Finding Fulfillment
I Corinthians 15:27 GW Clearly, God has put everything under Christ's
authority. When God says that everything has been put under Christ's
authority, this clearly excludes God, since God has put everything
under Christ's authority.

There are not multiple ways to Heaven. All roads/religions do not lead
to the same place and to hold this belief is not to have studied
different religions, many of which are diametrically opposed to one
another. It also means not understanding the message of Christ.
Religions have us "doing," reaching out to "god." Religion is
self-centered, about ME.

Christ isn't religion. He is real and personal and gave His life for
ours. He, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, reached out in time
and space to offer hope and life.

There is only One who reaches out to You and Me, the only one who does
not change, who is here when we seek Him--no matter what.

There is only one way to fulfillment and to life both now and for
eternity, that is the way of the cross and Savior who loved enough to
reach my heart.

V. 57 GW Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Freedom or Restriction
Psalm 64:10 MKJV The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall
trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Many believe following God and His principles leads to restrictions,
boredom and no happiness. The opposite is the truth. When we trust and
follow Him, we find freedom as well as joy. Do we truly trust Him--not
tradition or human restrictions? If we know Jesus and study His Word,
we will know the difference between God's freedom and human, even
“churchified” but not God-blessed, restrictions.

Help me, Jesus, live in Your freedom. Amen.

Contradiction
John 9:6-7 WEB When he (Jesus) had said this, he spat on the ground,
made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man's eyes with the mud,
and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means
"Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.

Many think believing is enough, but true belief has two aspects: trust
and obedience (actions).

Believing means trusting God's Word enough to do what He asks of us.
It is trusting He is trustworthy, and a commitment to ask for
guidance, listen for direction and choosing to act on that direction.

Belief is not belief if our choices contradict what we claim to
believe. Do mine?

Why Don't I Get it?
Psalm 119:142 GW Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your teachings are reliable.

God doesn't change with time and circumstance. He can be relied upon
no matter what. He is a foundation that is not shaken or moved
regardless or circumstances. Why do I have so much difficulty in
trusting Him? And why do I persist in doing things my way, knowing how
badly I goof up when I do so?

Help me, Jesus, let go my stubborn pride and wayward heart to trust
the One who truly cares and has a clue to the future--You. Amen.

My Attitude Shouldn't Depend on Yours
I Corinthians 13:5,7 GW It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself.
It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs. ...Love never
stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never
gives up.

What a concept--not keeping track of wrongs! How often do we keep
track of mistakes, real or imagined wrongs against us, against those
we love, maybe even against our particular "group" or nation. Do we
tally up wrongs even against ourselves and call ourselves "stupid?"

Love, real love, God's love doesn't keep a list and doesn't replace
love with hurtful actions. Maybe one way to start repairing self-image
and relationships is to bring "wrongs" to the cross and leave them
there. Letting go anger and resentment and "lists" frees us for love
and hope...and joy.

Gender Respect
I Corinthians 11:11 GW Yet, as believers in the Lord, women couldn't
exist without men and men couldn't exist without women.

We live in a culture where women often despise men and where men treat
women as objects. This all comes from walking away from God's
principles for both individuals and marriage. Instead of being people
of integrity and honor, we look out for "the main chance." Shading
truth and constantly being concerned with "me" is a national pastime.

In considering only what makes ME feel good, we treat others with
disrespect. God's love changes our point of view from ME to Jesus and
our perspective from mine to His, seeing myself and others through His
eyes.

When we know we are worthy in His eyes, it makes all the difference in
how we view and treat others--men and women.

Impossible Choices
I Corinthians 10:13 GW God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will
not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you
are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the
temptation as your way of escape.

Life is a choice. We have a choice to do good or evil. There are times
when it seems any choice we make is wrong and we must choose the best
among bad choices. Such decisions preclude one important
factor--Christ.

If we serve Him, our primary job is to discern His will. Knowing His
principles gives us direction in making choices, but asking Him for
guidance, waiting for it, then following it can give us a whole new
perspective on seemingly impossible choices.

When things are tough, am I willing to wait on Him and trust His way
is still the way to go?

Psalm 119:105 KJV Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Spiritual Goals
I Corinthians 9:25 GW Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes
into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do
it to win one that will be permanent.

