Today’s reading: Num 30:1–16, 1 Cor 12:12–13:13, Ps 25:1–22

Today’s theme: A better way

The ‘better way’ that cuts to the heart of the controversy over varied gifts and the use of those gifts, is love. We could be very gifted both naturally and spiritually, but without love it is not worth anything. This should be the heart and driving force of the Christian’s life; love for God and love for others because when all the gifts lose their use in the coming kingdom, love will remain.

Numbers 30:1–16

God overrides our folly

But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he opposes her, then he makes void her vow that was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she bound herself. And the LORD will forgive her. Numbers 30:8 (ESV)

God is our Father and we are the Bride of Christ, so in this way, there is a spiritual lesson to learn. We may say or declare something which later becomes a prison or burden to us, but God can reverse the foolish things we declare in our folly and lack of knowledge, because His words and decrees are more powerful than ours and because we are in a relationship with Him. He is our covering, head and authority. Jesus told us to avoid foolish vows but to make our conversation plain by simply saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’, in Matthew 5:37.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13:13

People of the Spirit

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)

All Christians are baptised and have the Holy Spirit living in them. We are by definition, spiritual people or people of the Spirit. The Spirit is what essentially distinguishes us from the unbelievers and marks the beginning of our lives in Christ (see Galatians 3:2–3).

The Holy Spirit above all is what makes a person a child of God, without the Holy Spirit we cannot be born again. This common source and entry into God’s kingdom should cause us to walk in unity, despite cultural and ethnic diversity. We are a new community in Christ.

Purpose and function in the body

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV)

We should not be focused on position but on purpose and function in the body. We have the gifts and position that God has given to us, He has arranged the body and He knows what will be the greatest blessing for the body as a whole and for the sake of the glory of His name and kingdom. So, let us joyfully embrace the purpose that God has for us in the body.

Interdependence in the body

which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:24–26 (ESV)

We have interdependence to one another in the body, God has designed the body of Christ in this way so that we care for one another.

We are not all the same

Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:30 (ESV)

The answers to these rhetorical questions are ‘no’. We are not all prophets, we do not all work miracles or speak with or interpret tongues etc. This is Paul’s point, we all have different gifts, callings and positions in the diverse but unified body of Christ.

Love, the better way

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV)

Paul is now outlining the better way, which is not to use our gifts to outdo each other, build ourselves up, or in a competitive spirit, but to use these gifts in love for our fellow believers and to build them up.

Paul begins this line of reasoning by using three hyperbolic (extreme) examples of the use of spiritual gifts and endeavours, he pitches them against love and concludes that without love, these great gifts are nothing.

The gifts should never be used aside from love, otherwise the gifts can be abused and lead the one using the gift, into a false sense of security and ultimate fruitlessness (I am nothing, I gain nothing). Love is essential.

What love is and is not

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)

Paul gives us a wonderful poetic description of love, stating what it is and what it is not. Try replacing the word love with our own name, it is a good exercise to help you meditate on the way Agape love functions in your life.

Love will never be surpassed

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

When the new heaven and earth come and we see God face to face, the gifts will be surpassed but love will never be surpassed. Love is eternal and is more important than anything else in the Christian life.

Psalm 25:1–22

Ask God to lead and teach you

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4–5 (ESV)

This should be the humble and needy prayer of our hearts today, how deeply we need God to teach and instruct us. Thank God that we now have the Spirit of Truth to guide and lead us into all truth, in accordance with God’s word as Jesus tells us in John 14:15-17, John 15:26 and John 16:13.

Friends with the Lord

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 25:14 (ESV)

Only those who fear and obey the Lord can truly be called His friends. In John 15:15 Jesus said “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 13

Today’s reading: Num 29:1–40, 1 Cor 11:17–12:11, Ps 24:1–10

Today’s theme: Gifted to serve

The spiritual gifts given to us by God the Holy Spirit, are not to build up or to serve ourselves, every gift has been given so that we can serve others with them, this way we build the body and bring glory to God. We should not use our gifts to show off or to compete with each other. We also see the messianic meaning of the feasts.

Numbers 29:1–40

The meaning of the feasts

“These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.” Numbers 29:39 (ESV)

All the Feasts point to spiritual realities in the New Testament, the following is adapted from the New Bible commentary: 21st century edition… “Passover points to Jesus’ crucifixion. The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (firstfruits) points to the sending of the Holy Spirit and the firstfruits of the gospel harvest (Acts 2). The Feast of Tabernacles points to Christ’s second coming at the close of the age, marking the end of the harvest.

The time between the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles was a busy period when Israel laboured for the harvest. Similarly, between Pentecost and the second coming labourers are sent to reap the harvest among the Gentiles (Mt 9:37–38; 13:30–39; Lk. 10:2; Jn. 4:35). At the end of the age, the harvest will be gathered in and the weeds thrown into the fire (Mt. 13:39; Mk. 4:29; Rev. 14:15)”.

1 Corinthians 11:17–12:11

God created order for men and women

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV)

This first half of 1 Corinthians 11, is a part of the New Testament that is the subject of much debate among biblical scholars. One thing we can certainly see in the issues dealt with before and after this section, is that Paul is concerned with proper Christian conduct within the church.

