S – Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love

1 Corinthians  13:13 CSB

O – Commentary:  “…“faith and hope,” as well as “charity,” abide; namely, after the extraordinary gifts have ceased; for those three are necessary and sufficient for salvation at all times, whereas the extraordinary gifts are not at all so; compare the use of “abide,” 1 Co 3:14. Charity, or love, is connected specially with the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of the loving union between the brethren (Ro 15:30; Col 1:8). Faith is towards God. Hope is in behalf of ourselves. Charity is love to God creating in us love towards our neighbor. 

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 

A – All three – faith, hope and love are necessary for salvation.  The driving force of the three is love.  We need to bring all three into each day knowing they are working together for our good and God’s purposes.

R – Lord, thank you that the foundation of our relationship is the love you have for us.  You demonstrated this when Jesus went to the cross.  We can walk in that love today.  We can have faith in you because you are a big God – you have no limitations and there is no other god besides you.  We can have hope that you because we know you are present with us today.

S – Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Paul’s (here proto-trinitarian) triple repetition of the same thought in three ways (“there are varieties of … but the same …”) reinforces his point in a way that rhetorically sensitive ancient audiences would have appreciated (in *rhetoric, anaphora began successive clauses the same way). Paul emphasizes that all the gifts are different but all are useful; hence a Christian with one gift is not more or less important than another Christian with a different gift.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Each person and gift is important to the body of Christ.  We want to elevate people because of their gift, usually revolving around “the stage.”  This is a great reminder that each role is crucial to the effectiveness of the body.  And, we should walk humbly knowing that the Holy Spirit is the source of our gift, not ourselves.

R – Lord, thank you for the gifts and blessings you have put on my life.  You are my source.  Help me to steward this gift so you will receive glory and others will see your love.  Help me to exercise it so that I operate it at the highest level.  Help me to see how I serve the body of Christ in my use.

S – On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 CSB

O – This is the instruction of communion.  The body is the sacrifice given in our place and the blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins.

A – Communion is one of my favorite biblical traditions.  There is a deep intimacy when I take communion. To remember specifically the sacrifice that Jesus made is important.  It was the ultimate sacrifice…and when I didn’t deserve it.  The forgiveness of sins gives me hope that even in my imperfection, there is hope…even when I didn’t deserve it again. 

R – Lord, your love for me is immense.  It is unfathomable that your love would allow your Son to die in my place.  The pain endured in sacrificing His body so that I could be made whole.  The blood shed so I can have my sins forgiven…it all speaks to love beyond comprehension.  And, I get a relationship with you.  Thank you for the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

S – No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

O – Although we are unique in our creation, the things that tempt us are the same.  God allows temptation to be part of our life but not beyond our threshold.   And He gives us another path to pursue.

A – It is easy for me to think my temptation is unique because our human flesh is “me” focused.  The more I put my focus on God, I can see that my temptation is part of the refining and maturing process.  God doesn’t want me to stumble but knows it works in my character and relationship with Him. He gives us the Holy Spirit and alternative ways to pursue fulfillment that line up with His Word.

R – Lord, when the temptations come, help me to put my focus on You and not me.  Give me the strength and courage to pursue the path that You lay out before me to conquer this temptation.  Let this be part of my refining process that yields God-honoring results.

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. 

 Christian Standard Bible

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

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

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

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

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.