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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S IN E S S
Meditations in Corinthians
lone Lowman, Ph.D.
SEPTEMBER 1 Scripture: I Corinthians 1:4-9
ent upon his position in Christ. Negatively, iaiiure to realize the.responsibility o f wit- ness may lead to conduct which injures others and hurts the heart of the Lord. SEPTEMBER 9 Scripture: I Corinthians 9:26, 27 “I therefore so run, not as uncer tainly . . . But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast away.” __r. auuwn as one wno endures the training with the prospect of winning the contest. Bodily self-control is vital to success. The spiritual athlete also must consider his training and, by temper- ance in all things, seek to qualify for suc- c®ss- .This often-preached about, but little- practiced doctrine will bear deep thought. JJ°, Christian wants to be disapproved of Ahez. end of his race. Shall we start afresh thav we may so run that we may attain, and thus honor our divine Leader? SEPTEMBER 10 Scripture: I Corinthians 10:1-4 “Our fathers . . . did all drink . . . of that spiritual Bock that followed them: and that Bock was Christ.” . ’ ------------ ** wwg voiBca tiie wora an appears, each one emphasizing common ex- penences. We who follow the Lord Jesus Christ and recognize Him as the Rock from whence flows the living water, must also recognize that a common experience is not enough. There must also be individual right- ness before God, and that relationship must not be destroyed or lessened. Again, our liberty must not give us excuse for offend- ing others. We drink of the spiritual Rock, Christy Jesus, that we may also drink the cup of communion in fellowship with God and our fellow believers. SEPTEMBER 11 Scripture: I Corinthians 11:24 “Arid when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken fo r you: this do in remembrance of me.” “ In remembrance of me.” The Words speak to us of the fact that as we remember the Lord, we recognize His abiding presence.. “ Our hearts would ask a program. An outline, sent from Heaven, But no such chart is granted, A life-map is not given. Instead, there comes a promise, A promise for each day, ‘My presence shall go with thee/ ‘My presence’ all the way.” —-Selected* SEPTEMBER 12 Scripture: I Corinthians 12:4 “ There are diversities of-gifts, but the same Spirit.” There are many gifts, but one Source. There is a place In God’s service for each gift, but the power to use it, and the results achieved by its use have one Origin. This that no one may glory above another. One gift may be more spectacular than another, but the final value will be determined by the results of its use, not by popular knowl-
"Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” W e thank God for all His enriching of our lives, and the lives of others. Gratitude wells dp in our hearts as we consider His grace. His faithfulness, and His promises. The conviction of our weakness and our sinful ness causes us to stand amazed as we recog nize afresh the assurance that He constantly establishes us in the faith, and strengthens us in our trust. In that day, “ the day of our Lord Jesus Christ,’* we' shall stand before Him unimpeachable. W ith John on-Patmos, with- thé saints from then to now, we join in praying, “ Come, Lord Jésus.’’ SEPTEMBER 2 Scripture: I Corinthians 2:6-8 . "We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery . . . Which hone of the princes of this world knew.” Words of wisdom which require mature understanding are not usually spoken to children. The deep things of God are re vealed to the spiritually developed Christian, The grasping of these profound truths is not dependent upon one’s intellectual ability, but upon his spiritual maturity, which is the privilege o f every believer to possess. Spir itual maturity comes through the exercise Of spiritual faculties, and the feeding upon the wisdom of God revealed to this age in the Book of God. Would you be wise? Study the Book. SEPTEMBER 3 Scripture: l Corinthians 3:10, 11 "Le t every man take heed how he buildeth . . , For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ is the head of His Church, and He is also the foundation of that building. While our Lord is the only foundation, there is a sense in which the apostles too are a foundation. In comparing this to the ma son’s work, ±he laying of bricks or stones in their order as a building is -erected, we find that the apostles themselves were what is called the "first course." As the con struction of that sacred building has pro ceeded, other “ lively stones" have been added by successive masons. W e Christians are the workmen of today. Let us heed the warning of versé ten of this ehapter, and build upon the foundation already laid in such a way that our work will abide. SEPTEMBER 4 Scripture: I Corinthians 4:2 “I t is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” The Old Testament presents a picture of such a servant. Eliezer,- Abraham’s steward, who put his master’s business before his own rest and comfort; who extolled his master's goodness and possessions and in nowise spoke of himself; and who obeyed his master’s command and fulfilled his mas ter’s will, was faithful beyond his duty. Our Lord has given to us who believe, the ability to be modern Eliezers. In Christ we receive all needed power with which to serve Him faithfully. As stewards of His grace, we may today fulfil' His will as we obey His com mandments.
Scripture: I Corinthians 5:6-8 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump . . . For even Christ our passover is sacrificed fo r us.” Because believers are'' indwelt by the Holy Spirit, having been born again from ■above, they are unleavened Their actions, there fore, should be. in keeping with that cleans- ing#process which has been accomplished in their hearts by the Divine One. As we rec ognize the unity of the Body of Christ, we realize that any sin on the part of a mem- ber contaminates, not only himself, but the life o f every individual in the group. How humbling is this realization! How we fly to the Cross for cleansing from sin! In quiet ness of spirit may we allow Him to work within our hearts the purging from sin, and the. empowering of His peace. SEPTEMBER 6 Scripture: I Corinthians 6:12 “A ll things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” What better interpretation of this portion of Scripture is there than Dr. A. C. Dixon's: " A Christian's highest right is to give up his rights, not to contend for them.- Truly, all things are lawful for the Christian, but the consideration of the effect of his testi mony upon believer and unbeliever requires that his indulgence be governed by expedi ency. How blessed it is to give up our rights for the good of others, and that God may be glorified. SEPTEMBER 7 Scripture: I Corinthians 7:22 " For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s free man: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.” Two opposing ideas are before us here. In a sense each may be applied to the Chris tian. A freeman of the Lord! For the saved man, Jesus breaks a ll. claims of sin and sinful habits. Whom the Son makes free is completely free. But we also have the priv ilege of joyfully becoming the bond slaves of our gracious, loving Lord. His by pur chase, and His by surrender! Yesterday is under His cleansing blood; tomorrow is under His control; today is mine to walk in the Spirit and be free from sin; or, if I so will, to walk in the flesh and be bound by sin, knowing no other freedom than that of disobedience. Lord, may I walk today in the Spirit. SEPTEMBER 8 Scripture: I Corinthians 8:1-13 " Wherefore, if meat make my broth er to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” What constitutes Christian liberty? No true Christian can be satisfied with his own conduct if that conduct stumbles a weaker brother The believer's liberty has both pos itive and negative phases. Positively, the Christian’s standing before God ** depend-
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