S – Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people
1 Corinthians 9:19 CSB
O – Even with the freedom that comes with knowing Christ, Paul puts “constraints” on himself that would appeal to people. This gave him a stronger voice in sharing the gospel with people.
A – There is a healthy tension of walking in true freedom and constraint. It starts with us, we need to truly grow in our relationship with God to comprehend the freedom He gives us. It is in that freedom that we can apply restraint where it doesn’t constrict us but empowers us in our message with others. We do those things based on love for others instead of doing our duty or compulsion.
R – Lord, thank you for the freedom you provided for us on the cross. In knowing you, you have liberated me from the things that would bring distance from you. Help me to use that as a foundation to interact with others in such a way that brings relationship with them.
S – Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.
O – Commentary: It is those who truly love God—not just those who know all the answers—who are acknowledged by God as his own (see 13:12; Gal 4:9). • the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes: Some manuscripts read the person who loves has full knowledge
A – Knowledge is good. Knowledge of God is good. But if we don’t accompany it with love, we really only know part of the equation. We only have the facts about God. But if we love, then we get the relationship part that opens up all the mysteries and character of God.
R – Lord, I want to know and be known by you fully. Growing in my knowledge of you is wonderful. Yet, it is more important to be known by you in a relationship and that requires love on my part. I want to continue to grow in that love each day.
S – A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does
1 Corinthians 7:4 CSB
O – Commentary: Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, married Christians must always be considerate of the sexual needs of their spouses. Sexual intimacy is a mutual right for both spouses in a marriage and must not be withheld. Marriage means yielding the authority over one’s body to one’s spouse, though such authority is clearly not to be abused
A – Each spouse needs to give their best to their spouse, whether in thoughts, words or actions. Sex is also in this principle. It is mutually given and received. Good communication and genuine care for each other should provide an avenue of sexual fulfillment.
R – Lord, thank you for our spouses. They are a gift from you. Help us to honor and cherish them today in a way that allows them to know we value them. Continue to help us to grow in our relationship with them a healthy relationship with them in all expressions, including our sexual relationship.
S – Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:18 CSB
O – Paul exhorts believers to run away from all sexual sin. It affects our body and our soul.
A – This isn’t just for youth. All people need to be aware of the dangers of sexual immorality. There is a connection made in it that is deep and harmful.
R – Lord, thank you for the gift of sex. Help us to express it in a way that honors you and our wives.
S – For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? 13 God judges outsiders
1 Corinthians 5:12–13 CSB
O – A believer does not pass judgment on the non-believer. Those who are leading others inside the church do come under a higher level of scrutiny. God will judge all people.
A – Judgement is a slippery slope. It is God’s responsibility to judge the heart of people. When their actions don’t line up with God’s word, it is the responsibility of church leadership to determine the course of action. As someone who has been involved with this, it is challenging.
R – Lord, I thank you that you love everyone and want to see all come into a relationship with you. Where you judge the heart, we hold people accountable for their actions. Start with us. We must examine ourselves first if we are going to serve others. Lead us by your Spirit and give us wisdom. Finally, fill us with courage and empathy so that we can address the behavior while loving the person.
S – A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. 2 In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:1–2 CSB
O – These verses refer to the teachers, Paul, Apollos and Cephas. It is a good description of all Christians. We need to diligently steward the things the Lord has revealed to us in our relationship with Him.
A – Whether a minister by vocation or not, all believers are sharing the Gospel with their lifestyle, words and actions. We need to steward all that God has given us so others may find Christ as well.
R – Lord, thank you my relationship with you. Help me to steward all the you have given me. As I grow in your truth, help me to be faithful. I am grateful for the mysteries that you reveal to me. Let them be fruitful in my life and in the life of others.
S – Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 CSB
O – This had a collective and individual meaning. Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to recognize that they were the church, not a building. Also, individually, each person had the indwelling of God’s Spirit. Both cast a sober responsibility to use our physical bodies and minds in a way that honors the spiritual presence within us.
A – If we think, speak or act today knowing that God’s presence was standing next to us, would it change the expression? Would we invite Him into it or would it embarrass our relationship with Him? We are not perfect but we continue to grow.
R – Lord, you are gracious in your desire to be present with us. We invite you into all we think, say and do today. Your presence is a precious gift you give us each day. Help us to leverage that into a growing, vibrant relationship with you.
S – Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10 CSB
O – Commentary:
revealed … by … Spirit— The secrets of revelation are secret to some, not because those who know them will not reveal them (for indeed, the very notion of revelation implies an unveiling of what had been veiled), but because those to whom they are announced have not the will or power to comprehend them. Hence the Spirit-taught alone know these secrets (Ps 25:14; Pr 3:32; Jn 7:17; 15:15).
unto us—the “perfect” or fully matured in Christian experience (1 Co 2:6). Intelligent men may understand the outline of doctrines; but without the Holy Spirit’s revelation to the heart, these will be to them a mere outline—a skeleton, correct perhaps, but wanting life (Lu 10:21).
the Spirit searcheth—working in us and with our spirits (compare Ro 8:16, 26, 27). The Old Testament shows us God (the Father) for us. The Gospels, God (the Son) with us. The Acts and Epistles, God (the Holy Ghost) in us [Monod], (Ga 3:14).
deep things of God—(Ps 92:5). His divine nature, attributes, and counsels. The Spirit delights to explore the infinite depths of His own divine mind, and then reveal them to us, according as we are capable of understanding them (De 29:29). This proves the personality and Godhead of the Holy Ghost. Godhead cannot be separated from the Spirit of God, as manhood cannot be separated from the Spirit of man [Bengel].
A – This is a great description of the working of the Holy Spirit. God’s word and will is in plain sight to all people. It is words, principles and anyone can understand it. Yet, all of us are spiritual beings. The Holy Spirit works in us to “bring life” to the same words and it brings us to an ongoing relationship with God, through Christ. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to do this each day so our relationship will grow.
R – Lord, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I invite the Holy Spirit to bring to life your words. and help me to grow in my relationship with you. I ask for you to unveil the mysteries that I need to comprehend so that I will grow in my wisdom, understanding, compassion and empathy. Bring to life the things in my life that are dormant and quiet anything that would bring opposition.
S – Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:24–25 CSB
O – Commentary:
called— The same class as the “us which are (being) saved” (1 Co 1:18); the elect, who have obeyed the call; called effectually (Ro 8:28, 30).
Christ—“Crucified” is not here added, because when the offense of the cross is overcome, “Christ” is received in all His relations, not only in His cross, but in His life and His future kingdom.
power—so meeting all the reasonable requirements of the Jews who sought “a sign.” The cross (the death of a slave), which to the Jews (looking for a temporal Messiah) was a “stumbling-block,” is really “the power of God” to the salvation of all who believe.
wisdom of God—so really exhibiting, and in the highest degree (if they would but see it), that which the Greeks sought after—wisdom (Col 2:3).
foolishness of God—that is, God’s plan of salvation which men deem “foolishness.”
weakness of God—Christ “crucified through weakness” (2 Co 13:4, the great stumbling-block of the Jews), yet “living by the power of God.” So He perfects strength out of the weakness of His servants (1 Co 2:3; 2 Co 12:9).
A – Jews sought a sign and power and Gentiles wisdom. And we can still do this today. We want to see what God can do and want the wisdom to validate how special we are. Christ was killed in humility and simplicity yet He possessed all the glory and wisdom. When we walk like Christ, we will confound others in our “approach” but they will not be able to deny His substance.
S – But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’ ”
Mark 16:7 CSB
O – Commentary: The women were given a task. They were to go and tell Jesus’ disciples that they would be reunited with Him in Galilee. The words and Peter, unique to Mark, are significant since much of Mark’s material likely came from Peter. He was singled out not because of his preeminence among the disciples but because he was forgiven and still included in the Eleven despite his triple denial (cf. 14:66–72).
“Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – Peter is called out by God. When we are in our lowest, God meets us there. When He still believes in us that there is more, He is there. God had a plan and a purpose for Peter and he was thinking he was done because of his denial. We all have done stuff that brings distance from God…He closes the distance.
R – Lord, thank you that you do not want any separation from us. You desire a relationship even when we don’t deserve it. You forgive and restore. Help me to accept that forgiveness and move towards you instead of away. Let me accept your grace and peace today.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 