What's Your Variety? (1 Corinthians 12: especially vs 11 ESV)

 

When you read the Bible, there is a decision that has to be made.  Do I act upon what God's Word convicts me of or do I ignore it and go on my way for the day, unchanged?

That is the question.

The apostle Paul did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant of or uninformed about spiritual gifts.  There are varieties of gifts he told them.  But there's the same Spirit.

The varietites of gifts create varieties of service, which in turn create varieties of activities in a variety of people possessing the respective gifts.  What has the potential to pull them all togethjer is that,

" ... the same God ... empowers them all in everyone ..." ( vs 4-6).

The purpose is for the "common good" of all.  And if you've got it, use it!

Dont' sit your butt down on the pew and watch everyone else using their particular kind of variety.  And if you don't think you've got any gift, listen up to this ...

"All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV).

There are therefore, no exemptions.  All members are needed.  And when all work together in unity, ... sigh ... that must be a wonder.

The body of Christ working at its full potential in any given church setting must be so amazing.  We do sometimes catch glimpses of it.  And when no on gets proud of their particular gift over someone else's variety, that is a humble, healthy interaction.

Furthermore, if you thing of a bicycle's mechanisms and how they become powered into action by the user pushing and pumping the pedals, you get somewhere.  The bicycle chain needs regular oiling, for smoother transitioning.  So, too, humility in a believer and God's more excellent way of love - God's kind of love - will help the gears of interaction within a church run more smoothly and aid the keeping of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, peaceful as it goes.  In this the kingdom of God can be advanced and changed more into the image of God's Son.

Let's all be convicted and moved into our respective variety of gift ... action for Him.  Read the Bible everyday, for more convicted action, according to your gifted variety.  Let's further His kingdom together, in one and the same Spirit.

So be it, Father God. 

Amen.

                                                   ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 12 ESV.

Sing, One Spirit, One Church, along with Honor and Glory to God.

The Angels are Watching (1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV)

 "That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels" (1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV).

"A symbol of authority," meaning a head covering of some sort - if you read this verse in context.  Why?  Because of the angels.  And who needs to wear this symbol or sign?  

"A wife."

This verse has been hashed and rehashed over again and again at infinitum.  So what more can be said about it?  Who wants to stir up trouble and push a wife's angry nerve button?

When you read this verse in the NIV or KJV, they use the word 'woman' rather than 'wife'.  So this could include any sister-in-Christ, not just wives. 

The KJV uses the word 'power' instead of' 'authority'.  

'Authority' makes it more understandable to me, however.  Who's authority though?  The husband's or a man or brother in particular?

I'd say a big, "N-O!  NO!"

If you look back to the opening greetings of this letter to the Corinthians, the authority under whom Paul writes is

 "Jesus Christ's through the will of God." 

Our female mindset and feelings of rebelliousness against what feels like prejudice against women, may decimate.  It does for me.  I am under God's authority.  I will gladly wear His symbol.

And when He puts a father, brother-in-Christ (in a church setting), or a husband in a postion of authority over me, I will operate under it.  It is God who puts people in charge.

However, I do not go around with a head covering 24/7.  It's when I pray or prophesy (vs 5), that I ought to have this symbol or sign of God's power and authority covering my head.

This is not a cultural thing at all.  And as we once again review the opening greeting of this first letter to the Corinthians, you'll see clearly to whom this letter was written.

"To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV).

Can you see that?  As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been sanctified.  We are called saints.  Not just the Corinthians believers but to

"all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours." [emphasis mine]

So Paul wasn't only addressing those believers back then.  The meaning is all inclusive; those of us who also

 "call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

 today.

What further dispute ought we to have against God and His word?

There are no loopholes of escape.  These are not popular words but will we bow to God's authority?  Will we sisters don a sign or symbol of it?

Even if I'm not the one praying or prophesying, I wear a 'symbol' head covering as believers gather together to praise and worship the One in authority - our Lord Jesus Christ, and as we listen to the preaching by another.  We all need to obediently remember God's authority over us.  Will you surrender to His and find peace under His power and authority, even when He asks us to wear a symbol of it?

