Author: Beth Morrison

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezra 8:21-9:15 ESV, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV, Psalm 31:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 21:1-2 ESV

Daily Verse: “For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.” (1 Cor. 5:3 ESV)

APEIMI (548): “This word means to go away, depart and hence to be absent (1 Cor. 5:3).”[i]

Go away.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Holy Spirit connects us even though apart.  The church of Corinth overlooked a person of power’s sin, not reprimanding him because of his societal position. Influential people get away with things because others don’t want to cross them. After all, the good outweighs the bad.  Jesus doesn’t care how much money people have; He looks at the heart.

Christ departed the earth, sending the Holy Spirit in His place.  When we enter into a relationship with Jesus through faith, we tap into the spiritual network Christ offers. 

Ron and I have a network of computers in our homes.  From our garage, the center of our technological world, signals reverberate throughout the house.  Sitting on my couch and writing on my laptop, the Wi-Fi connects me to our network’s central unit in the garage.

Signal strength matters.

When I connect to the router in our garage, I receive a strong connection because of my proximity.  But if I sit across the street in the courtyard, I can’t connect.  The distance between me and the router means I can’t pick up the signal.

We have the opportunity to get as close to Jesus as we want.  Deciding to pursue Christ through scripture, hanging with other believers, and praying draws us closer to the router, strengthening our connection. 

Paul’s walk with Christ made him extremely sensitive to Jesus’s Spirit.  Knowing how much God’s heart breaks when we sin, Paul’s heart also broke.  When we don’t acknowledge the sin in our lives, we can experience a break in connection with Jesus.  Guilt keeps us from approaching the throne and asking for forgiveness.

Acknowledge the sin in your life, and lay it at the foot of the cross.  Receive God’s grace and mercy as restoration comes from following Jesus.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 33) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezra 7:1-8:20 ESV, 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 ESV, Psalm 30:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 20:28-30 ESV

Daily Verse: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” (1 Cor. 4:1 ESV)

OIKONOMOS (3623): “Primarily denoted “the manager of a household or estate” (oikos, “a house,” nemo, “to arrange”), of preachers of the gospel and teachers of the Word of God, 1 Cor. 4:1.”[i]

House to arrange.

As Christ followers, we become stewards of the mysteries of God.  In other words, God wants us to share what we know about Him with others.  We transfer truth to those who don’t know it. 

What others think of our actions doesn’t matter; what God thinks does.  So, as you introduce others to Jesus, remember that God watches all we do.  The final judgment comes from above; Jesus exposes our misdeeds.  Following Christ closely will help you do your job well.

Serve first.

Paul calls the Corinthians servants of Christ who must steward God’s mysteries.  Serving others helps you draw them closer to Jesus.  As you learn of their needs, meeting them to the best of your ability, you will have opportunities to talk about Jesus. 

Tell others how Jesus impacts your life.  Explain to them what life changes occurred once you started following Christ.  Share the mysteries of God working in your life with those around you.  Help them discover what you found when you placed your faith in Jesus.

And just like arranging furniture in a house, it happens one piece at a time.  First, you place your faith in Jesus and then follow Him.  Learning about Christ in the scriptures will help you apply His teachings to your life.  As you do, life will take on new meaning, everything has a purpose, and God will give you opportunities to share your faith with others.

Become a trustworthy servant of Christ and share God’s mysteries with others.  Stewarding the good news of the Gospel happens when you tell others what Jesus does for you.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 176) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezra 4:24-6:22 ESV, 1 Corinthians 3:5-23 ESV, Psalm 29:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 20:26-27 ESV

Daily Verse: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.” (1 Cor. 3:10 ESV)

THEMELIOS (2310): “Something put down, i.e., a substruction (of a building, etc.).  Properly an adjective denoting “belonging to a foundation.”  It is used of “the ministry of the gospel and the doctrines of the faith,” 1 Cor. 3:10.”[i]

Solid substruction.

Building a solid foundation for your faith will help others build theirs.  Growing and maturing require encouragement.  One of the beautiful things about faith in Jesus, you don’t have to do the work alone.

Every house has a foundation of some sort, either brick or cement.  The materials used to sustain the building have to hold tremendous weight.  If you don’t put something on the bottom that can hold the rest of the house, the first strong winds will cause the house to fall.

In the same way, if we don’t begin our faith journey with the solid rock, when storm winds blow, we’ll lose our way.

Firm base.

