Collected or prepared by Pastor Wilfred Chung

May 3 - May 9, 2009

May 3, 2009 - Don't Cause Others To Sin

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 8

One of the obligation as a Christian is to avoid being a stumbling block to other Christians. For that would sin against the brethren, and ultimately against Christ Himself. (v. 12)

Jesus said, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, if would be better for him if a mill stone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:6 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul admonishes us that our Christian liberty may become a stumbling block to some brethren who have weak conscience. For example, we can eat meat that has been offered to idols without any problem because Christ has freed us from idols and devils. But some Christians who were idol worshipers before saw us eat those meats and follow us to do so with a weak conscience. They feel guilty after eating it and are bounded by that feeling. We cause our brethren to sin.

"Therefore," Paul said, "if food make my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." (v. 13) We should always live with the motive and awareness of Christian love. Since some brothers and sisters have a weaker conscience, we should be always sensitive to it. Our Christian liberty may have a limit sometimes.

May God help us.

May 4, 2009 - Soul Winning Takes Hard Work

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 9

We all like to win souls for the Lord. But we don't put up the hard work to do so. We like to reap the harvest. But we want others to prepare the field, break the ground, sow and water the seed. We even like to visit people but we want others to find and cultivate the prospects. From the example of Paul, we learn that there are lots of hard work and discipline involved in soul winning. It seems that the power of the Holy Spirit does not eliminate diligent planning and sweating on our part.

Paul said that he made himself a slave to all that he might wins some more. (v. 19) He made accommodation to identify himself to whoever he was witnessing to in order to win them. (v. 20-22a) He determined that "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (v. 22b NKJV)

He compared soul winning like an athlete preparing for the famous Isthmian games in Corinth. (Similar to the Olympic games) We must run in order to win. We must run toward a goal. Like a boxer, we must subject our bodies in tough training. We should exercise self-control in all things. We should look forward to win the imperishable crown. (v. 23-27a)

If we don't do all that, we will be disqualified to get our reward from our Savior. (v.27b)

May 5, 2009 - The Fallen Example We Must Avoid

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 10

God's Word tells us couple times that the experiences of the Israelite in the wilderness were written for our examples. Majority of them could not enter the Promised Land because they lusted after evil things. (v. 6, 11) The things they craved were actually things of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. (1 John 2:15-17) They were not satisfied with what they were given, nor contented with what they had. They had gone over their boundary and wanted things more than God. Therefore they had committed several sins: Idolatry, Sexual immorality, Tempting God, and Complaining. (v. 7-10)

As a result, God's punishment came upon them. Many died. Their hearts became weaker and weaker. Eventually the older generation who made decisions lacked the faith to enter the promise land even though they had all been set free from their slavery in Egypt, passed through the Red Sea, and were under the guidance of the pillar of cloud.

It is important to note that the presence of Christ, the preexistence of the Messiah was with them. (v. 4) But they still failed.

Today, Christians should heed the warning and face the worldly temptation with the godly wisdom we have learned from God' Word. God has promised that "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (v. 13 NKJV)

God's promise is forever true and dependable. Stand up and run the race that is before us. Fight the good fight and keep the faith.

May 6, 2009 - Head Covering

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 11

From verses two to sixteen, Paul argued the importance for a woman to cover her head during worship. Most commentators agree that this custom should not be applied universally. In Corinth, a woman without head covering might be considered as an unruly woman. Sir W. M. Ramsay commented in "The Cities of St. Paul" these words, "In the Oriental lands the veil is the power and honor and dignity of the woman. With the veil on her head she can go anywhere in security and profound respect. She is not seen; it is the mark of thoroughly bad manners to observe a veiled woman in the street..." I believe this also explained the appropriate manner of worship in Corinth.

However, Paul used this custom to teach a principle, "I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." (v.3 NKJV) This did not mean that man was more superior than woman. The eternal fact that Christ is co-equal with God who is His head helps us to understand that. Paul also said in Galatians 3:28, "...there is neither male nor female; for you are one in Christ Jesus." Therefore a man and a woman is a partnership at home. But he is the head in coordination.

