Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15: 8-10

 ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 

Scripture Commentary: Jesus tells us that ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Paul was a Pharisee who persecuted the Christian church. He felt he was the least of the apostles, unworthy to be one of them .

Do you feel unworthy to spread the Gospel of Christ?

Ask God for forgiveness like Paul did and by His grace, you will become God’s servant. Humble yourself to God and see His works both in and through you.

Because of Paul’s prominent position as a Pharisee, he was a greater object of persecution than the other apostles; thus he had to work harder to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don’t think that things will be easy because you’re spreading God’s message. Look what they did to Christ as He went about preaching the Word.

Paul was saved on the road to Damascus and born again. Maybe you, like Paul, are on the road to Damascus. Ask God to detour you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians 15

Read Other Commentary from 1 Corinthians:

Spiritual Gifts Are Given for the Good of All

You Are God’s Temple

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: 13, 21

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 

Scripture Commentary:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. God will provide a way out if you call on Him when you are tempted.

Paul tells us there is a battle going on with the flesh and the spirit.

Paul isn’t referring to your physical flesh. He is referring to your spiritual soul. The “nature” self wants to do what feels good and easy. The Holy Spirit in you wants to glorify God, not yourself.

The flesh and the spirit are constantly against one another as long as you live.

Paul tells us that the flesh (Satan) desires what is contrary to the Holy Spirit (God). And consequently, the Spirit of God is contrary to the flesh.

The Holy Spirit inside you says, “Live for God,” and your flesh says, “Live for yourself.” Living for God means you submit to God daily by reading the Bible and calling on Him. This is how God nourishes your spirit (our soul).

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians 10

Read Other Commentary from 1 Corinthians:

Now About Food Sacrificed to Idols

The Lord Offers You A Seat At His Table

Scripture: Genesis 3: 1-4

The Fall

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” ² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” ⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Scripture Commentary:

This is the first recorded lie: Satan tempting Eve by pointing her to the one thing that she must not do. God gave Adam and Eve luscious, desirable fruits but we, like Eve, focus on the fruits of the flesh. This negativeness darkens our heart, mind and soul so that we succumb to Satan’s temptation.

When we focus on what we don’t have or on situations that displease us, our minds become darkened. We take for granted salvation and the countless gifts God has provided. We look for what we think is right.

1 John 2: 15 says “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[a] is not in them.”

And 1 John 4:8 says “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.“

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Genesis 3

1 John 2

1 John 4

Read Other Commentary from Genesis:

Don’t Be Ruled By Your Lusts

The Consequence of Knowing Good and Evil

Scripture: Ezekiel 29: 9-10

Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord. “‘Because you said, “The Nile is mine; I made it,” ¹⁰ therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush.^[b]

Scripture Commentary:

The Nile was Egypt’s pride and joy, a life-giving river cutting through the middle of the desert. The ruler and the people declared, “The Nile is mine; I made it.” We do the same when we say, “This is my house; I built it,” or “I have brought myself to this place in life where I am today,” or “I have built this church, ” or “I have made my business what it is today.”

These statements reveal our pride and don’t acknowledge God as our Provider, Creator, and Heavenly Father.

We have a tendency to take God for granted.

We forget that if not for God, where would we be? God is our supplier and resource. God has gifted us with the talents and abilities that we have. Instead of claiming our own greatness, as the Egyptians did, we should proclaim God’s goodness. Give Him the credit.

What you have is the gift that God has given you.

So use your gifts to His glory. Don’t boast about it or misuse it. When you stand before God, there will be a question put to you. “What have you done in my name?”

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Ezekiel 29

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Ezekiel:

Let God Give You a New Heart

Spread the Word And They Shall Know That There Hath Been A Prophet Among Them

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-2

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. 

Scripture Commentary:

You were truly guilty. We all were. The fact is that the whole human race is guilty of sin and belongs on the road to damnation. But Jesus, through His death on the cross, has set you free! Without Christ, you would have no hope at all.

God loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son for your sins.

Repent and give yourself to God and all charges and sins are dropped. Your slate is wiped clean. Jesus did this for you. He will present you to the Father and plead for you.