In high school, I participated in cheerleading.  Because of my athletic build, the coach made me a base.  Every time we performed a stunt, the lighter girls climbed on top of me to their positions.  The entire pyramid would tumble if the squad didn’t have firm bases.  A slight move could cause someone to fall; bases must remain steady and strong.

Jesus never moves.  The world changes, but God remains the same.  No matter how harsh the winds blow, nothing shakes the Rock.  Living life to the fullest means trusting your foundation of faith.  The slightest gust will blow you off course if you don’t have Jesus as your base.

And just like we needed a squad of cheerleaders to build a pyramid, God uses other believers to help build our faith. Believers journey together, encouraging each other and building each other up in their faith.  God’s kingdom grows when we work together, trusting Jesus as our foundation and helping others do the same.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 114) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezra 3:1-4:23 ESV, 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4 ESV, Psalm 28:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 20:24-25 ESV

Daily Verse: “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” (1 Cor. 2:7 ESV)

MUSTERION (3466): “Among the ancient Greeks ‘the mysteries’ were religious rites and ceremonies practiced by secret societies into which any one who so desired might be received.  Those who were initiated into these ‘mysteries’ became possessors of certain knowledge, which was not imparted to the uninitiated, and were called ‘the perfected’ are, of course the believers, who alone can perceive the things revealed; Christ, who is God Himself revealed under the conditions of human life, and submitting even to death, 1 Cor. 2:1,7, but raised from among the dead, that the will of God to coordinate the universe in Him, and subject it to Him, might in due time be accomplished.”[i]

Things revealed.

God reveals things to us as we follow Him.  Become comfortable waiting for revelation.  In life’s journey, you will have “aha” moments; rarely does God give you the whole story all at once.  Instead, the Creator leads us along the path of righteousness one step at a time.

“God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road.” Karen Blixen[i]

Accepting we have a limited perspective opens the door for God’s revelation.  If we knew what lay ahead, we might not continue forward.  God wants us to follow, not lead.  Only when we trust His guidance will we learn the Big Guy’s secrets.

Trust and follow.

Everyone has something in their life they don’t understand.  A circumstance or situation that doesn’t make sense now will one day.  Until then, we must trust and follow, applying God’s principles to our lives.

As we align our hearts with God, things become more apparent.  We begin to understand the temporary nature of this world, living for the eternal rewards found in heaven.  Most of the things we worry about today won’t matter in 100 years or even 100 days.  But eternal life with God does.

Whatever the situation, look for God’s presence.  Ask God to guide you through the uncertainty of today.  Instead of trying to solve the problem in your strength, ask God for His revelation.  God provides the solution, but in His time, not yours.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 168 & 9) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://fiveminutehistory.com/out-of-africa-10-inspirational-quotes-from-karen-blixen/

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezra 1:1-2:70 ESV, 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 ESV, Psalm 27:7-14 ESV, Proverbs 20:22-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18 ESV)

MORIA (3472): “Silliness, i.e., absurdity: foolishness, and is used in 1 Cor. 1:18.”[i]

Foolishness.

No one can save themselves from their sin.  People who think they can consider the cross foolish.  Not believing in Jesus, they follow their path, leading to sorrowful places.

A Facebook meme caught my attention recently:

“The fact that there’s a highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic numbers.”

Having never read the non-Biblical meme before, it caused me to stop and think.  In my world, more people don’t follow Jesus than do.  Sunday mornings at church recharge me after fighting the good fight for Jesus with people who don’t care about Him.  Gathering with other believers strengthens my faith which wavers during the week. 

Powerful cross.

God does exist.  Many people attempt to prove the Big Guy doesn’t exist, but they can’t.  Ultimately, they make a conscious decision not to believe in Jesus.  Everyone gets to choose; Christ doesn’t force Himself on anyone.

Chatting with an atheist about God, I asked him how he couldn’t believe in His existence.  His response still baffles me.

“I know something exists beyond this life.  I’ve prayed and stuff before.  But God doesn’t exist; He just doesn’t.”

The conversation ended at that point. I realized my friend didn’t believe in God because of his decision.  God doesn’t call me to change people’s minds; He calls me to love them. Praying for people helps me fulfill God’s will.

For my friend, I pray he discovers the power of the cross.  Like Paul, who experienced Jesus on the road to Damascus, life change can happen anywhere to anyone.  When faced with someone who denies the power of the cross, begin with prayer.  Ask God to draw them to Him, softening their hearts and giving them eyes to see and ears to hear.