And don't forget, the angels are watching.

Abba Father, we do adore you and know You are the One over all.  Teach us to be obedient to You.  may we bow to Your authority in the way that pleases you all the days of our lives.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                     ~  ERC  June  2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV.

Sing, Authority, along with Elevation.

Walk and Talk With Jesus

 Recently, I read a short blurb on what psychologists at the University of California Riverside have been attributed for discovering.  They say,

"About 85 % of the things we worry about never happen."

And I say, not flippantly, "Why worry when we can pray?"  That's actually lyrics of a song.

It talks about trusting Jesus because He'll uphold us and give us strength.  Bible verses bear this out.  One often quoted one is from 1 Peter 5:7.  It instructs,

" ... casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

This is up close and personal.  These words are from God.  His love for each individual is personal.  He does not want us to be bound up in worry.

There's one amusing saying that is credited to Glenn Turner, the American.  With a tongue-in-cheek vibe, he said,

"Worry is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."

True enough.

So what is one thing that is going back and forth in your mind right now, or that has been going back and forth for a few days or weeks?  

God sees that chair and invites you to get off it.  Cast those cares and worries and anxieties on Him.  When you cast something, there is some force behind it.  Get rid of it, throw it determinedly away, upon Him.

Did you know that worry is a sin?  That shows we are not fully trusting our Lord.  So do be encouraged to cast those anxieties upon the Lord.

You can trade them, so don't carry them.  Look at Philippians 4:6.

" ... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

In each and every fear and worry producing situation, we can, by prayer, petition, praise and thanksgiving, trade it in by giving it to God and letting Him know about it.  The worry is like the rocking back and forth on a rocking chair.  But prayer and relief come by handing it all over to Him.

Do you want to get out of that rocking chair in your mind?  When you catch yourself wavering back and forth, step out of that chair by pausing and praying and simply giving it to the Lord.  Pray and say something like:

"O Lord Jesus, I give you _________ ..."

Be encouraged to try it.  Go for a walk somewhere, by yourself, and tell Him about it.  Call it "a walk and talk with Jesus".

In parks, one often sees men  or women walking and talking a mile a miute with each other.  Walk with the One who is ever beside you.  Talk a mile a minute with Him as you walk.

One sister told me she sings.  She will go for a walk along a beach where there is no one around.  She sings to the Lord and that helps lift her heart.

He loves you and cares about you.  Sing or whisper to Him softly or in your heart of hearts as you walk along, taking in the ambiance of the park's trees and gardens, or of the tranquil beach.

Get out of the rocking chair, look up through the foliage.  Cast all your cares, worries and anxieties upon Him.

"He will strengthen you, ... will help you, ... will uphold you with [His] righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 ESV).

Don't worry.  Trust Him.  Fear not.  Do not be dismayed.  He's there for you.  Let Him help you guard your heart and mind.  

O Jesus, friend unfailing, we've all got rocking chairs in our heads.  Strengthen us.  Help us trade all that worry for prayer today, because You care for us.  Thank You, Jesus.

                                                 ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 4:6-7 ESV.

Sing, Why Worry When You Can Pray, along with Al Smith and Helen McAlerney Barth.

Some helpful suggestions from Meta AI.

For God's Glory (1 Corinthians 10: especially vs 29-33 ESV)

 

Well, this opening bit is gonna be a bit out of context.  Look at this verse 31 ...

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God"                      (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV).

'Whatever' ... do all to the glory of God.

As believers in Jesus Christ and having become children of God (see John 1:12), we must

 "do all for God's glory."

So if you give thanks for your food and drink at the beginning of a meal, before taking any of it, thanking the Lord for the sustenance, but then after two or three mouthfuls, begin to criticize the food, how does that sit with you?

Does it give God glory?  Or, does it throw the food back into God's face?  Those who make a habit of giving thanks in one breath and then criticizing in the next, need to examine their hearts and minds for this inconsistancy.  Repentance and transformation are crucially needed.

