We are members of the body of Christ. We are all different, yet no less valuable.

“¹²For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though, many are one body, so it is with Christ…¹⁶And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?” – 1 Corinthians 12:12 & 16-17 (ESV)

Each part of our body is important no matter how small it may be. Each part has a purpose. Your ears, eyes, nose, fingernails, toes, each is there to do its part for the good of the body. The same is said for each of us as a part of the body of Christ.

We each have gifts given by God and those gifts are for his glory. This is where I know that I get hung up. I sometimes feel that if I am not able to do certain things, I am less of a Christian than those that are demonstrative and seem to get all the glory.

Paul reminds us in this passage that not everyone is an apostle, prophet, or teacher. Some are called to be healers or helpers. We are to embrace out gifts and live those out as God intended.

“³¹But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)

Paul is not referring to the jealous coveting of the gifts of others, only to desire to do more with what you have. Once we have demonstrated our embracing of our gifts, God uses that gift for the body of the church. We should be showing ourselves and our gifts with love, and that is how we demonstrate our value.

What gifts do you possess that you may have been overlooking as a part of the whole body of Christ? Will you take on those gifts as valuable? Will you use them to please God and do his work? Will you show yourself and your value as a member of the body of Christ?

“¹Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.’…⁴So Abram wen, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” – Genesis 12:1 (ESV)

Do we have the faith to act on God’s command as Abram did? Abram followed God with full faith. He picked up his stuff and took off, to an unknown land.

Look at the words of God, “to the land that I will show you”, not, “to the land that I will give you”. Don’t we expect in our following of God that we will receive blessings from God? We will, however maybe not the blessings we were expecting. Abram followed God fully trusting in him. So much so, that he took everything with him, not just some provisions where he could come back, but in full faith of God’s Word.

“⁷Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an alter to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” – Genesis 12:7 (ESV)

What a kick in the gut that could have been. “Thanks for obeying, see what those that come after you get.” But Abram did not look at it that way. He was obeying the Lord and his positivity was manifested in his building an altar. He went where he was shown and knew that God’s plan was greater than he could see at that moment.

What faith do we have in the work of God? Are we able to pick up everything and follow him? Are we able to go where we are shown (even if not sure if it is for us, or those that come after us)?

When we come to the Lord, we must be in the right mind, body, and heart. How do we get there?

“²⁸Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” – 1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)

Yes, Paul is referring to the Lord’s Supper here and we should look closely at ourselves prior to coming to the table. We are sinners and will always be sinners, however we need to be aware of that at all times. That is where the examination comes.

When I go for an exam at the doctor’s office, it is not a situation where the doctor walks in, says hi, and then begins to chit chat about the world events only to leave with a prescription for meds. It is more along the lines of, “hi, lie down there and let me take a closer look at you”. This is an exam. A closer look. And this is the examination that Paul speaks of in the above verse.

In that examination, the next piece, we repent for those sins we have committed.

“²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement on himself. ³⁰That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. ³¹But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. ³²But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” – 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 (ESV)

Paul is letting the Corinthians know that they have to come to the Lord’s table with the right heart. They should have a “clear conscience” when it comes to their sin. They should have already taken responsibility for their actions. We are no different.

Before dining with the Lord, we must repent. We must have identified our sin, and asked to be forgiven, even for those we may have missed in our recall. If we have not, then we are not right with God and therefore He will judge us (see verse 30). When we are right with God then we are ready for the next part, Enjoy.

We are to enjoy the company of God and our fellow Christians. The only way to do that is to truly repent and have nothing holding us back.

“³³So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another – ³⁴if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home – so that when you come together it will not be for judgment.” 1 Corinthians 11:33-34 (ESV)

To truly enjoy, we have to have clear bodies, minds, and hearts. The way to that clarity is to repent and have nothing weighing us down. And once we have that clarity, we are “free” to fellowship with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ with complete joy.

When you come to God, where is your body, mind, and heart? What about during the rest of the day? I wonder how different my days would be if I was fully repentant? Will you, examine, repent, enjoy?

I continue to sin. I am a sinner and can’t stop. I will continue to sin.

Now, I know what you are thinking, yes, we are all sinners. My thoughts here are, can/will we admit it out loud, and do something about it.

“⁴⁰Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! ⁴¹Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in Heaven:” – Lamentations 3:40-41 (ESV)

We are all sinners and will continue to sin despite our best efforts. We cannot escape sin. We may not consciously got out looking to sin, however we will find it. Whether, impure thoughts, speaking ill about someone, taking a pen from the office, cursing someone in traffic, we are all prone to sinning.

We are to look at ourselves completely, and return to the Lord. That is doing something about it. Returning is not just outwardly, although that is what people see. We have to return inwardly as well. Notice verse 41 above; “lift up our hearts and hands”. Look what is first in that verse, the heart.

“¹²Yet even now,” ‘declares the Lord,’ “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; ¹³and rend your heats and not your garments.” – Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)

“With all your heart”, “rend your heart”. These two phrases from God are telling. We have to return to God with our heart first. We have to secure our inward selves. Outwardly is for the world to see and without the inward repentance, we are just putting on a show. God knows our true heart and once we have returned to him with our heart, the outside will reflect.

Yes we will continue to sin, but I believe that when we examine our hearts, repent, and return to God, DAILY, those sins are covered with the grace of our Lord. We do not have a license to run amuck sinning, but when we do sin, we are covered.

Are you actively aware of your sin? Will you repent? Will you return to God? Will you examine yourself and come back to him minutely, hourly, and daily, starting with your heart?

The title may be one that raises eyebrows a bit. The word “authority” can be have a negative connotation. The word may bring you to those in high office that rule over others with an iron fist. I am not referring to those at all.

“¹So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ²shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” – 1 Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)

Peter gives us insight into how we should lead and take on the mantle of leadership. Here are those listed that I found in my NIV commentary:

1. You are caring for God’s flock, not your own
2. Lead out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation
3. Be concerned for what you can give, not what you can get
4. Lead by example, not force

We find ourselves in positions where the devil is present and giving us “advice” on how to lead and it is up to us to avoid that folly and stick to what we know, GOD’s WORD. We are to be the example to those around us and what better example than that of God. When we are the example of proper authority as described by Peter we will receive our reward.

“⁴And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” – 1 Peter 5:4 (ESV)

I need to remember that my glory is coming and simply lead by the example of Christ and know that I cannot be judged by man on those actions.

Will you use the example listed above? Are you able to put aside your gain to give to others? Will you be the example of what proper authority looks like?

As a child of God, we are to follow the commands and obey Him. We are to show others our example of Christ. Even with the authority of man.

“¹³Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” – 1 Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)

Peter writes that we are to follow the law of the land and submit to authority, regardless of that authority. This is hard in a lot of situations around the world. And Peter addresses that in verse 18.

“¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” – 1 Peter 2:18 (ESV)

We are to obey even in the face of persecution. This one is tough, especially when you are “mistreated. We are to listen to and follow the law, and here it is, as long as we are still able to follow and obey God. We are to be the example of God at all times, and just because we do not like something does not give us the right to go against those that have put it in place, as long as it does not contradict our ability to follow and obey the Word of God.

Even Jesus followed the law, to the point of death. He did not fight back when he was arrested. He did not revolt, he did not create an angry mob, he accepted what the authority gave. Jesus had a greater purpose and he was fulfilling the prophecy, but don’t we have a greater purpose and reward as well.

“²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)

If Jesus can do it, so can we. He provided the example of how we should react and it is up to us to follow that example.

When you are “asked” to follow the authority, are you doing so? Jesus provided the example of the respect for authority we should have, are you able to demonstrate that respect? Are you submitting to authority, as long as it does not compromise your following and obeying of God?

In our world, we are obsessed with being physically fit. At the turn of the new year, we set “resolutions” to get there. We buy all the latest equipment, diet to set ourselves up for “healthy” living, and set time away in our days for all of the above.

“⁷Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; ⁸for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 5:7-8 (ESV)

Paul cautions Timothy to be more in tune with his spiritual health than his physical health. Even as Timothy was much younger in age, he was and had great potential for spiritual maturity. Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy was devoted to his continued growth and example of that spiritual maturity as godliness holds more for the now and the future.

Don’t get me wrong, we should watch our physical health, because it is difficult to spiritually strong when we are distracted by the failing physical. Our physical should not take the place of our spiritual health. They should work together. Being spiritually healthy will lend to physical health as well as the other way around.

