Monday, July 21, 2014

Today's Bible reading is the 11th chapter of the Book of 1st Corinthians. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NASB&search=1%20Corinthians%2011

Praised because they had remembered Paul and "in everything" had held "firmly to the traditions" as he had delivered them, the apostle could not praise the Corinthian church for their interactions when they would "come together". Completely opposite of God's intended purpose for His people to gather together, the Corinthians had not been gathering together for the better but for the worse. They had turned their gathering together for the Lord's supper into a fleshly demonstration of division, strife, judging of one another, self indulgence, etc.. It was all in stark contrast to what we find elsewhere in scripture regarding doing that which is for the better and not for the worse. Here is a list of such admonitions found that are clearly "for the better". Love one another or abound in love for one another. Encourage one another. Comfort one another. Be devoted to one another. Give preference to one another. Build up one another. Don't judge one another. Accept one another. Admonish one another. Care for one another. Greet one another. Serve one another. Bear one another's burdens. Be subject to one another. Speak to one another. Be kind to one another. Show tolerance for one another. Regard one another as more important than yourself. Bear with one another. Live in peace with one another. Stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another. Be hospitable to one another. Cloth yourself with humility towards one another. Serve one another. By God's grace and His indwelling Holy Spirit, may we strive to do that which is for the better and refrain from doing those things that are for the worse.

No comments: