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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Friday, August 20, 2021
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Who Do We Follow? Bible Verse:1 Corinthians 10-13, 17 (ESV) "Iappeal to you, brothers and sisters, 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. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? * * * For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." Message:
Paul was, arguably, the greatest teacher of Christ in history, the first speaker in the realm of Christian doctrine. He preached by direct commission from the arisen Christ. I have heard or read a number of accounts where Paul is accused of pridefulness, especially in relation to the Counsel of Jerusalem, and some of his teachings might be interpreted in that way.
Saint Paul by El Greco
St. Paul, by El Greco
But here, as so often is true, we must beware imposing our own interpretation on the Bible, especially when we lack a plain statement in the Bible itself to support us, and even more especially when there is a plain statement in the Bible that refutes us! Paul, here, condemns those who would be his disciples. And if even an inspired author of the New Testament denies the special status of doctrinal leadership, how can any other person possibly claim it?
Christianity has divided itself into sects and denominations, all of which claim the status that Paul reviles for any person, himself included. How thoughtlessly we divide ourselves. When I was a boy, there were bumper stickers that said “I am an Episcopalian.” We even had a song,“There are no Episcopalians down in hell.” “I am Catholic,” “I am an Evangelical Christian,” “I am a” — well, enough of that. We are followers of Christ and Christ only. “Christian” is a term that cannot be modified.
But that is not all we can take away from this short verse. More commonly, someone will assert: “(Insert the name of a minister, bishop, writer, church leader, etc.) says that . . . .” Quoting a learned source is wonderful, for there have been hundreds of pious and brilliant expositors of Christian doctrine. But where someone makes an argument that refutes a simple and clear statement in the Bible, or adds as Gospel something that the Bible does not say, their authority is zero.
And this short verse is the perfect proof we can use, if we hear non-Biblical doctrine. Not to pick on Billy Graham, but as an example: “Is Christ divided? Was Billy Graham crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Billy Graham?”
And one reminder: If we are to worship with others, as the Bible teaches us we should, we are going to belong to a church that teaches non-Biblical doctrine. We must approach denominations to which we do not belong in the spirit of harmony. Criticizing others is the easy way out; it is ourselves and ourselves alone whom Christ authorizes us to criticize.
“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5)
Meditation : Prayer : All through this day, O Lord, by the power of your quickening Spirit, let me touch the lives of others for good, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I speak, or the life I live.....Amen |
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