Then love them to the best of your ability, trusting God will bless your efforts.  None of us knows when life change will occur, but we do know that with Jesus, it does.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 169) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23 ESV, 1 Corinthians 1:1-17 ESV, Psalm 27:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 20:20-21 ESV

Daily Verse:  “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10 ESV)

KATARTIZO (2675): “Complete thoroughly, i.e., repair, perfectly joined together.  It expresses the pastor’s desire for the flock, in exhortation, 1 Cor 1:10, “perfectly joined.”[i]

Perfectly joined.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he pleads for unity.  Hearing reports of the division in the church, Paul points the people back to Jesus.  Instead of following the Savior, the congregation followed people, enamored with their message. 

God wants us unified in Christ.  Jesus offers salvation.  When we submit our lives to God, we become perfectly joined with Him.  Aligning our hearts with Jesus gives us our earthly mission: to love God and others.

Our point of intersection comes when we join together to fulfill the Great Commandment Jesus gave us.

Unified love.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 ESV)

Unity comes when we join together, loving God and people.  Completing our mission on earth only happens when we care for one another.  Love defines our purpose.  Only through Jesus can we unite with one another to fulfill our tasks.

Promote unity in the world by loving everyone you meet.  Seek God and receive the unconditional love He offers.  Let the Lord’s light shine through you as He pours into you.  Accepting Jesus’ gift changes your life and leads you to everlasting peace. 

In a divided world, strive to bring people together.  Imitate Christ, and show people what unconditional love looks like by your actions.  Lip service doesn’t unite, but loving acts of kindness do.

God tells us to love first and foremost.  When we seek God and care for others, we grow the kingdom.  Unity happens when we love well.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 133) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33 ESV, Romans 16:10-27 ESV, Psalm 26:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 20:19 ESV

Daily Verse: “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 17:18 ESV)

EULOGIA (2292 + 3306): Blessing, praise, thanksgiving, the extolling of another; in some contexts, excessive praise is improper: flattery; by extension, generosity and (giving of) gifts.”[i]

Excessive praise.

Paul warns believers about smooth talkers.  People who know the right thing to say to get what they want.  A salesperson trying to meet his quota will say anything to get you to buy his product.  False teachers try to fill your ears with empty words and lead you astray.

Becoming more self-aware happens when you follow Jesus.  Because we confess our sinful nature to Christ, we know our weaknesses.  When God exams our hearts, He exposes our vulnerabilities and helps us see ourselves more clearly.  By knowing ourselves, we can identify the manipulators in our life and avoid their company.

Choose wisely.

Select the people you surround yourself with to grow your relationship with Jesus. Identify the friends in your life who tell you the truth.  Instead of people telling you what you want to hear, develop relationships with people who tell you what you need to hear.

My friend Lori and I met in elementary school, if not sooner.  I can’t remember not knowing her.  She tells me the truth.  When unsure of something, I call her because she will tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear.

I also have friends who tell me what I want to hear; I take their words with a grain of salt.  Our relationships remain surface because they don’t speak the truth.  Their flattery falls on deaf ears.

Developing a network of friends who encourage and uplift you on the journey takes prayerful intent.  Allowing Jesus to work in your life will expose the false teachers who only flatter you with empty words. Live for the applause of one.  Seek God’s praise as you live your life for Him.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 113 & 160) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13 ESV, Romans 15:23-16:9 ESV, Psalm 25:16-22 ESV, Proverbs 20:16-18 ESV

Daily Verse: “For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.” (Romans 15:27 ESV)

SARKIKOS (4559): “Pertaining to flesh, i.e., bodily, temporal, or animal, unregenerate: carnal, fleshly.  Signifies having the nature of flesh, i.e., sensual, controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature, instead of by the Spirit of God.”[i]

Nature of flesh.

Sharing our blessings helps us keep perspective.  Giving away material possessions, especially the most treasured, challenges anyone. 

Because of the gas prices, I purchased an electric bike.  Since I live close to church, grocery store, restaurants, the movie theatre, etc., I can bicycle everywhere.   When one of my walking buddies told me her intentions to buy a bike, I let her borrow mine for a test drive. 

The nature of my flesh didn’t want to lend the bike, but I knew in my spirit what I needed to do. 

