Put Aside and Save

Today's reading: I Corinthians 13-16

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. I Cor. 16: 2 NRSV

Paul gives very specific advice on how to raise the money to help the poor in Jerusalem.

1) Do this at the beginning of the week (Sunday). If you wait until the end of the week, you know you will have spent it all. If you begin the week and set some aside, then you will not have to scrape something together later. And do this every week. A little each week can really add up.

2) Each person is to make this part of their weekly tasks. This is not a group effort. Individuals decide how much they are going to give each week. Then the money is pool together.

3) Save what extra you earn. Sure you have to pay bills and put food on the table. But what if you have a really good week? Then the following week you have that extra to put aside for the needy.

4) Plan ahead. With each person doing this every week and all the money being put together, you will have the offering ready when it is needed.

Paul never gives an amount. Paul gives guidance in how to be prepared for when he comes. He trusts that God will provide and if everyone does as Paul suggests, the amount will be bigger than anything he could have asked for from the church at Corinth.

God, you have asked us to give. Help us to follow Paul's advice in how to set aside money for the poor and for your kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 The fountains at Corinth, 2009.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

God's Temple

Oops! I got these two devotionals published on the wrong dates. But you can still enjoy! Amelia 

Today's reading: I Corinthians 5-8

For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Paul says that, as Christians, we have become one in Christ.

How are you treating your body?

Do you smoke? Drink excessively? Eat processed foods to the exclusion of fresh foods? Refuse to exercise? Sit in front of the computer/television/game boy....etc. most of the day? Never floss?

I could go on and on. You may have different ideas of what treating your body right means. However, I think most folks would agree on most of the above being not good for our bodies.

Yet, even when we know how we should treat our bodies, how often do we do so?

Even as we know we should love and obey Christ, how often do we do so?

God, you have given me this body. And Christ is one in me. Help me to treat my body and therefore Christ as set apart and holy, dedicated to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Winning the Race

Today's reading: I Corinthians 9-12

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. I Cor. 9:24 NRSV

Funny to think that God really does want us to win.

But in order to win, we have to do lots of work. No pain, no gain, as it is said. Paul speaks of punishing or enslaving his body so that after spreading the gospel he himself will not be out of the running. He is rounding out his argument as to why he doesn't eat lavishly, get married or stop working. He does not want to put any kind of barrier in front of anyone who might except the gospel and he also does not want to disqualify himself in the meanwhile. I don't think he is saying this is what every evangelist should do. However, he is encouraging all believers to run to win...even if that means refraining from certain items or behaviors. The prize is the goal, not the race itself.

Are you running to win? Or are you just participating in the race?

Paul challenges you to win the race.

Go for it!

God, thank you for Paul's words of inspiration. Help us to run as though we are going to win. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Foolishness

Today's reading: I Corinthians 1-4

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Cor. 1:18 NRSV

Some of us have either been Christians for a long time or at least grew up in the church. We don't realize just how ridiculous our beliefs are to outsiders. We have faith in someone who died for us. Today, folks have faith in people who are powerful and do something for them. Most people look up to heroes -- real or imagined-- that can do super-powered type actions. Heroes don't die for them. Certainly no one looks up to anyone who has been brought to trial and executed. We don't realize how foolish our beliefs seem to others.

Perhaps this is one reason many people, including some archaeologists (although I would not dismiss all archaeologists), have spent their lifetime trying to debunk the belief that Jesus rose from the dead. It is foolish, they think, believing that someone completely recovered after such horrendous torture and death.  And no one is even considering the ascension.

But for us, just as for Paul, what we believe in has the power of life for us. In Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, we are being saved. It is a foolish message but we know the true power it holds.

God, thank you for Jesus' death on the cross. For the world, it is a foolish message but we know that through his death we are being saved. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims