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Today’s readings.. (Leviticus 5,6), (Psalm 105), (1 Corinthians 14)

Our Psalms reading (105) stresses that God is fully conscious of all that happens among his creation.  Many examples are given that illustrate the reality of what Paul told the Athenians, that God “is actually not far from each one of us” [Acts 17 v.27) that “we have our being” within the Divine presence and, as Job expressed it, “In his hand is the life of every living thing” [12 v.10]  Look at some of the illustrations of this in today’s Psalm, note how it tells us to “seek the LORD and his strength; his presence continually.” [v.4]

We do not have to travel to seek his presence, we need to start each day by doing that: we need to “remember the wondrous works that he has done.” [v.5]  These works are seen, both in creation, and in the wonderful way “all things work together” (see Romans 8 v.28) to achieve God’s purpose.  This is seen in history; David reminds us of “his miracles, and the judgments he uttered” to the “offspring of Abraham” [v.5,6].  But it is not just with Israel that God is involved, “his judgments are in all the earth” [v.7] and the full reality and climax of this will be seen when Jesus returns.

The detail of the divine involvement in human life is made clear in our Leviticus reading (ch. 5 & 6). We read of more of the divine laws being put in place to cause the nation being formed in the wilderness to become a genuine “”holy nation” (Exod. 19 v.6).  Sadly, they failed in this. David and his son Solomon did their best in their days to lead the people into becoming a holy nation.  Then God’s son came to inspire people to develop personal holiness.  The aim must be, as we will read next week in Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians, to “cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” [7 v.1]

In our chapter today Paul is urgently encouraging them to “let all things be done for building up … for God is not the author of confusion but of peace …” [14 v.33].  Confusion comes when God’s word is not read properly – we should not pick and choose the parts which suit us, fully realizing that when “his judgments are in all the earth” when Christ returns,  “then each of us will give account of him(her)self to God.” [Rom. 14 v. 12]  Let us “seek … his strength and “his presence continually.”

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A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on Podbean... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our podcast on Anchor...https://cdvideo.org/truth-talk

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Today’s readings.. (Leviticus 3,4), (Psalm 104), (1 Corinthians 12,13)

What is the most valuable thing to possess?  It is not a material possession – not even gold, which was greatly used in making the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. Paul spells out to the Corinthians in today’s ch. 13 what is the greatest attribute that a believer can – and must – possess.

It is evident from his words in ch. 12 that the believers in Corinth were keen to possess gifts of the spirit.  Most Corinthians had been idol worshippers and had previously possessed “gifts” of some sort. Paul, makes the point, “when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols” [v.2]  He then adds, “however you were led” (“moved” – some versions) – referring to some ecstasy experiences.  Such ecstasies have been practiced down the centuries and even in recent years in some tribal regions in Africa, some go into a trance to walk on hot coals and so forth!

Paul summarises the varieties of genuine gifts that were now miraculously available.  Why were these needed?  We must remember that they had no Bible to read – so, says Paul, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge … to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy …” [v.7-10]

From v.14-20 Paul spells out the need for teamwork. In v.25 he says there should be “no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”   Then we come to ch. 13 we note his declaration, “if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. “[v.2]

This chapter ends with his declaration of the situation after the gifts “cease” and “pass away” [v.8].  He makes a point we must take into our hearts. ” So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  Let us all seek to develop “the greatest of these” – for when the  kingdom becomes a reality – what we hope for and have faith in – will be fulfilled – but love will abide forever.

How we live now will ‘decide’ whether we will too will abide forever. Today we must make sure we have laid the foundation to our thinking and living – by believing from our hearts the original gospel message Paul and other disciples taught as they followed in the footsteps of their (and our) Lord. Let us do the same.

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

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oday’s readings.. (Leviticus 1,2), (Psalm 103), (1 Corinthians 11)

What is it to “fear” God?  It does not mean to be afraid or scared of God – but rather – to be in awe of him: this is the sense in which we encounter the word in verses 11,13 & 17 in today’s 103rd Psalm, “so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him”

We also encounter the phrase, “Bless the LORD, O my soul” in the 1st and 2nd verses.  We ‘bless’ our children and we seek for the LORD to bless us,   The LORD told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to “bless the people” and “say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you …” [Numbers 6 v.24]  In our seeking to “bless the LORD” – what do we mean? We surely say this with a humble spirit of praise and thankfulness for the relationship he invites us to have with him.

