As Paul starts to wind down his letter to the Corinthian church, he comes to the utter foundation of our faith. He shares with them what is the highest and most important truth: "that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Paul reminds the church that the gifts of the Spirit have been given to all believers. And they have been given, not so the gifted individual might be edified, but in order that the whole body of Christ might be built up. So the priority of our gifting is about strengthening the church.

As members of the body of Christ, we are called to be a people who do good deeds, to give ourselves to the work and mission of the church. Even so, there is more to the equation. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul the apostles brings us to the heart God — none of our gifts or good deeds matter, if we do not have love.

The last chapter of Jonah shows the interplay between the Lord God and His servant Jonah. In this chapter we see the significant difference between the heart of Jonah the man and the heart of the sovereign Lord. Jonah argues with God, the Lord questions Jonah, just as He also questions us.

Jonah hated the Ninevites on account of their evil deeds against the people of Israel, God's treasured possession. If Ninevah was so bad, why did God send Jonah to them with a message of grace? How should we interpret Ninevah's repentance, and God's choice to relent from their destruction?

At certain points in life, we find ourselves facing a trial or a sticky situation. These scenarios have a way of driving us to our knees and crying out to God for help and for direction. As we continue through the story of Jonah, we come to his prayer from the belly of the great fish, a prayer of desperation and a prayer of faith. "Salvation comes from the LORD" (Jonah 2:9).

The amazing story of the prophet Jonah and his reluctance to follow God's direction has much to show us—not only about Jonah, but also about ourselves, and most especially about the heart of God.

For anyone who grapples with doubts about their capabilities or their worth, Psalm 139 offers as an important reminder: God is acquainted with all our ways. He knows all that there is to know about us. And in spite of any doubts we may have, He loves us and He is there.

The Lord's Supper is meant to be a time of remembrance, a time of anticipation, and a time of communion for all who are found in Christ. As Paul addresses the situation in Corinth, we find invaluable and important insights for life in the body of Christ—how we regard one another, and how we ought to regard ourselves before God.