t be foolish, but wise; live with faith in Jesus’ resurrection


 

Thursday, March 28, 2024

IN CHRIST ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 / Keywords 15:22

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...

 

15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.


Footnotes

c. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6


1. After pondering a world and a faith with no resurrection, Paul declares that Jesus Christ was indeed raised from the dead. That is truly good news to a world full of dead and dying people. Not only so, Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection, which means that others will follow. Death came by one man, Adam; resurrection comes by one man, Jesus Christ. A Christian—that is, one who belongs to Jesus—will rise to be with him forever. Praise and thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

2. Jesus reigns over all his enemies and will destroy all evil powers, including death itself. This authority was given to him by God our Father. Though Jesus is one in essence with God the Father, he remains eternally the Son of God, in submission to the Father. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit reign over all forever and ever. Amen!

Prayer Father God, in Adam I was lost in my sin without hope and I must die someday. But you have given me eternal life, hope and purpose in Christ. Now I belong to Jesus as your child, servant, and disciple. By your promise and through your Spirit, I am with Jesus now and forever. Amen.

One Word I am alive in Christ!

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED…

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 / Keywords 15:19

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

 

The Resurrection of the Dead

15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.


1. In these verses, Paul debunks doubters of the resurrection. If the dead cannot rise again, then Jesus did not rise again. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then Christian faith and preaching is useless and vain. Moreover, Christians are then liars, who are preaching a false gospel and misrepresenting God by saying that he is mightier than he really is (if God cannot actually raise the dead). Does it make sense that the apostles and all the Christians who died for their faith died for a lie? Surely, they believed that Christ rose from the dead since people will not die for what they know is a lie.

2. Without Jesus’ resurrection, Christian faith is futile, and we would have no assurance or power over sin. Plus, Christians who’ve died are simply dead, and there is no heaven (or at least we can’t get there through Christ). If Christians only have hope in this world, then why would we live a holy life, denying ourselves and striving to grow in Jesus’ image? That would be pitiful. Not only that, why then did Jesus live a holy and beautiful life of self- sacrifice, and with such conviction and courage? Of course, Jesus knew the reality of resurrection and eternal life in heaven. This belief is not optional but rather vital for followers of Jesus.

Prayer Father, thank you for the compelling truth of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Christian lives are not pitiful, but full of hope, power and promise because Jesus rose, and so will I.

One Word Christian life is not pitiful, but glorious

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

REMEMBER THE GOSPEL, BY WHICH WE ARE SAVED

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 / Keywords 15:3,4

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

 

The Resurrection of Christ

15:1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.


3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.


9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.


Footnotes

a. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first

b. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter


1. In this letter, Apostle Paul addressed many problems that were happening in the church in Corinth. He declared that the most excellent way to deal with squabbles was through the love of God (Ch.13). Now he was compelled to remind them of the gospel, which is of first importance.

2. What is the gospel (which means “good news”)? According to the Scriptures, Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day. This is the gospel by which we are saved, and the foundation on which we must stand firm. Otherwise, our faith is in vain. Christ died to remove the judgment we deserve for our sins. Christ was raised to give us victory, hope and power to live a new life in the Spirit.

3. The Risen Christ had witnesses including Peter, 500 believers, James, the apostles, and Paul. Paul felt unworthy to be an apostle since he had persecuted Christians. But God’s grace enabled him to work hard preaching the gospel, so that others might be saved by God’s grace.

Prayer Father, thank you for reminding us of the gospel of Jesus Christ, by which we are saved. May we stand firm in this gospel and share it with others, by the grace of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word Saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ

Monday, March 25, 2024

ARE THE UPRIGHT EVER DESTROYED?

Job 4:1-21 / Keywords 4:7

Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?

 

Eliphaz

4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:


2 “If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?

    But who can keep from speaking?

3 Think how you have instructed many,

    how you have strengthened feeble hands.

4 Your words have supported those who stumbled;

    you have strengthened faltering knees.

5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;

    it strikes you, and you are dismayed.

6 Should not your piety be your confidence

    and your blameless ways your hope?


7 “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?

    Where were the upright ever destroyed?

8 As I have observed, those who plow evil

    and those who sow trouble reap it.

9 At the breath of God they perish;

    at the blast of his anger they are no more.

10 The lions may roar and growl,

    yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.

11 The lion perishes for lack of prey,

    and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.


12 “A word was secretly brought to me,

    my ears caught a whisper of it.

13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night,

    when deep sleep falls on people,

14 fear and trembling seized me

    and made all my bones shake.

15 A spirit glided past my face,

    and the hair on my body stood on end.

16 It stopped,

    but I could not tell what it was.

A form stood before my eyes,

    and I heard a hushed voice:

17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?

    Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?

18 If God places no trust in his servants,

    if he charges his angels with error,

19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,

    whose foundations are in the dust,

    who are crushed more readily than a moth!

20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces;

    unnoticed, they perish forever.

21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up,

    so that they die without wisdom?’