Lending her the bike for a weekend helped release its hold on me.  When worry popped in my head about the bike’s condition, I reminded myself that relationships matter more than things.  We can’t replace people, but we can replace stuff.

Generosity encourages.

Not only does sharing our blessings with others encourage them, but it also uplifts us.  My friend had so much fun with my bike.  Our relationship with each other and Christ continues to grow as we share spiritually and materially.

Full confession, I struggle with guilt because of the material blessings in my life.  After visiting El Salvador and witnessing the poverty and conditions of their homes, I recognize my blessings.  Landing in Atlanta, I felt the consumerism of our country grip me.  Americans take for granted more than most of the world ever will have.

But God does give us material blessings.  What we do with His gift matters more than how much we have.  Sharing with others, blessing them, just like we did with the El Salvadorians, makes the difference.  We took food and necessities when we visited their homes. 

When we delivered food and necessities, our new friends shared their spiritual blessings with us, worshipping the Lord with joyous hearts.  Years later, their faith still encourages me.

Life with God comes with all kinds of blessings.  Share your gifts with those around you, and shed heaven’s light into a dark world.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 224) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 29:1-36 ESV, Romans 14:1-23 ESV, Psalm 24:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 20:12 ESV

Daily Verse: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” (Romans 14:1 ESV)

DIAKRISIS (1253): “Judicial estimation: discern, discerning, disputation.”[i]

Judicial estimation.

Opinions equal judgments based on someone’s estimation of a thing or situation.  We all have them.  However, summing up a case based on your criteria doesn’t mean it’s true.  Because of our limited knowledge, we must care when making wise decisions.  Better to say, “I don’t know,” than to make a wrong assumption.

Often, opinions come with assuming.  Because you don’t have all the facts, you fill in the gaps with what seems like reasonable assumptions.  Jumping to incorrect conclusions happens when we think we know things we don’t know.

Get the facts.

While teaching tennis camp, one young chap liked to defy the rules.  Constantly, I found myself having to remind him of my authority.  As a coach, I’ve learned not to make assumptions.  Instead of thinking the young man a spoiled brat, I talked to the program director about his behavior.  As a result, I learned he had recently lost his mother to cancer.  Not even a teenager, my young student had reasons for his behavior.

By learning the facts of the situation, I knew how to deal with it better.  Instead of getting frustrated with the student’s behavior,  God gave me the patience I needed to provide him with grace.  Quarreling doesn’t draw people closer to Christ, but love does.

As you meet people young in the faith, don’t quarrel with them.  Instead, learn about them and the circumstances in their life.  Then find ways to come alongside them and show them the love of Christ.  Help them grow in their faith as they get to know Jesus through your actions.

Opinions don’t equal facts.  Find the truth before you make a wrong decision.  Don’t let assumptions lead you down the wrong path.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 66) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21 ESV, Romans 15:1-22 ESV, Psalm 25:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 20:13-15 ESV

Daily Verse: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Romans 15:1 ESV)

BASTAZO (941): “Signifies “to support as a burden.  It is used with the meaning of sufferings “borne” on behalf of others, Mt. 8:17, Rom 15:1, Gal 6:2.”[I]

Behalf of others.

As Christ-followers, we have an obligation to our fellow man.  Helping people persevere through the trials and tribulations of life points them to Jesus.  Standing on the firm foundation of Christ gives us the strength to help others in need.

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)

Welcoming others into the family of Christ begins by living in harmony with those around us.  Not everyone will agree with our Biblical worldview, but they may become interested in what we have to say as we share our lives with them.  However, living at odds with people creates division in the relationship and doesn’t draw them closer to Jesus.

Connect harmoniously.

When we connect with people instead of trying to convert them, we can encourage them on the journey.  Asking questions and listening to their answers tells you how you can help.   Without investigation, you won’t know how to build up and support those around you.  People look fine on the outside, their inner turmoil invisible to the human eye.

Every person you meet struggles in some area of their life.  Depression and anxiety plague our society.  Financial pressures, health issues, and relational conflicts all cause strife.  Jesus came to help us overcome this world.  As we follow Christ, we discover His peace that surpasses all understanding.  Then we get to share Jesus’s grace and mercy with others.

Living for God means loving the people He places in our life.  Our obligation on behalf of others happens one act of encouragement at a time.  When we see the downtrodden, we can build them up with the love of Christ.

Fulfill your obligation to God and people today, uplift and encourage everyone you meet.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 52) Thomas Nelson