Day 61 - 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

3 Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! 2 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

Tori's Comments:

This reminds me of an article I read a few years back that heavily impacted how I view Christianity and witnessing. I didn't realize how rooted it was in scripture until I read this. 

Basically, it said that yes, the bible is like a love letter to humanity, but the author wanted to take it a step further. That CHRISTIANS are God's love letter to the world. This completely changed my mindset, and it's so cool to actually see a similar message in scripture itself!

Terrie's Comments:
I hope that I am leaving a clear letter of recommendation behind me in my path of life.  Where those that my life touches are changed for Jesus Christ and are living for him so that their lives can testify to my life which is changed. 

I know that I am not qualified to do anything on my own.  Anything that is worth while flows from God.  I am glad that under the new covenant that the Spirit gives life.  Living by His Holy Spirit is so much simpler than trying to follow all of the law in my human attempt to be made right with God.   

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 60 - 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.

14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

Terrie's Comments:
Let me start with "hucksters"???  that is a new word that has never popped off the page before.  According tho verse 17 a huckster is someone who preaches for personal profit.  Remind me never to aspire to be a huckster.  

It is interesting to me that our lives should be like a Christ like fragrance rising up to God, a sweet perfume, spreading the knowledge of Jesus everywhere.  For those that are being saved it will be received and perceived as a life-giving perfume.  BUT to those who are perishing it will seem like the smell of death and doom.  (probably because it is... if they reject the truth of the gospel message they are spiritually dead)

This is a good reason to live to please God and not to please Men.  Live led by the Holy Spirit so that you may make the most of every opportunity that comes across your path.  God knows those who are ready to receive him and which ones will only think it stinks.

Tori's Comments:

Okay, I am loving the metaphors that keep popping us in this book. Comparing Christians to a sweet perfume? LOVE IT.

And we are ALL this perfume. And stubborn nonbelievers will not like how we smell. We will be called out or persecuted for it.

But we won't care. Because the rich, invigorating scent is too beautiful to ignore, to not follow. 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 59 - 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

2 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. 3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. 4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. 6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. 7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. 8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

9 I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. 10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

Tori's Comments:

That even when confrontation with a brother or sister is necessary, forgiveness and the love felt by the wrongdoer is still emphasized is amazing. "reaffirm your love for him".

"we are familiar with his evil schemes" as in that he comes to kill, steal, and destroy?

Terrie's Comments:

This man that is being referred to was the same man talked about in 1 Corinthians who was involved sexually with his mother in law openly.  Paul had told them how to deal with him in his first letter and now that he had been dealt with Paul shows how to reconcile him to the church.  God's heart is always for relationships.  Jesus died to have an open relationship with us without barriers.  Reconciliation is important once sin is dealt with and people turn away from their sin it is important to move on to forgive and comfort that person and welcome them full-heartedly back into the body so they don't become discouraged.  We also do this so Satan has no room to work in the body of Christ!  The last sentence is interesting... For we are familiar with his evil schemes... If we know the word of God and are led by the Holy Spirit who is in our hearts we should be.  He is not that smart.  

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 58 - 2 Corinthians 1:18-24

18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. 24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.

Terrie's Comments:

Through Jesus Christ all of God's promised are YES!  That means that anything God has promised to do is a yes!  We don't have to guess what his answer will be.  The Holy Spirit is placed in our hearts as our guarantee of these promises.  We can be full of Joy when we understand the good news fully.  We stand firm by our own faith in Jesus Christ.  We cannot borrow someone elses faith.  We have to stand on our own to be saved.

Tori's Comments:

I've never thought of the Holy Spirit as a sort of down payment. It's a pretty cool way to think.

Being "full of joy" is something I need to work on.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 57 - 2 Corinthians 1:8-17

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.

17 You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”?

Tori's Comments:

It's really hard when God strips things we think we need from us, every pang of the chisel He uses causing another wince. The things we craved because we were told we needed them, told we had to have them, slowly fade out of view as we dig deeper into God and His word. Food, clothes, and pleasing others suddenly seem unreliable and all we see is Jesus Himself.

I hope to one day reach a place where all I rely upon is God. Of course, that is a scary thing to wish, because that means removing the things I've relied on my entire life.

Terrie's Comments:

I am so glad that prayer works.  When our prayers are answered God is glorified.  I noticed also that in the second part of today's passage that they have a God given holiness and they are depending on God's grace instead of human wisdom.  All the letters Paul wrote were straight forward so everyone could understand them.  They were not mysterious.  You don't have to read between the lines.  It is not like reading the parables of Jesus.  

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 56 - 2 Corinthians 1:1-7

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

Tori's Comments:
I actually didn't realize that our comfort from God was to be spread. I just assumed they could just go to the source Himself, but I guess when loved ones are dealing with pain, I need to be there.


Terrie's Comments:

Is anybody else getting uncomfortable with the reference that we suffer so we can be comforted and comfort others with the same comfort that we receive through Jesus?  Anyone?  I am glad to know God who is the source of all comfort and to be connected to Him through the Holy Spirit.  So if we suffer as we do God's will Paul is confident that we will also be comforted.  If anyone should know this truth first hand it would be Paul.  I can't think of a time that I have not been comforted by the Holy Spirit through times of trouble so I guess it has also been proven in my own life.  Now how can I pass on that comfort to other believers?



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 55 - 1 Corinthians 16:19-24

19 The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.

21 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.

22 If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!

23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

Tori's Comments:

We have come to an end!

The amount of love Paul displays to those he sends letters to is so cool to see. He is very clear and blunt about it, and writes with affection, even when he may not know some of his audience. This is the fellowship of Christ!

Terrie's Comments:

I love meeting with other believers in our homes.  It is personal and I feel we build each other up in love and bear each others burdens when we meet in smaller groups.  

Love the Lord and teach others to do the same so that if we can at all help it no one is cursed.

THE END OF 1 CORINTHIANS!!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 54 - 1 Corinthians 16:10-18

10 When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.

12 Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.

13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 14 And do everything with love.

15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. 17 I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. 18 They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

Terrie's Comments:

Some great words of wisdom for servants of Christ in here...
- Don't treat God's servants with contempt
- Bless them
- Be on guard
-Stand firm in the faith
-Be courageous
- Be strong
- Do everything with Love
- Show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

Tori's Comments:

Vs. 13-14 are wonderful words of encouragement. I'm thinking about putting them up on my mirror as a reminder in the morning.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 53 - 1 Corinthians 16:1-9

1Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3 When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 7 This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. 8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.

Tori's Comments:

"if the Lord will let me" I love this sign of submission, and walking step by step by the Spirit. I often feel the need to have a five year plan rather than listening to the Holy Spirit in a day-by-day mindset. 

Terrie's Comments:

A couple of things stand out to me today.  One is to plan our giving.  Don't wait put aside a little at a time so when the opportunity arises to give you have money to do something about it.  

Also Verse 9 stands out... It amuses me that Paul writes that there is a wide-open door for a great work even though many oppose him.  Many times we stop when opposition arises to what we are doing.  If we are convinced that we are doing what God has called us to do perhaps we should expect opposition and also expect a great work to be accomplished as God works through us despite opposition.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 52 - 1 Corinthians 15:53-58

53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is your victory?

    O death, where is your sting?”

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Terrie's Comments:

I love that death is defeated and we will never die.  I am glad that our victory over sin and death is through our LORD Jesus Christ.  If Jesus is our LORD then we will have that victory over death.  

I love the last part... a great reminder for me... Be strong and immovable.  Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Sometimes when you are working in ministry of any kind you can feel like it is useless... nothing is working, no one is noticing, it isn't making any difference at all... These are all LIES!  The truth of the matter is that ANYTHING we do for the Lord is not useless, which means everything we do for the Lord is useful even when we don't see how it could be.

