Tuesday, October 29, 2013

DAY 528 - Are We One in Christ? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)


**NEW link for the  15th: 13th 100 days 24 hours prayer campaign (We are going to use this 13th list leads up to the 15th. 13th from March 15 to June 22, 2013. 14th from June 22 to August 31, 2013, 15th from Sept. 1, 2013 to Dec. 9. 2013)

                               Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html
To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:
 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Bible Study

     Paul is trying to deal with two other problems that the Corinthians have, namely, circumcision and slavery.  He put these two problems in the midst of talking about marriage and sex is because he wants people to know that they don't need to change their status when they became a Christian. In Jesus we are one. 
Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
     And Paul's point is that social, cultural, ethnic and even gender distinctions are as nothing compared to the new life in which, through the gospel, all Christians are brought together into one...
     His point here, then, is that God's calling through the gospel, the 'call' through which people come to faith and enter the Messiah's people, is far more important than social or cultural status.  Christians should resist the subtle and not-so-subtle pressures that are put on them to make a change of status their overarching goal. 

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:1 Corinthians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.86, 88-89.

      When we say that we are one in Christ, do we really mean it? How can we build up this oneness without changing or stressing our status? 

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    What I heard from Jesus today is: Are we one in Christ?

    What I got from Jesus today is an interesting question for us to think. I have seen quite a lot of fighting for status in many churches and denominations. It is so unnecessary! Sad things like these happen always:
We so and so are better than you so and so. 
I have a higher status than you so you better shut up and listen to me.
I am very angry now because you become somebody and I am nobody.

     I can give more examples but I hope you understand what I mean. Lots of time we have moved the longing for status mentality from the world to the church. And, it causes division, separation and warfare. It can even cause spiritual genocide when one party wants to clear another party from the face of this earth. It happens! And when that happens, it hurts so much!

     Are we one in Christ? How can you help to acquire more oneness in Christ and not join in to cause more separations?  Pray for more people, especially your pastors and leaders. That should be a good way towards this goal. Join in and sign your name to pray for me by clicking the link at the top of this page. That should be another good way towards this goal.
   
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to be willing to help with all we have to build up oneness in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman
You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 
Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 
http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/
Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/
Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- First Baby Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 
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