That is the order God has ordained for us. To ignore it would be a problem for family and society.

May 7, 2009 - Know Your Spiritual Gift

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12

It is very important for Christians to understand what spiritual gifts are and what kind of spiritual gift(s) each of us is given by the Holy Spirit. (v. 1) Spiritual gifts are simply the manifestation of the Spirit that is given to every Christian as he or she is ministering to others through diverse activities for the profit of the whole church. (v. 7) Each one may have different kind of gifts and may have various degree of effectiveness or result. (v. 4-6) But they are all from the same Holy Spirit who distributes to each one individually as He will. (v. 11)

The work of the church should be the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, without spiritual gifts, there are no spiritual fruits for the Lord.

Also God's Word implies that it is our spiritual gifts that help us to function like members of the body in Christ. We are to be united, responsible, dependable, caring for each other as members of the body relating to each other, and each one is indispensable even the seemingly weaker one. (v. 12-31)

We should not be scare of studying some of the gifts that are given to missionaries as a sign for the presence and power of God to the unbelievers. Neither should we pay too much attention to those controversial gifts only. Rather we should all discover the spiritual gifts each of us has in order to serve God effectively without confusion or doing something inappropriately.

Other specific passages concerning spiritual gifts can be found in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Let us consult with our own pastor and make that wonderful discovery of what God has already given you to serve Him with joy and benefits to your church. You will find out that serving God is a great satisfaction.

P.S. The American Tract Society has an excellent tract on Discovering Spiritual Gifts with very minimum cost.

May 8, 2009 - Understanding Love

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 13

Love is like fresh air. If we don't have it, we will deteriorate. Paul expresses its absolute value in this chapter. Especially for our youth today, let me rely on Paul's ideas to help them discern what true love is in the following:

Love is not just sweet, lovely and beautiful talk. Love is not just sharing something great. Love is not just the ability to understand a person or the willingness to sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. (v. 1-3)

Love is not hasty and rough. Jealousy does not necessary mean love. Love is not boastful. Love always cares for other's feeling and is not just interested in expressing one's own feeling. Love is not self- righteous. Love does not do things to embarrass others or self. Love is not easily irritated. Love does not calculate other's wrong. Love is not do bad things together. Love protects others and gives others the favorable opinion. Love hopes for the best. Love can stand overwhelming difficulties to survive. (v. 4-7)

Love never fails because it is eternal.

When we understand the characteristics of what real love is, then we would know how to discern it in our relationship. Are we asking too much or expecting too much? No. For God is love and He will fill you with Christ's love when you accept Him into your own life. True love will abide and becomes the greatest of all. (v. 8, 13)

May 9, 2009 - What About Speaking In Tongue?

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 14

Since we have learned from the previous chapter that love is so important, we should run after it with intensity. At the same time we should desire the spiritual gift of prophecy meaning preaching here. (v. 1)

But the believers in Corinthians were fascinated with the gift of speaking in tongue. So Paul pointed out to them the superiority of preaching in a language that people could understand rather than speaking in an unknown tongue that no one comprehended during worship. When Christian got together, Paul reminded them that they should edify one another and evangelize the unbelievers. Therefore they should speak the language of the listeners or make sure there is translation.

Paul said that "yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue." (v. 19 NKJV)

"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers." (v. 22a) This statement explains the reason for this spiritual gift. It was given by the Holy Spirit so that the missionaries could evangelize the unbelievers who spoke another language.

Also it could become a proof of the power and presence of God to the unbelievers so that they would hear the wonderful work of God. (Acts 2:3-11)

It seems that there are a lot of counterfeit tongues ever since the days of Corinth. Scholars have pointed out that there are hypnotic tongue, false tongue, learned tongue, and demonic tongues which are not from God for sure. If any practice that does not follow the prescribed manner by Paul in this chapter, we know that it would only create division and trouble in the church which is the opposite of love.

Let us rather preach and share the Bible intelligently.