Tori's Comments:

We are victorious! WE have already won! Woohoo!

"be strong and immovable" this is easier the more you remind yourself of this truth.

"nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless" this is a lie I actually have heard. That something I feel led to do is silly or pointless. I now know exactly how to battle those thoughts..with this verse!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 51 - 1 Corinthians 15:45-52

45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.

50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

Tori's Comments:

These bodies are temporary. The world puts a lot of focus on the exterior. We are surrounded by radical things such as plastic surgery as people attempt to change something that is ultimately temporary when compared with eternity. 

In verse 51, I can just hear his excitement and passion. It's amazing how much of it reflects in his writing, and how much I feel just by reading it.

Terrie's Comments:

If we die before Christ returns we will be raised with our new heavenly body.  If we are alive still when Christ returns we will be transformed into our new body.  It will be quick... the blink of an eye is less than a second.  I that very moment everything will change eternally and we will inherit the kingdom of God.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 50 - 1 Corinthians 15:35-44

35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. 39 Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.

42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

Terrie's Comments:

This passage makes me long to know what our spiritual, eternal bodies will be like.  Seeds that are planted in the ground look so different from the plants that grow out of them.  If we are to display a different glory than our earthly bodies here I am curious as to how different they really will be.  I look forward to finding out.  It is probably not something I will think a whole lot about here on earth but I do accept that they will be different and much better than our bodies that our spirit's occupy here currently.

Tori's Comments:

This is sooooo cool. We have no idea what to expect except that our new bodies will be different and complete.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 49 - 1 Corinthians 15:29-34

29 If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?

30 And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? 31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. 32 And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

Tori's Comments:

I didn't realize baptism symbolized what was to come.

We do not face death daily here. But its presence is very obvious in day to day life. Spending time with other Christians reminds us that this is not our home and that we are temporarily here. 

Terrie's Comments:

If we know God and have made Jesus Lord in our lives we will stop sinning and think carefully about what is right.  We will not make up worldly excuses for our behavior that "isn't that bad".  

Our society throws around certain ideas like candy... "you only live once", "YOLO", "I need me time", "I deserve a break" ... it's very popular to think like this.  Not biblical or God like but popular.  We have to remember it is not about us... nothing is about us.  It is all about Jesus Christ.  It is not about our wants, needs, desires or cravings.  It is all about the desires God has put in our hearts to accomplish his purpose in our lives.  We are to live with an eternal focus, with a God focus.  Fully devoted to Jesus Christ... no room for "ME" or "I".


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 48 - 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

Terrie's Comments:

Since I belong to Jesus I will be raised when he comes back.  After believers are raised the end will come and everyone and everything will be humbled and once everything is submitted to Jesus he will hand his authority back to the Father and God will be supreme over everything everywhere again just like it was in the beginning before sin entered the world through Adam.

Tori's Comments:

We have such a great hope in Christ!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 47 - 1 Corinthians 15:9-19

9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.

12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

Tori's Comments:

Sometimes famous pastors can be raised on a pedestal, when in reality the same Spirit in them lives in us. Idolizing people because of their faith seems ridiculous when I think that God is the one giving them that faith. All glory to God!

Terrie's Comments:

How true is this... the whole of our hope is hinged on this point... if we do not believe that the dead will be raised to new life with Christ after life here on this earth has ended then how can we believe that Jesus himself was raised from the dead.  If we don't believe the Jesus himself was raised from the dead then we have a useless faith.  When Jesus raised up from the dead he was victorious over death and made it so that we will also have victory over death if we put our hope in him and place him as Lord in our lives.  If he is Lord of our lives then He will be our Savior in our death and give us eternal life with Him.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 46 - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

15 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

Terrie's Comments:

So what is most important is to remember that Christ died for our sins which, He was buried, raised from the dead on the third day, all fulfilled the prophecies that were foretold about Him.  And there were plenty of witnesses to prove that it was true.  Paul went back to the basics after going through the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through the church as a result of what Jesus did for his bride, the church.