When we exercise, we often buy a membership or spend money on exercise
equipment. We put time and effort and discipline into losing weight or
living healthy. We know that without effort we will not reach our
goal.

Yet, how much time, effort and discipline do we put into our spiritual
life and growth? Do we consider a physically healthy body that will
die of more value than a healthy spiritual soul that has eternal
ramifications?

Where are my priorities? Do I need to make some changes to put God
first, learning from Him through regularly reading His Word,
communicating with Him and fellowshipping with His people?

Am I Willing to Share?
I Corinthians 8:6-7a GW But for us, "There is only one God, the
Father. Everything came from him, and we live for him. There is only
one Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything came into being through him, and we
live because of him." But not everyone knows this....

If not everyone knows Jesus as Creator, Lord and Savior, what kind of
person am I if I refuse to share Jesus with those who don't know Him?
We live in a culture of hurting people, do I let fear and/or
embarrassment keep me from helping others know the healing and hope
they can find in Him? What does my reticence says about me and my
faith in Christ?

Please, Lord, make me bold in You that I may share Your love--even
when I am scared of the consequences. Amen.

Show Not Tell
Psalm 119:73-74 KJV Your hands have made me and formed me; give me
understanding so that I may learn Your commandments. They who fear You
will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in Your word.

May I show others by my life as well as words, I serve You, Jesus. May
others know hope because my life and choices lead them to You. Amen.

Biggest Losers
I Corinthians 6:16-18a GW Don't you realize that the person who
unites himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her? God says,
"The two will be one."
However, the person who unites himself with the Lord becomes one
spirit with him. Stay away from sexual sins....

We live in a culture of sexual experimentation, diversity and
permissiveness. Individuals , marriages and families are hurt
physically, emotionally, and spiritually every day because God's
principles are trampled on. Children are the big losers. Many may not
know their parents, or wish they didn't or are abused by "live-ins."
We cannot disregard God's principles for purity, marriage and families
with impunity.

We can make a difference in how we live our lives, by being faithful
mates, and by being careful what we put into our hearts and minds
through where we go, what we do, and what we see and read.

Does my life reflect God's purity?

V. 20 You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way
you use your body.

Everlasting Arms
No matter what happens in my life, I'm glad God is there. He cares
and He never lets me go—even when I don't trust Him the way I should.

The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the
everlasting arms; ... Deuteronomy 33:27a NAS

Power-Made
Psalm 119:64 KJV O LORD, the earth is full of Your mercy; teach me
Your statutes.

God isn't some cranky, power-mad despot waiting for and hoping we
fail. He knows we will. He wants us to trust Him enough to believe He
loves us and has our best in mind/heart. He desires to bless us, but
first we need to trust and follow Him.

Do I trust Him enough to listen to Him and follow His advice instead
of my own agenda, trust His way is best and will lead to my best life
ever? Do I recognize His blessing and give thanks?

Reading into Scripture
I Corinthians 4:6 GW Brothers and sisters, I have applied this to
Apollos and myself for your sake. You should learn from us not to go
beyond what is written in Scripture. Then you won't arrogantly place
one of us in opposition to the other.

Too often when we do read the Bible, we read into it what we want it
to say rather than let God's Word speak to us. We cannot come to
Scripture with an agenda if we want to hear God speak. Only as we "let
go" and truly "hear" will we find healing, help and hope.

How do I "read" God's Word? Do I wait for God to speak to me?

Staying on Track
I Corinthians 3: 4-6 GW When some of you say, "I follow Paul" and
others say, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting like sinful humans?
Who is Apollos? Who is Paul? They are servants who helped you come
to faith. Each did what the Lord gave him to do. I planted, and
Apollos watered, but God made it grow.

There are charismatic Christian leaders. Many of them Godly and
honorable, others not so much. Our problem is a tendency to fix our
eyes not on Jesus, but on one of these leaders.

Yes, it can be helpful to listen to good teaching, but when we
substitute a human's words for God's we have a problem. Once we test
everything not by God's Word and His voice within, but by the words of
a human, we have made ourselves vulnerable to deception. Human beings
are fallen. Only God is perfect. Only as we keep our eyes, minds and
hearts fixed on Him alone will we stay on track and not be misled by
others, however eloquent or well-meaning, not be misled by our own
fallen heart.

V. 11 MKJV For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being
laid, who is Jesus Christ.