In the country of Malawi, one missionary to the region has told me that some of the rural people don't have enough food.  They only eat once in three days, on average.  Some use a belt to cinch in their waists.  Why?  Because, they say, that it makes their stomachs smaller and therefore it won't need so much food.  They won't feel so hungry.

Let's partake of our food with thankfulness and gratitude to God our Provider and Sustainer, unless or course, we want to learn it the hard way.  In context of the chapter, refraining from certain foods and drinks would come under the heading of not causing another to stumble.  

Although the question was asked,

 "why should my liberty be determined by someone elses' conscience?" (vs 29). 

 Paul clarifies that he would not wish to cause offense to anyone.  He was not

 "seeking [his] own advantage, but that of many ..." (v 33).

Why?

So,

 " ... that they may be saved."

We may well need to cinch in belts on our minds and hearts so that we will not feel the criticizing trying to come out.  We need to realize that Paul was saying all this for the benefit of those not yet believers in Jesus Christ.  He did not want any to be stumbled or turned aside.  He also did not want new believers or those weak in their faith to be stumbled either.  

This too, gives God glory.

                                                ~  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 10: expecially vs 29-33 ESV.

Sing, Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart, along with Hymns of Faith and Hope.

An Athlete For Christ (1 Corinthians 9: especailly vs 11, 14, 18, 25 and 27 ESV)

 An athlete for Christ is not necessarily a sports person who's into floorball, basketball, badminton, football, gymnastics or the like.  This is not necessarily the group I'm referring to.

I'm talking about 'spiritual' athletes that run the race for Christ.  Those whose feet are beautiful because they bring the gospel of Jesus Christ and peace to the world (see Hebrews 12:1-2 & Romans 10:15 ESV).

People like Billy Graham, Priscilla Shirer, the Apostle Paul and even like my Dad had been, among others, who run and go all out for the Lord.  Those also who preach in our pulpits on a regular basis, faithfully, Lord's Day after Lord's Day.

Have you ever looked at their faces?  I mean, really looked?  Are they tired?  Or beyond tired to the point of exhaustion?  Are they suddenly gaunt looking, or overweight, and just plod to their place in the pulpit?

Are they overweight because they have hypothyroid problems or just because they overeat due to the stress of constant 'on guard' alertness to other peoples' needs and concerns; or because of slander and false accusations against them and they eat 'comfort food'?

Or, conversely, they're gaunt because of those same things but then have loss of appetite, and begin to wither away?  They are actually becoming physically sick as well as spiritually sick.

Due to neglect by the congregation in general and individual carers in particular, our pastors and preachers and teachers of God's Word, can experience all the same emotions and defeat that the rest of us can.

No doubt we are all entreated to

"exercise self-control in all things" (vs 25) 

and as the Apostle Paul said of himself,

"but I discipline my body and keep it under control ..."

Human beings - even those who feed us spiritually - have breaking points.

And just a word of clarification here, I do not insinuate that Paul whipped or harmed himself in any way except to have that self-control and sacrifice of his own wants and needs for the good and benefit of others.

May we all be encouraged to encourage not only ourselves to keep fit in these exercises of self-control, but to encourage our spiritual leaders to the same.

Be a caring support system for them so that as they preach, they do not disqualify themselves, nor we them (vs 27).

"It's time for us to do something" (Matthew West).

Let's all be very fit athletes for Christ until He comes.  Perhaps today ...

                                         ~ ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 9: especially vs 11, 14, 18, 25 & 27 ESV.

Sing, Do Something, along with Matthew West.  This may be a bit noisy for some peole but the lyrics are poignant.

Lord's Day Devotion - Bruised and Crushed

 "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (Romans 16 :20 ESV).

There are two opposing forces at work here.  But the one who is Almighty God is the one who has the final say and action.  He is the One who crushes Satan.  He is the One of grace.  He is the One who is with you - Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we hearken back to the epic world catastrophe, when Adam and Eve sinned and God caught them in the aftermath, then we know He pronounced judgement.  This is what He told the serpent...

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15 ESV).

And it has been thus ever since.  There have been incidents of this along the way, since the Bible's first prediction of a Savior -

 "the offspring will bruise Satan's head" (Genesis 3:15).