Tori's Comments:

This summarizes what would have happened quite nicely to the Corinthians. Going back to the basics for a refresher is always nice. Although I assume this is because of a false teaching, doubt, or question?


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 45 - 1 Corinthians 14:33-40

33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

34 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35 If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

36 Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? 37 If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. 38 But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

39 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

Tori's Comments:

This seems to me that the people of God should just be emanating peace. It isn't something I have been doing lately with college stress getting to me, but I need to stay grounded in the truth.

Verse 34-----um....... anyone? Anyone at all? Nothing? Me neither.




Terrie's Comments:

So this is continuing in the passage about tongues and prophecy.  I am thinking that the passage about women has more to do with the tradition of the culture at that time.  It would have hindered the gospel from being spread to work against the culture in that way.  Everything Paul is talking about is to bring about peace and order in the body of Christ not dissension.  

In verse 39 Paul references both men and women are to be eager to prophesy and speak in tongues.  Just to be sure everything is done in order.


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 44 - 1 Corinthians 14:22-32

22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

26 Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

27 No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30 But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31 In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32 Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.

Terrie's Comments:
God is a God of order.  I love how Paul is basically teaching them that everyone is valuable in the body and everyone must be given a chance to speak in turn as they are led by God.  Even when people are being led by the spirit they are in control and can take turns... this is another way we show love to each other when we are together.  Being considerate of each other, learning from each other and encouraging one another.

Tori's Comments:
Another aspect added. Spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others AND the glorify of God.



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 43 - 1 Corinthians 14:13-21

13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures:

“I will speak to my own people
    through strange languages
    and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”
    says the Lord.

Tori's Comments:

Things like spiritual gifts are meant to benefit others, not ourselves.

Terrie's Comments:
We come together as a body to worship God together.  We are to be thanking God with others and for others.  When we are alone we can worship however God leads us to worship Him.  When we are with other believers we are to be considerate of them so we can all worship together.  It is to build up the body so we are stronger for Jesus not to build up ourselves.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 42 - 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

6 Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?

9 It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

Terrie's Comments:
I once did a word study on the word "prophet, Prophesy, Prophesies etc" To speak prophesy simply means to be a messenger of God.  Most people who speak prophesies are simply passing along messages to others according to what God has given them to say.  This gift of the spirit is given to the body to strengthen, encourage and comfort.  If you have ever had anyone speak into your life with the exact right words at the right time and it felt like God was speaking right to you through them to strengthen, confirm, encourage or comfort you then it probably was God using them to speak to you.  


Paul isn't saying that speaking in tongues is bad, he is simply saying that tongues is used by God to build up our ourselves through the spirit.  words of prophecy are used to build up others and the body as a whole.  

Are we eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives or are we kind of scared to ask for them because God may ask us to use them then?  Words of knowledge, words of wisdom, prophesy, tongues, healing, faith, teaching... these are just the ones on the top of my head that I a can remember that are mentioned in scripture.  The spirit gives us these gifts so we can do what God wants us to do.  We can do nothing that God asks us to do without fully relying on His power and strength.  
Tori's Comments:

I don't seem to have the same desires as Corinth. So I'm kind of reading this in a 'meh' mindset.  

But gifts that strengthen the whole church... they aren't for show or to impress people. That's why he went on and on about the importance of love at the beginning, I see that now. Love wins.



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 41 - 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

14 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

Tori's Comments:

First of all, letting love be my highest goal is hard. That is a goal that would take my whole life to work towards. But I really like how he presents it as a mindset, that love should be the background music of your day, ready to be adjusted at any moment.

But then again, maybe it should always be turned up as high as possible.


