Unity and Liberty

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Mark Shields

As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:14-33, the Lord’s Supper demonstrates Christian unity because many form one body. All share one loaf of bread representing the body of Christ. As the body of Christ, we should aspire for objectives that are helpful and good for everyone. Whatever we do, we should follow the example of Christ who passionately carried out daily activities for the glory of the Father. 

So Paul’s major considerations in Christian liberty is that we should bring glory to Christ and the way we live should benefit others and not hurt others. There is freedom in Christ but we should not exercise our freedom at the expense of hurting our Christian brothers or sisters. We should live to be a good example to others so that they may be saved.

So Paul points out that there are reasons for restricting our liberty. Paul mentions again as he did in previous passages that it was acceptable to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. We cannot serve the Lord and serve idols at the same time. We’ve been given free will but that doesn’t mean that everything we do is best for us. We should seek to take actions that benefit ourselves and those around us.

In order to bring glory to God, Paul explains in today’s passage the need for unity and liberty. For this to happen, Christian friendships are so important. Below is a picture of my daughter and her college friends at Abilene Christian University. They came to Waco for the weekend back in September for the Abilene Christian University/Baylor University football game. These girls attend church and life groups together building each other up so there is greater strength, fulfillment, and life with meaning.

Friendships are very important because we have others to help us in life and bring glory to God.

Lord this day, we ask for good judgment in all we do. The understanding of Your way can be user friendly and very powerful at the same time. As others see the benefits in our lives in following Your way, may there be a ripple effect that gets bigger and bigger. Help us to freely offer thoughts and ideas that will lead others to You so the ripple effect goes on for many years and for many generations. Amen.

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A Path to Freedom

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Mark Shields

I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from …the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me. – Exodus 20:2-3

Brought out in the post “Passageway to an Awesome Future”, there were dire consequences for an unprincipled existence. Instead, we should take notice to what God is doing in present times and what He is revealing to us for the yet to come.

Just like in the day of Moses when they created many gods, the gods we create like money, sports, job, and even family are full of promises we can’t keep but the ONE true God has come through on a promise through His Son which has opened the pathway to an awesome future.

Just as God gave a path for Moses and the people through the sea to freedom, he gives a path for us to freedom. As the song Beloved by Jordan Feliz reminds, keep your eyes fixed on the light from above. Noting can separate you from His love.



Index of devotionals

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Passageway to an Awesome Future

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Mark Shields

As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, the Jewish people were blessed by the power of God opening a passageway through the sea which allowed them to escape Egypt. With God’s direction, Moses led them toward the Promised Land but many of the people worshiped idols and indulged in revelry.

For their lack of faith, many were killed and this should warn future generations. We should consider what God has done long-ago. There were dire consequences for an unprincipled existence. Instead, we should take notice to what God is doing in present times and what He is revealing for the yet to come.

God is always faithful so we should focus our attention always on the ONE who can part the sea, provide for basic needs, and guide along the journey. Paul points out in verses 6-10 that the same temptations faced by the Jews continued to tempt the Corinthian church.

These same temptations still exist for us in the present. Fortunately, there are ways we can overcome temptations. *Listed below are five ways God will help resist temptation:

  • Recognize the people and situations that tempt
  • Run from what is wrong
  • Choose to do what is right
  • Pray for God’s help
  • Seek friends that can help

It is good to look back on the past for lessons learned. I remember going to London with a college group years ago and one place we visited was St. Paul’s Cathedral. Below is a photo and it struck me that we have amazing technology today but sometimes we emphasize speed rather than quality. St. Paul’s Cathedral is the place where the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana took place. Looking at this photo, you can see the detailed work that went into construction during that time. This day with God, let us focus in on the details of God’s work throughout history and how He has constructed for us all a future home with Him.

St. Paul’s Cathedral – London England

Lord, we have come a long way since the days of Moses yet many of the temptations faced by the people back then still exist for our current generation. Help us to fix our eyes on the path to freedom You have given. The promise given through Your Son which leads us all to an awesome future. Amen. 

* Nicholes, Lou. “God Will Help You Resist Temptation.” Commentary » I Corinthians 10:6-I Corinthians 10:13 » Family-Times.net, http://www.family-times.net/commentary/god-will-help-you-resist-temptation/.

 

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Connected to the Vine

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Mark Shields

This day with God, a poem that encourages hope, optimism, and determination. Inspired from a true story.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Times may be tough
In financial debt
With all hope lost
But needs can be met.