Timothy was much younger than Paul and his age was a difficult thing to overcome with regard to his spirituality in the eyes of the people. I know that several years ago I was a part of a pastor search committee and one of the items on the list of the church was to look for a mature man. God provided a man that was young in age, but mature in faith.

“¹²Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁵Pracitce these things, immerse yourself in then, so that all may see your progress.” – 1 Timothy 5:12-3, 15 (ESV)

God provided the right man for the church, one of spiritual maturity that was able to continue in his growth. Following him, the church found another man of spiritual maturity that continues to grow.

We place too much emphasis on the physical and not enough on the spiritual. Shouldn’t we get right?

When you think about your fitness, where do you think first? In your life, what is more important, physical fitness, or the spiritual? What example are we showing to others? Are you spiritually fit?

We all made mistakes, and some of those were due to our ignorance. We just did not know because we had not been exposed. Paul, was a sinner.

“¹³though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,” – 1 Timothy 1:13 (ESV)

Notice in the verse above that Paul, even late in life, still understood that he was a sinner. He used himself as a powerful example someone who was one of the worst sinners there could have been based on his actions. But, he also knew the reward that was afforded him through Jesus Christ.

“¹⁵The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” – 1 Timothy 3:15 & 16 (ESV)

Even being one of the worst sinners, God did not give up on him and sent Jesus to save him. Imagine in today’s world, the worst of the worst people. Now, know that Jesus came to save them all as they believe in him.

What an example for us to believe in. We are given grace, even when we do not deserve it, by the standards other than God’s. We are in the position to be beacons of light in this dark world even as we were/are part of that darkness ourselves.

I have to be thankful for God and his mercy on me just as Paul:

“¹⁷To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Timothy 1:17 (ESV)

Are you fully aware of your sinfulness? Are you aware that you don’t deserve God’s mercy? Are you aware of your charge to be beacons of light in the darkness? Are you a sinner and still the example of God’s grace?

We are often afforded some time to rest. I recall some time ago, I felt that my plate was so full that I was not going to make it. I was asked for help by someone in the church and I just knew I had an obligation to say yes. This yes overloaded my plate, or so I thought. Soon after, some task I was in charge of ended, then another, then another, which opened up time to help.

I soon realized that God made it all happen. He wanted to see my obedience to do his work. Once I demonstrated my obedience, he removed something that was in the way of my ability to help another in need.

This is a far cry from looking busy for the sake of those watching.

“¹¹For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:11 (ESV)

We are to be working for Christ, not resting all the time. That constant rest is what drives us to pretending to do work so others can “see” us working. There is no real work being done, only the illusion.

We are to be working for Christ at all times. When we do, we are rewarded with what God has in store. In my case above, a chance to help someone in need, and by the way, I always had what I needed during that time.

“⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 (ESV)

You see, when serving God, we are going to have to work. We cannot sit idle and wait for God to do it for us. Sitting idle allows for our focus to wander away from God’s work and in order to fill our time, we get involved in the business of others. Staying focused on God’s work keeps us in line with his plan for us. That plan will never be bigger than we can handle and rest will come in God’s time.

Will you focus on God’s work? When someone asks for your help, are you there willing to take it on, knowing that God will provide the time and resources? Are you sticking to the work of God?

We should strive to be like Christ each day and that points us forward.

“¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Paul looked forward to the goal. He knew that whatever was in the past, was just that, in the past. He was sure to let us know that he was not perfect, however he was doing his best to follow Christ at every turn. He was still a sinner, and that he could not escape, but he pressed onward to be more like Christ each day.

We are to use Paul’s example in our lives. We are not perfect and will never be. We do however have the same opportunity of pressing forward. We even have an example of how to overcome and press on, Paul.

“¹⁷Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” – Philippians 3:17 (ESV)

We are to pay close attention to those that are looking forward as the example of how to press on. Paul is a good one in that his life was filled with adversity for Christ, yet, he continued to provide encouragement and example for all.

We are to take the approach of Paul:

“¹So I exhort to the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ²shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” – 1Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)

Where are you looking, past or future? What example are you following? What example are you being? Are you being the example of looking forward?