Terrie's Comments:

Bottom line though is that Love is our highest goal.  It should be our driving force behind everything we do... to love like Jesus loved us.  To put others before ourselves ALWAYS.  Anyone can put others before themselves SOMETIMES but we are called to a higher calling than that.  This it why it is said I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!  Without Jesus it is impossible to love always in a selfless ... nothing in it for me... no matter who it is... kind of way.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 40 - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Terrie's Comments:

Faith is found in Hope and our Hope is found in Love.  Jesus loves us perfectly.  He casts out our fear as we put our trust in Him.  This allows us to have hope and trust in His word more and more everyday!  LOVE IT! 

Tori's Comments:

This definitely makes me reevaluate my priorities. I just looove the power of love.



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 39 - 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Tori's Comments:

It's very easy sometimes for me to just do the right thing but not really mean it. As in, do it because I'm supposed to or because I'll be judged if I don't rather than because I love someone. 


Terrie's Comments:

Paul mentions something in 1 Corinthians that is so important to us that without it we are nothing, we can gain nothing, we are useless.  
It is found in a passage that I have been meditating on for the past few weeks... because it has been stuck in my head like the song that never ends.  
It is a passage that is often used in weddings.  When we hear it we have a tendency to think about our most intimate relationships.  I often will use it as a measurement of how my marriage is doing.  How well are we loving each other?  How well is my husband doing in treating me?
However I have realized that this passage is nestled in a portion of scripture that is talking about the Holy Spirit being allowed to flow through us in the church body. 

This is God's description of love:
13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.[c] All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

That seems like a tall order doesn't it?  Especially when it is our call as believers to walk out this demonstration of love everyday no matter who we come in contact with.  

In Romans 5:5 it says:
5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Because of the Holy Spirit, which is given to us as believers we can pour out this love to others because the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so.  Without God even if we appeared to love with a perfect love it would come from a place of selfish ambition and motives.  But when we decide to make Jesus Lord of our lives and fully live for Him instead of ourselves we will walk with God's love displayed in our lives.  We have been given all that we need to walk in love.  Just like everything that God asks us to do we need to learn to fully rely on Him to carry out his will in our lives.  No matter what we do let us earnestly desire to allow the Holy Spirit to empower God's love to be displayed in our lives.

Philipians 4:13
 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 38 - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Terrie's Comments:

We all have jobs to do... we are not called to do all of the jobs alone.  Each of us has a part to play.  We are to eagerly desire these gifts empowered through the Holy Spirit.  If we are in a place of eagerly desiring the gifts we will be willing to step out in faith when the Holy Spirit prompts us to do what Jesus has called us to do.

Tori's Comments:

All of these so far have had a similar theme...as usual. It's interesting that he lists them in order of importance? Did I get the right impression?

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

WE HAVE A WINNER FOR SEPTEMBER!!

WE HAVE A WINNER FOR SEPTEMBER!!

AMBER!!

You have 5 days to email us at christcapp@gmail.com with your name address and a little bit about yourself so we can pick a great prize for you from our prize vault!!

Day 37 - 1 Corinthians 12:14-26

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Tori's Comments:

I think that some people have gifts they don't know what to make of, and thus don't use for God's glory like they could.

But each one is needed, and designated by God for a purpose..

Terrie's Comments:

I had heard it said once that if we were all eyeballs we wouldn't get very much done... the image in my mind was a dirty, hairy eyeball rolling down the street... that is just plain silly and it renders the eyeball useless because there is no eye socket to protect it.  But this is sometimes how we act in church... we want to be a part that God never intended us to be.  Consider this... if you are trying to be something God didn't intend then it is like the church is operating without that part... without a big toe - we are off balance... without eyes - we can't see... without hands - we wouldn't be able to be hands on in so many ways... without ears (as interesting as they look) - we wouldn't be able to hear or listen.  If you aren't doing what God has asked you to do, you are causing the body of Christ to operate with a handicap.