Even though it appears Satan gets the upper hand, and bruises the offspring of the woman's heel, the offspring will crush the serpent's head.  This plays out in the story of Jael, Deborah, Barak and Sisera (see Judges 4 & 5).

Israel had been cruelly oppressed by the Caananite king for about 20 years.  King Jabin and Commander Sisera were a fearsome twosome of leaders, ones who sound like they showed little to no mercy.

Israel, led by Deborah and Barak, fought mightily that day, routing all the 900 iron chariots and all King Jabin's army.  But Sisera escaped alone and fled on foot for something like 10-12 kms.

He was a totally exhausted man but eventually found Jael and her tent.  She, despite her Kenite clan branch being at peace with her huband Heber's house and the King of Hazor, Jael took up her everyday tools - a tent peg and a mallot, and did a very courageous thing.

Having lured and lulled Sisera to sleep, she 'crushed' the head of Sisera as he slept.  Israel, God's chosen people, were liberated that day by a distant relative of Moses.  This, to me, is a parallel to Satan's head being crushed under the bruised heel of the offspring.

Some similar incidents happen even today.  Children come to Sunday School and learn of Jesus and even accept Him as Savior of their lives.  Their lives change, as young as they may be, for the better.  It is noticed at home.  A home that is a non-Christian home.  The children speak too much about Jesus.  This disrupts and upsets the parents who follow other gods.  God and Satan are at enmity again.

These are prototypes of the real thing.  That is, not only Jesus' death where His heel was bruised, but also His resurrectin, where He bruised Satan's head.  This is where Jesus' being alive showed He'd conquered sin, death and Hell.  The serpent, the form Satan took, or its body Satan used, definitely was defeated.

And in a day to come, the final sentence upon Satan will be executed.  Read this ...

" ... and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10 ESV).

Satan's final everlasting crushing doom is comng.  Followers of Jesus Christ will triumphantly enter Heaven to be with Him forever and ever.  This day is coming by and by.  This is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This grace is with us now to carry us through our earthly days, as we fight the inevitable spiritual warfare, until Jesus comes.  Perhaps, today.

We praise You Father God, for all You have done for us through Your Son Jesus Christ.  You are so Almighty and All Knowing.  Even from the beginning of time You had it all mapped out.  The bruising and crushing and the salvation plan.  We cannot thank You enough.

And as we reach for the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine, symbols of that epic day, God's love brought us salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection, we remember all You've done for us in crushing Satan and bringing us redemption through Jesus.

In Jesus' most precious name we give You our praise and heartfelt thanks.  Amen.

                                                   ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on Romans 16:20; Genesis 3:15;  and  Revelation 20:10 ESV.

Sing, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Unbridled Knowledge (1 Corinthians 8: 3specially vs 1 ESV)

 Grackles and pigeons and likely other fine feathered friends, puff themselves up when they wish to attract a mate with whom to have a courtship and family.  They want to look bigger, more impressive and maybe shriek and coo respectively to gain the female's favor.  That is their instinctive knowledge.

People like to gain knowledge and that can be a good thing.  However, if one is not humble, one can become 'puffed up' proud with what they know, letting their whole world know about it all, be it actually little or much.

Paul,  in 1 Corinthians 8 says, 

"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (vs 1).  

If a person is so busy strutting their stuff, it leaves little to no room for others to say their pieces.  People who actually really know.  This lack of interest in others and what they have to say can be hurtful to those folks who've been cut off.

In this case, it's regarding eating food offered to idols.  Puffed up people may say, "just eat it" but that could marr another's conscience and could even cause another brother or sister to stumble.  It does not show loving care or consideration for another believer's conscience and situation.

Loving others with God's unconditional caring love, is the priority in God's book.  This is the knowledge we need to know and put into action - humbly.

Lord, may we wield our knowledge appropriatedly, encapsulated with Your love.  Help us to avoid unbridled knowledge and pride.  This we ask in Your name.  Amen.

                                                 ~  ERC  May  2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 8: especially vs 1 ESV.

Sing, Will You Be An Overcomer, along with Musikahan Corner.