Bible 365: Week 45

Hey y’all!  I’m literally running on fumes today.  Saturday both kiddies got runny noses and I thought it was just allergies since the Mr had done some dusting.  But by Sunday night JJ was coughing and sneezing his head off.  I gave him some medicine and it helped a little bit at first, but then he just kept waking up every hour until like 4 AM.  

I gave him some Benadryl because his nose was really runny and I didn’t want his skin underneath to get raw.  That helped him sleep a little bit.  He woke up again at 7 and then slept until 9 and dozed off again until 10.  So, to say that we are both tired is an understatement.  I feel exhausted.  I’ve been lysoling and bleaching already because this is usually the time when Moo gets sick.  So, hopefully we’ll keep these cold germs down to a minimum and nobody else catches it.

Now, for our Week 45 recap.  You know if pastors and ministers wrote open letters to their churches like Paul did in 1 & 2 Corinthians, I think that a lot churches would be better off.  Sunday sermons just aren’t enough sometimes.  And Paul’s letters weren’t always negative.  For the most part they were very encouraging and motivating.

Paul was also very blunt in his letters.  He no qualms about telling them about their shortcomings and letting them know that they if they were going to boast about having their stuff together, then they needed to make sure it was true.  As a disciple Paul went through a lot.  I’m sure a lot of it was based on the things he did in his past when he was Saul.  Not everyone was willing to forgive and believe he had changed.

Reading the books of Corinthians reminded me that we should take care to not come off as know-it-alls. “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2).  At the end of the day, only God knows everything.  There’s so much that happens that is beyond our comprehension as human beings.  The one thing that we can and should know like the back of our hand is the Bible.

That’s one of the reasons I did this Bible 365 challenge.  I had so many questions about the Bible.  I can definitely say that a lot of them have been answered now.  I have more clarity as to the life I am expected to live.  And contrary to what the world thinks, living a Christian lifestyle isn’t nearly as boring as people think.  I can still have fun and live life to the fullest.  I just have to make sure the things that I’m doing to do so are pleasing to God and not hurting others.

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).  You can’t be saying one thing and living another thing.  There is no do as I say and not as I do when it comes to living right.  Hypocrisy and being a Christian do not go hand in hand.  Paul knew that.  That’s why God changed his name from Saul to Paul.

God gave him a fresh start not only with his name but also with changing his actions.  And I’m sure that there were times when Paul was going through trials that he felt like the people weren’t listening to him.  There are times in my life when I feel like throwing in the towel.  But 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  Paul kept moving forward because he knew that there was a greater purpose and a greater reward awaiting for him.  So, if Paul can keep going on after being stoned, beat and jailed, surely we can do the same.

Let me just say that I’m glad certain laws of the church have changed.  Because sadly, back in the day women didn’t have much voice in the church.  In fact, they didn’t have a voice at all.  1 Corinthians 14:34 instructed husbands to “Let your woman keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive as the law also says.”  Kudos to women who lived back then because often times it seems like they were undervalued and didn’t have many rights.  I’m way too opinionated to have lived back then I think.

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).  This is scripture that eludes a lot of people.  Why?  Because most of us tithe and give offerings because we feel obligated to do so.  And we here that if we have that mindset, then that’s what’s we’ll reap.  We’ll reap only the things that our necessary for our wellbeing.  Now, on the flip side, cheerful givers who give because they WANT to reap abundance. 

They reap beyond what they need.  God doesn’t want us to feel obligated to do things.  But rather He would be prefer that we want to them according to our own free will.  I’m not going to lie there are certain things that I’m working on changing my attitude about when it comes to my faith.  In order to be truly blessed I have to adjust my vision and make myself more willing.

Lastly, don’t forget that what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.  “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)!

11/11: Galatians 1-2

11/12: Galatians 3-4

11/13: Galatians 5-6

11/14: Ephesians 1-3

11/15: Ephesians 4-6

11/16: Philippians 1

11/17: Philippians 2