Are you content with what God has asked you to do? Are you looking for something different?  Have you caused the body of Christ to operate with a handicap perhaps?

Another thing that stands out in this passage is that we are to be concerned for each other equally.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.  My husband had a toothache this week.  Even though a tooth is an extremely small part of our body that we just take for granted most of the time, it made his whole body suffer.  He didn't eat or sleep for 2 days.  When one part of the body of Christ suffers it should affect the rest of the parts because we are one.  We should also be celebrating as a whole body when a part of us is honoured :-) It is foolish to rival against your own body.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 36 - 1 Corinthians 12:7-13

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Terrie's Comments:

I love how God makes it so that we all have different parts in the body of Christ.  We are all unified in Christ and are empowered to do what we are called to do through the power of the same Holy Spirit.  We are not to be jealous of others who are being used in one area or another.  We should be celebrating that the Holy Spirit is moving in our body and seeking how he wants to use us in the body of Christ.  

Tori's Comments:

I know that a gift is from the Spirit if it is used for the common good.

We are all baptized by the same Spirit! And are now brothers and sisters! 

"given the one Spirit to drink"?????

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 35 - 1 Corinthians 12: 1-6

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Tori's Comments:

I think of the song "Same Power" by Jeremy Camp :)

Terrie's Comments:

Clarifying who the Holy Spirit is and what He does in our lives - and what He doesn't do in our lives is always valuable information to have :-) 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 34 - 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.

Terrie's Comments:

So we are all to eat communion together so that we are unified as a body.  And it is clearly not for the purpose of eating because you are hungry since this passage says that if you are hungry you should eat at home before coming together.  I would have loved to hear Paul's "further directions" when he came to them in person.

Tori's Comments:

I find that a lot of these passages we've had this month are constantly continuing on past thoughts...

The unity of the church should be a thing to behold to nonbelievers. Especially when taking part in the Lord's Supper!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 33 - 1 Corinthians 11:17-26

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Tori's Comments:

I actually just took part in communion today (although I am writing this later than the date I should be). It is such a beautiful practice!

Terrie's Comments:

The Lords Table is a time to come together in unity as one to celebrate what Jesus did for us together.  It is not just about us and Jesus it is about the church and Jesus.  We do it together to unify the body of Christ and proclaim His death as a whole body until He comes back.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 32 - 1 Corinthians 11:11-16

11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Terrie's Comments:

The thing that is jumping out at me at the moment is "Judge for yourselves".  I really am not feeling convicted to change what I do with regards to literally covering or not covering my head.  I do have long hair but I am not sure that it is for spiritual reasons either.  

In other translations in verse 16 it refers to "practice" as "Custom".  It doesn't seem to be a command from God but rather a custom, or practice that is in the churches at the time of Paul.  I think if it was more than this many more churches would be promoting women wearing head coverings while in worship and in prayer.  Perhaps Paul was encouraging this custom to continue in the Church because of their famous corrupt morals in that part of the world as a visual reminder that they were under authority.

I do acknowledge that my husband offers a spiritual covering over me, and Jesus is his spiritual covering and God is a covering over Jesus.  Like an authoritative chain of command.  I don't dispute these things.  I am thinking that the literal covering was more born out of tradition of men rather than a direct commandment from God.  I have not studied this matter, this is just my feelings right now as I am reading through this time.  

Keep in mind that our relationship with our husbands is a reflection of Jesus and his relationship with the church.  Yes we do submit to Jesus Christ but he also covers us with his blood providing eternal provision and protecting us from eternal judgement.

Tori's Comments:

I have trouble understanding why this is something not practiced in the church nowadays, especially considering the bible states it's necessity.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 31 - 1 Corinthians 11:1-10

1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.

Tori's Comments: Read Terrie's Comment Below...

Terrie's Comments:

To be continued tomorrow... I feel like there is more needed to this passage to get the full picture of what is being talked about here.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!