So keep on going
With determination
And things will change
In short duration.

Impossible
Only yesterday
Becomes possible
With God’s Way.

He sets things up
So you have a chance
With opportunity
For you to advance.

Daily losses
Are not the rule of thumb
Because God’s love
Will help to overcome.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 11-01-2018

Image Source

This poem was inspired by a story that took place in the 1930’s. Times were tough and there was a farmer who was in debt and had lost hope. He became so distraught that he killed himself and his wife. His two sons had tried to give him hope with an idea but this idea only became possible a few years later when they caught a break. You see, the laws of that time…

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Questions for Reflection for Study of 1 Corinthians 10-13

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Mark Shields

The last few weeks has been spent going through and sharing some thoughts about the study of 1 Corinthians 6-9. Paul continues to discuss some issues within the early church. Ethics and love of neighbor is already in the agreement of Christianity. If disputes occur, try to handle them within the believer community rather than putting them into our legal system that is bogged down with trivial matters. 

Paul goes from legal matters into the areas of family and health. He points out that the purpose of our body is a holy place for the Spirit. We should therefor honor God with healthy habits. Then he gives advice about marriage. If a decision is made to get married, we should search for a spouse that has a good influence on us. Things will not always be peaches and cream but desire to live in peace, find contentment, and work as a team.

Marriage brings on responsibilities like mortgages, raising children, chores around the house, and other concerns in life. We worry about paying our bills, washing the car, mowing the lawn, or passing a test when we need to be thinking more about God and how He is big enough to handle our challenges.

Even though being married has its challenges, there are great opportunities to do the Lord’s work. For example: we can lead in giving the blessing at dinner time or we can lead in a devotional time. This blog was started because I wanted a way to document thoughts for my family about God’s principles and how to apply them in life.

Paul then goes into loving our neighbor. There is no need to flaunt our knowledge to the detriment of someone else. Instead build up others. Be interested in finding their strengths and thinking of ways for them to have success.

For Paul, the reward was giving time and resources to others. There was a freeing aspect in serving the Lord out of personal generosity as his faith expressed itself through love. Paul’s attitude was to be all things to all people in order to win them to Christ.

Paul used the principles taught by Christ to train spiritually and we can do the same. Each day, we can be excited like a team running onto a field before a football game. We can go into training to change lives, win people to Christ, and receive the everlasting reward that is beyond what we could ever imagine.

These are the same reasons for the “This Day with God” devotional. A daily devotional that internalizes His guiding principles and an instrument which pushes one to focus on Him in every activity throughout the day. In order to balance career, family, and devotion to the Lord, one must daily study His Word and seek the Lord’s will in prayer.

The reading plan below will be used as I share over the next few posts. It’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Him as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with Him amazing!

Brazos River Waco Texas Near Baylor University

Questions for Reflection

1 Corinthians 10:1-14
What benefits have been given to Israel over the years? How does the faithfulness of God relate to your situation? What are some ways God provides to resist temptation?

1 Corinthians 10:14-33
What basis of Christian unity is in the Lord’s Supper? What are Paul’s major considerations in exercising Christian Liberty? What are reasons for restricting your liberty?

1 Corinthians 11:1-16
What is the proper attitude of a women and men towards each other? What reasons are given for the rules about covering heads? Do you have any thoughts about customs during the time of Paul and if they have carried over to customs of current times like men wearing short hair and women wearing longer hair?

1 Corinthians 11:17-34
What has Paul heard about the Corinthian gatherings? What is his reaction to what he has heard? What explanation does Paul give the church about the communion meal? How should a person approach the communion meal with others?

1 Corinthians 12:1-13
What does Paul want the Corinthians to understand about spiritual gifts? What is the unity among the diverse gifts? How does the Holy Spirit’s work relate to the unity of Christians?

1 Corinthians 12:12-31
How does Paul compare a physical body with the body of Christ? How are the activities of the body coordinated? What is the right attitude of a person with a less spectacular gift to a person with a more spectacular gift? Vice versa?

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God. 

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print. 
“Sermons.” Sermons | FUMC Waco. N.p., n.d. Web.  <http://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.
“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 2017. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.
Nicholes, Lou. “Recent Commentaries.” Family-Times.net – Devotional Commentary Index. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.family-times.net/commentary/>.
“Google Images.” Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ei=8IipWNPmOoPBmwHIpZ2ACQ&ved=0EKouCBcoAQ>.
“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.biblegateway.com/>.
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