Before Jesus, the Israelites made blood sacrifices for their sins. But once Jesus’s blood was sacrificed on the cross, animal sacrifices were needed no more. If not for Jesus, you would be in Satan’s control for all time.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”*

Can you imagine that? Without God’s Son and love for you, where would you be?

The Holy Spirit is in you now by faith, and by faith you are certain to live with Jesus Christ forever.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans 8

Amazing Grace : Lyrics and the story behind the hymn

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

God Is the Root That Supports You

Christians Are Sealed By The Spirit

Scripture: Luke 9: 23-24

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Scripture Commentary: Whoever loses his life for Jesus will save it.

Jesus gave His life for us. Why? Because He loves us, wants to give us a chance to repent our sins and have eternal life in His Father’s kingdom.

Jesus tells us to take up our cross. Each of us has one. This is an invitation from Christ Himself to follow Him into the world, carrying His message. Throughout the ages, those who did this were subject to death, persecution and torture. This is still happening today in parts of the world.

What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

In Jesus’ time, the Romans used the cross to publicly humiliate the person being crucified. Before being crucified, the person was spit upon, and his clothes were removed so he was naked. He was then beaten almost to death, then made to carry his cross.

To be honest, would you put yourself in a situation like that? There are people in the world living under this possibility. We are fortunate not to be under this pressure; however, we may be called names or even killed but not like it was 2000 years ago.

Here is the question. Have you taken up Jesus’ cross?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 9

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Follow Jesus and Become Fishers of Men

Jesus Went to Synogogue Every Week

Scripture: Isaiah 6: 7-8

 ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” ⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

Scripture Commentary:

God made an invitation to serve Him. “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah surrendered himself to God.

We will all get the call.

Some will answer; some will feel inadequate or unqualified. Consider Moses, who was a murderer. And David, an adulterer. And Rehab, a prostitute.

Not only did God call people who did really bad things but He also called unusual, insecure, inconsistent people. There is Noah, a drunkard; Isaac, a daydreamer; Joseph who was abandoned; and Gideon, who was afraid.

There’s Jeremiah, who was too young, and Abraham who was too old. Consider Elijah who battled depression and Naomi who was embittered. Martha was a worrywart. John, the Baptist ate bugs.

All of these people are a far cry from your avengers and the heroes you would have picked. The same God who called them still is calling imperfect people today.

What we see as imperfection, God sees as servants. God’s call prompts us to live beyond ourselves. It isn’t about our comfort. It’s about completely surrendering to Him.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Isaiah 6

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Isaiah:

God Knows You In Your Entirety

The Pit of Corruption is Dug for the Wicked

Scriptures: 1 Peter 5: 6-7

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Proverbs 16: 9

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Psalm 37: 5

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.

Scripture Commentary:

These three chapters and the verses chosen have one thing in common: humble yourself and trust in the Lord. Do not lean on yourself. You will not find peace without God in your life.

We tend to engage in excessive planning, attempting to control every facet of our present and future. This is a form of unbelief because we want to control everything. When we think we have achieved our goal, we find that we haven’t because we see something else we think we need. And the process starts all over again. How can this cycle be stopped?

Commit yourself to God.

Entrust everything in your life – family, job, possessions – to His control and guidance. Once you commit yourself to God, you will fully put your trust in Him. God knows you better than you know yourself.

Be willing to wait patiently. His time is not the same as your time. His wants are not the same as your wants. He knows what is best for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

1 Peter 5

Proverbs 16

Psalm 37

Read Other Commentary on Faith

Faith Has Greater Worth Than Gold

Trust God Instead of Yourself

Scripture: James 4: 13-15

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

Scripture Commentary: Here today, gone tomorrow has been said time after time.

“I just saw them last week!” How many times have you said that? We go through life making plans for today as though God does not exist; however, our future is in His hands.

Life is short no matter how many years we live.

Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of time remaining. When you were a teenager, you did not think about 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90. Look at you now!

Live for God today!

When you live for God today, you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you no matter when your life ends. When you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are a servant for Our Lord God.

Do not leave God out as you try to plan your life. There is no point in making plans as if God does not exist. You are here because He has put you here for His purpose. Ask God for direction in your life and God will show you the way.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James 4

Read Other Commentary From the Book of James:

Ask God and Believe He Will Answer You

Confidently Trust the Lord, Your Savior