1. After Job expresses his misery, his friends, after being silent for seven days, begin to answer him. They say many good things, and at first they seem to want to help Job, but it ends up becoming an intense and accusatory debate.

2. Eliphaz goes first and reminds Job of how many people he has helped before with wise words when they were suffering. So, he says Job should not refuse counsel when he himself is suffering (3-6). Then, Eliphaz asserts God’s justice, saying that the innocent have never perished, but the evil are the ones who receive trouble from God (7-11). He tells Job that his righteousness should be his hope (6), but he is indirectly suggesting that Job must have done something wicked. He tries to back up his argument by saying he received a revelation in a dream (12-21). 3. In fact, our own righteousness cannot be our hope, and we are not innocent. Jesus is our only hope. By faith we are considered upright based on what Jesus has done, and we will not perish, though we may suffer in this life.

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus, my righteousness. Help me not to rely on my own righteousness but trust your salvation even when I am suffering unjustly.

One Word Jesus’ righteousness is my hope

Sunday, March 24, 2024

JOB EXPRESSES HIS MISERY

Job 3:1-26 / Keywords 3:23

Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

 

Job Speaks

3:1 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He said:


3 “May the day of my birth perish,

    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’

4 That day—may it turn to darkness;

    may God above not care about it;

    may no light shine on it.

5 May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more;

    may a cloud settle over it;

    may blackness overwhelm it.

6 That night—may thick darkness seize it;

    may it not be included among the days of the year

    nor be entered in any of the months.

7 May that night be barren;

    may no shout of joy be heard in it.

8 May those who curse days[a] curse that day,

    those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

9 May its morning stars become dark;

    may it wait for daylight in vain

    and not see the first rays of dawn,

10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me

    to hide trouble from my eyes.


11 “Why did I not perish at birth,

    and die as I came from the womb?

12 Why were there knees to receive me

    and breasts that I might be nursed?

13 For now I would be lying down in peace;

    I would be asleep and at rest

14 with kings and rulers of the earth,

    who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,

15 with princes who had gold,

    who filled their houses with silver.

16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child,

    like an infant who never saw the light of day?

17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,

    and there the weary are at rest.

18 Captives also enjoy their ease;

    they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.

19 The small and the great are there,

    and the slaves are freed from their owners.


20 “Why is light given to those in misery,

    and life to the bitter of soul,

21 to those who long for death that does not come,

    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

22 who are filled with gladness

    and rejoice when they reach the grave?

23 Why is life given to a man

    whose way is hidden,

    whom God has hedged in?

24 For sighing has become my daily food;

    my groans pour out like water.

25 What I feared has come upon me;

    what I dreaded has happened to me.

26 I have no peace, no quietness;

    I have no rest, but only turmoil.”


Footnotes

a. Job 3:8 Or curse the sea


1. So far, Job has been incredibly strong in enduring his sufferings and still giving glory to God. But now, after seven days, he reveals his true struggle with an outpouring of words. He still doesn’t accuse God of wrongdoing, but he curses the day of his own birth (1). He wishes it could disappear from the calendar (6). In other words, he thinks it would be better if he had never been born. This is the lowest point of human despair.

2. In verses 11-19, Job asks why God let him be born if it was only to suffer. From verse 20, he phrases the question more generally. Why does God give life to people who cannot find any relief from their suffering? We may ask these questions when our faith is tested, because we cannot see the end of our own story (23). But if we struggle honestly before God, God will lead us through to a better place.

Prayer Father, thank you for showing me Job’s struggle. It helps me know that you fully understand. Even though my way may be hidden to myself, I trust your leading.

One Word Wait on God when the way is hidden

Saturday, March 23, 2024

JOB IS AFFLICTED IN HIS BODY

Job 2:1-13 / Keywords 2:13

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

 

2:1 On another day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”


Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”


3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”


4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”


6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”


7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.


9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”


10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”


In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.


11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.


Footnotes

a. Job 2:1 Hebrew the sons of God

b. Job 2:10 The Hebrew word rendered foolish denotes moral deficiency.


1. Satan does not give up easily. He returned to accuse Job before God again, saying that though Job didn’t curse God after losing all his wealth and family, he still had his own health. So, God allowed Satan to strike Job’s body as well, afflicting him with painful sores (6-7).

2. When Job’s wife saw him in this pitiful condition, her faith reached its limit, and she urged him to curse God and die (9). But Job remained steadfast. He refused to accuse God of injustice, though he had now suffered unspeakably without learning any reason for it. He said, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (10) Job’s faith was simply that God was God and he was not. 3. Then, three of Job’s friends came to comfort him in his suffering (11-13). At first, they only stayed together with him in silence, a beautiful display of empathy that was more powerful than any words they could say.

Prayer Father, help me trust you as God even when I can’t understand. Thank you for friends who have helped me through times of suffering. Help me to comfort my suffering friends with compassion that goes beyond mere words.

One Word Let God be God; be a true friend

DON’T BE IGNORANT OF GOD, LIVE WITH RESURRECTION FAITH 1 Corinthians 15:29-34 / Keywords 15:34 Come back to your senses as you ought, an...