The point Paul is driving home is that there is order, rank and authority in God’s created order and even in the relationship between the Father and the Son. This should be reflected in creation and most clearly in the church.

A pressing point for Paul was to address the Corinthians’ tendency to allow male and female distinctions to become blurred (under the influence of the secular world around them at the time) – we have the same issues in today’s culture which is trying to make sexuality and creation roles so androgynous, so as to lose the distinction all together.

We must uphold the image of God within the church, men must dress and act as men and women as women, not in competition with each other but complementing one another.

God’s purpose in division

for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 1 Corinthians 11:19 (ESV)

The divisions in the Corinthian church were sometimes along social lines and betrayed the message of the Gospel, by giving preference to the rich. Paul summarises this activity as unbiblical and points to the divisions as a tool that God would use to weed out the church and to distinguish between those who were genuine and those in the flesh.

In Church history, division in the church has given rise to the firmer definition of  our doctrines, creed and confessions, just like germs in a body give rise to antibodies making the body stronger.

Self examination

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)

We are reminded of this at every Lord’s Supper and must take the command seriously, we really need to examine our hearts towards God and our fellow believers and if we have not been walking as we ought to, then we should refrain from taking the Lord’s supper until we have made things right. Self examination should be a daily Christian discipline.

A variety of gifts

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (ESV)

This is such a wonderful passage, God has given a diverse variety of gifts to the Church through the members of the Church, we do not all have the same gift, all our gifts and callings are different. Another amazing thing about this passage is that the entire Trinity is involved in the distribution of the varied gifts to the Church. The Spirit, The Lord Jesus and God the Father.

Gifted to serve others

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

Our gifts are not for us but for the common good of our fellow believers, we are not supposed to use our gifts to build ourselves up or for our own advantage, but to lovingly serve the body of Christ.

Not everyone gets the same gifts

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)

Tongues and the interpretation of tongues, is a gift of the Spirit given to some rather than to all believers.

Some today say that a believer does not have the Holy Spirit unless they speak in tongues but this is a mistake as speaking in tongues is one of the list of possible gifts given to individuals, alongside prophecy, healing, words of wisdom etc.

As the final verse states, we cannot decide or dictate which gifts we are given, the Holy Spirit apportions to each person individually, according to His own will.

Psalm 24:1–10

The King of Glory

Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Psalm 24:8 (ESV)

Hallelujah, Jesus is the King of Glory!

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 12

Today’s reading: Num 28:1–31, 1 Cor 10:23–11:16, Ps 23:1–6

Today’s theme: Free to serve

We have been made free in Christ, but that freedom itself is a test of our standing and heart in Christ. How will we use it, to serve ourselves or to serve others? We should of course do the latter, we have been freed to lovingly serve and build others up in the body of Christ.

Numbers 28:1–31

Daily dedication and devotion

And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. Numbers 28:3 (ESV)

All these sacrifices find their ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, with the different types of sacrifices pointing towards various aspects of Jesus’ atoning work on the cross.

In this case we can also see a message for us directly. We should dedicate ourselves to consistent, daily, repeated (within each day, possibly the morning and the evening), times of prayer and reading the Bible (studying it and thinking it over). See Romans 12:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

1 Corinthians 10:23–11:16

Use freedom to serve others

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:23–24 (ESV)

The Corinthians were very much concerned with their rights and their freedom to do what they wanted to do and what pleased them. Paul reverses this and explains to them and to us that, the freedom and rights we have in Christ are not for our own benefit but so that we can become servants of all (Mark 9:35), purposefully building up fellow believers.

Paul bases this thinking on the teaching and example given to us by Jesus in His sacrificial suffering and death on the cross. Let us lay down our rights, freedom and lives to serve and build others.

Will this bring glory to God?

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

Paul was dealing with a new question in the church about eating meat that had been used in pagan sacrifice, this seemed like a grey area to the Corinthians which is why they asked the questions and contended over the issue.

Paul gives us a great test for assessing all the things we are not sure about… we can ask ourselves this question: “Will this bring glory to God?” We need to ensure that this is the overarching motivation in our hearts for everything that we do. We cannot compartmentalise our life so that a part of it brings glory to God and the rest is for our own pleasure – our entire life should bring glory to God.

Will this lead to salvation?

just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:33 (ESV)

Another guiding principle for our thinking and behaviour is the desire to see others saved.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 11

Today’s reading: Num 27:1–23, 1 Cor 10:1–22, Ps 22:14–31

Today’s theme: A way of escape

God has made a way of escape for every temptation facing His children, this should give us confidence and bring us comfort as we persevere. Other lessons today include God’s heart for His daughters to receive an inheritance, made available through the cross of Jesus, which is prophesied in today’s psalm reading.

Numbers 27:1–23

God’s daughters

“The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. Numbers 27:7 (ESV)

The bible makes it very clear that God’s heart for women is one of love and justice. In the ancient world and in many cultures around the world today, women have no rights and are treated like possessions. This makes the boldness of these 5 daughters and God’s positive response so important.

