December 1, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

1 Corinthians 9 - Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians in part to show his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus.  He spoke of the servants of the Lord who had devoted their lives to ministry, that they were worthy of the church's support, verses 6-14.  It is important that a local church realizes their responsibility in this.  Paul spoke of his ministry as one of becoming "all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."  He was willing to identify with those he served in order to show them God really cares for their souls. 

1 Corinthians 10 - Paul gives us good reason to pay attention to the Old Testament.  He states that the things mentioned there examples for us to follow, verse 6.  You will find tremendous illustrations of how believers should live by reading the lives of those who lived in the Old Testament years.  Paul reminds believers that a "standing man can fall" verse 12, and that no temptation or testing that comes into a believer's life is without a "way of escape" provided by God, verse 13.  He then deals with a believer's approach to the Lord at the Lord's supper, verses 16-33.  Holiness in a believer's life is absolutely essential.

1 Corinthians 11 - Paul spends a lot of time dealing with the Lord's supper.  He shows how important it really is to the life of a local church.  He encourages believers to note that this supper was instituted on the evening before Jesus was crucified, thus showing how important it was to Christ.  Verse 28 encourages the practice of "examining" one's own life.  Being aware of possible sin in our lives keeps us seeking to live holy lives that will please Christ and keeps us from hypocritical lives before one another and before the unsaved.