Then we noted the start of Psalm 104. “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendour and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens …”.   The discoveries of man in recent years reveal, among other things, the endless way the heavens have been stretched out.  We read in Romans at the beginning of the month, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” [11 v.33]

We bless, i.e. we thank the LORD for so many things.  How the angels must bless him!  And what is at least part of their work?  Remember what we read in Psalm 91 v.11, “he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”  And now we note v.20,21 in today’s Psalm. “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!   Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!”   We know, as we read earlier this month, “he will send out the angels and gather his elect” [Mark 13 v27] when our world reaches the climax of its godlessness and God acts to “punish the world for its evil.”  (see Isaiah 13 v.9-13).

God’s angels are, in a sense, an extension of God, we could say, his ‘spiritual arms’ by which he acts.  We read in Hebrews. “the angels … Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” [1 v.13,14]   That is clearly their physically unseen role toward us now – which will climax when they are sent out to gather “those who fear him” – and such will say, at that time, with all their heart, “Bless the LORD O my soul.”

Our reading of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians continues to give us many points of guidance.  Paul set the highest principles of living for himself so that he would be a true example.  He refused to accept any “material things” from them, although it was his “right.”  He said “we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” [9 v.12]

Although it was a principle under the Law of Moses for those serving in the Tabernacle (we are also reading about) to have all their needs provided – and, says Paul,  “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” [v.14],he says, “I have made no use of any of these rights” [v.15].

Then comes a most significant comment, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!   For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward …” [v.16,17] Our aim has always been to follow Paul’s example; the so called ‘christian’ world has far too many examples of those who have become wealthy through preaching work! Furthermore, so many embellish some areas of the original message – our daily reading is a ‘cure’ for any inclination we have to do this.

Paul asks, “What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge … I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” [v.18,19] He appeals to the example (especially in Greece) of those whose ambition is to be top athletes and who train to “receive the prize” [v.24], but Paul is seeking the wonder of the ‘prize’ that God alone can give!

As a spiritual athlete he “exercisesself-control in all things.”  He is the outstanding example for us – and notice the powerful point he makes in comparing himself with athletes!   “They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” – an eternal reward.  Therefore we should be inspired to exercise, as Paul was inspired, specially noting how this chapter concludes. He states his determination to “discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Paul warned in the last chapter of the final letter he wrote,  “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” [2 Tim 4 v.3]. John said the same in his 2nd letter, “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” [v.9]

So let us exercise “self-control in all things” so that we are in no danger of being “disqualified.”

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on Podbean... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our podcast on Anchor...https://cdvideo.org/truth-talk

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This phrase occurs in our Corinthians chapter (7) today.  It is a chapter that is not as clear in meaning in some sections as we would like, but it becomes clearer as we take a contextual view of the flow of Paul’s reasoning.  As we have read in the preceding chapters the large ecclesia at Corinth is in a real spiritual mess. The members were largely from a pagan background, the Jews had “opposed and reviled him” [Acts 18 v.6] when Paul preached in their synagogue at Corinth. One point Paul had stressed in writing to the ecclesia (ch. 5 & 6) was about the extensive immorality they were failing to deal with and the fact that members were even going to law against one another.   Given the rapidly increasing immoral atmosphere in which we live, the principles revealed in this chapter apply just as much to us today.

Paul states in today’s chapter, “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” [v.35]    In v. 31 he had written, “for the present form of this world is passing away”.  That is surely also true of our world.

Actually it was nearly 200 years before the city was totally wrecked by the barbarians. The city had a 1700 year history of greatness, but the ecclesia there failed to continue and make any mark on history. The only way for an individual to survive was to have “undivided devotion to the Lord”.  Did you note in yesterday’s chapter (6) that Paul gave a list of those who will not have a place in God’s kingdom.   Notice he does not just list those who practice what we would call the worst forms of behaviour, but he says the kingdom will not include “thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers” …. And such were some of you.  But you were washed, you were sanctified … “ [v.10,11] Sanctified means counted as holy, may we never cease to be so counted.

The ever more evil world of Corinth was destroying the believers devotion to their Lord.  Recall how the previous chapter concluded – before he made these points!  He told them, “do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you … you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”  A lesson few had learnt!  Are we failing to learn this today?

Some claiming to be Christians today make much in their imagination of possessing the Holy Spirit; but, the Scriptures show it is really the other way round, the Holy Spirit possesses us, but we only realize that, if we give the Lord our “undivided devotion.”

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on Podbean... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our podcast on Anchor...https://cdvideo.org/truth-talk

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