Men and women are of course different, but in Christ we all share the same promises and inheritance. God has a purpose for every woman’s life, including those with no male covering.

We must be bold in approaching God to claim the inheritance He has for us. See Ephesians 1:3 and Hebrews 11:6.

Laying of hands

So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Numbers 27:18 (ESV)

The baton of leadership would pass from Moses to Joshua. One of the qualifications for a godly leader is that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, Joshua was.

The laying on of hands was symbolic of the transferring or impartation of authority (or negatively the transferring of sins). This continues in the church, see Acts 6:6, 13:3, 1 Timothy 4:14, Hebrews 6:2.

1 Corinthians 10:1–22

Examples to learn from

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 1 Corinthians 10:6 (ESV)

This gives us a context for reading the Old Testament. Here and in other places in the New Testament, we are told that the things recorded in the scriptures are there as examples and warnings for us to learn from. See Romans 15:4 and 2 Timothy 3:16.

The lesson to be learned here is that we should not follow our cravings and lusts which lead to sin and rebellion (and then to discipline or judgement), but to submit to God in joy.

The pitfall of self-confidence

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)

Paul warns us against the pitfalls of self-confidence in our own knowledge or standing. We need to humbly rely on God or we risk falling.

A way of escape

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

In this particular case the tempting was the alluring power of idolatry, because of the suffering and persecution that abandoning its practise in Corinth would bring.

Our examples today may not be so obvious but we too are commonly tempted by our own selfish desires and held hostage by thoughts of being maligned socially among friends, family and at work, if we do not compromise and join them in the celebration of sin.

We must remember that God is faithful, He will give us strength to endure and provide a way of escape when we are under pressure to conform to the world. As the next verse says; take the way out and flee from idolatry or from whatever the compromising /challenging sin is that is tempting you or piling pressure on you.

Psalm 22:14–31

The Messiah would be pierced

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— Psalm 22:16 (ESV)

This is one of the clearest prophecies of the crucifixion that Jesus would endure, it is mentioned in a time when crucifixion was not practised by the people of Israel (even in Jesus’ time, it was a Roman form of execution).

Gambling at the cross

they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:18 (ESV)

The fulfilment of this prophecy is recorded in all 4 Gospel accounts, see Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34 and John 19:23.

The finished work

they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. Psalm 22:31 (ESV)

This points forward to Jesus finishing the work on the cross. John 19:30

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 10

Today’s reading: Num 26:1–65, 1 Cor 8:1–9:27, Ps 22:1–13

Today’s theme: Love builds up

In today’s reading we see the faithfulness of God to His own plans and to those who trust in Him.  We are exhorted to love and serve one another rather than use knowledge in a selfish way, to outdo each other or lord it over others. Let us build up our Messianic community (the church), by serving one another in love.

Numbers 26:1–65

God’s plans cannot be thwarted

This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730. Numbers 26:51 (ESV)

The total numbers in the new generation were not far from that of the first census (603,550 in the first compared to 601,730 in the second). If we are unfaithful to the Lord, it will not reduce the size of the Lord’s army but it will cause the size of our reward to diminish or to be completely lost. God’s plans and purposes always come to pass.

God proves Himself faithful

But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 26:64–65 (ESV)

It had been 40 years since the last census and all of the unbelieving generation had died in the wilderness. God proved Himself faithful in three ways:

1) He passed judgement as declared

2) He preserved the people through the wilderness journey

3) He kept the faithful Joshua and Caleb alive

As believers in Jesus, we are warned against being unbelieving and so never entering His rest, in Hebrews 3:7–4:2. We also learn that we lose nothing through faithfully waiting on God. We must find ourselves counted with the new believing and conquering generation, not with the unbelieving, wandering ones.

1 Corinthians 8:1–9:27

Love, over and above knowledge

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (ESV)

Paul is teaching the Corinthians that true Christianity is founded in love, not in knowledge.

Knowledge without love can lead to an elitist type of faith community, where those in the know are seen as superior to the ignorant. This is the opposite to the teaching of God’s word.

Self sacrificial love patterned after the love of Christ (shown in His death on the cross), builds up the church. Just because we know something does not mean we should act on that knowledge, we must first ask; “will this build up or hinder my fellow believer(s)?”

Today’s culture tells us that knowledge is power and that power gives us rights, but the bible teaches us that the real power is in serving one another, in love.

There is one God

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6 (ESV)

In an increasingly pluralistic society where it is popular to say that all religions lead to God, or that there are many gods, or even that we are gods – this verse is a refreshing reminder that the lying demons, false religions and wicked men are not really gods and cannot be compared to the one true God.

Idols are empty and without power, except over those that believe or fear them and the spirits behind them.

Psalm 22:1–13

The prophecy of the cross

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1 (ESV)

Jesus quoted this verse from the cross and in doing so, He points us to look at this psalm as prophetic and to understand His suffering, in light of it.

Prophecy fulfilled at the cross

“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Psalm 22:8 (ESV)

This is said to the Lord Jesus when He is on the cross, in Matthew 27:39–44. This also points to the fulfilment of prophecy. We can learn a lesson from Jesus’ response to those who dealt so cruelly with Him.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Love Builds Up