Month: July 2020

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16: Do everything in love.

Observation: In 1 Corinthians it describes love: 1CO 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. No wonder Paul tells us to do everything in love, but that is not how I live my life. I try to live with love but my sinful nature puts the focus on me and not others. Love is putting other first and that is difficult for me to do.

Application: To practice love to others each day. To put the needs of others around me before myself that is the only way I can do everything in love. I need to focus on my Lord and Savior and how he lived his life in total love dying to himself. I will only find the peace in love in my life and I love others above myself.

Prayer: Dear Lord open my eyes on how to love like you do. Take away this selfish nature of mine and allow me to focus on you and what you desire of me. May I be a light to others and represent your love for them through me.

Scripture:1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Observation: I have a difficult time standing firm. I’m swayed so easy mostly by my thoughts and worries. I don’t do the Lord’s work most of the time because I’m so preoccupied by my life here, yet when I do the Lord’s work it is the best part of my life. My blessings come from when I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing for the Lord and feel good about myself because I don’t feel I’m wasting what God has given me.

Application: I need to stand firm in what I know I should be doing for my Lord. I need to sop feeling overwhelmed all the time. God will give me strength if I’m in his will and he’ll make it happen if I just make myself available to Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need you to guide me on serving you. To labor in your name fulfilling the purpose you have given me. I can’t do it on my own only through your strength and love. So use me to honor you and complete the purpose you created me for.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Observation: I really do want spiritual gifts and I need them to honor God with this life He has given me. The gifts he has given me can build up the church if I use them wisely, God gave me the gift of organization and cooking to help with outreaches and functions at the church. He gave me the gift of leadership where I can help with home fellowships and other functions in the church. Each gift and talent I have can be used in the church somewhere.

Application: I know the gifts God has given me, I just need to use them more for God’s glory and not mine. I need to search out areas, especially in the church where I can use these gifts and make myself available to do so.

Prayer: Dear God you are worthy of all my love, obedience, praise and time. Whatever I have is yours, please use this servant to please you and fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Show me how to be strong for you, take this laziness away and guide me through this journey of life.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:7 It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.

Observation: I tell my wife several times a day that I love her, but do I really know what love is? I feel I will protect her, yet I have a difficult time with trust, not even God some of the time, I worry constantly so my hope is weak and I want to give up a lot of the time so I don’t persevere. I really feel I love my wife, more than anything, but yet I don’t know how to love completely.

Application: I need to work on loving, it’s not a feeling but a decision I need to make. I need to make a better effort to trust God each day and to be a trustworthy person, I need to accept the fact that God is in control and that he loves me and that my hope is in him. Then I need to persevere in his love and complete the task he set before me.

Prayer: Dear Lord show me how to love in a way that will honor you today. Strengthen my faith that I will spread this love to others and be pleasing to you. I do love you and desire to be obedient and pleasing in your sight.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Observation: What a great thought that God arranged the parts of the body and if I do his will he will make me the part He desires me to be. Most of my days are spent second guessing everything I do, forgetting God is guiding my steps and has a plan for my life. To know he placed me where I am, to play a specific part in this life gives me comfort.

Application: To realize God knows where I am and what he desires me to do. To be more observant of what is happening and to seek God’s direction in all that I do. Not to get ahead of myself and be the part of the body God wants me to be and not seek a more prestigious part but do the best at where God has placed me.

Prayer: Dear Father I thank you for always watching over me and creating me for a purpose. I thank you for my church home and the wonderful people you surround me with. May I not grow weary of doing good, but glorify you in all I do.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Observation: I hope one day I may be able to say that to others, to follow my example. I do want to follow the example of Christ, but each day I fall short in my thoughts, word and actions. However I’m so much better than I use to be and if I continue to attempt to be more like my Lord and Savior I can be a man others can follow as I follow Christ.

Application: Continue to pray, read my Bible and other Christian books and serve. Serving was the example Jesus showed us while on this earth. To follow Jesus’ example is to do what He did, so if I don’t serve I’m not following my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften my heart and guide me each day to be more like you. Give me that servant’s heart, caring for the needs of others above my own. I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to you.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Observation: I spent most of my life just looking out for me and not caring for others at all. When Jesus came into my life He changed that, He put certain groups of people on my heart like the homeless, children and elderly. Then he continued putting on my heart people and he gave me the heart of a servant. Yet as God continues to change and soften my heart my focus continues to come back to me. I’m a much better man than I was before my Lord, but I still have a ways to go to be the man He wants.

Application: To search for the needs of others I can meet. Focus on my Lord and he will direct me to others and be obedient to what he desires in my life. Ask God to give me his eyes for his children that I may see them as He does.

Prayer: Dear Lord strengthen me and continue to soften my heart and give me a love for others. May I not grow weary of doing your will may I be missed by others when it is time to go home.