Coming into this week, I knew it was packed, pretty much from start to finish. There is something every single day – Sunday through Saturday! Father, I ask for Your strength, Your love, and Your wisdom. As I’ve mentioned several times to my congregations over the last few weeks, our resources run low or dry up, but Yours are unfathomable! And You are more than able and willing to share!

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (<<click here to read the passage)

Going a little further with what I said in my opening prayer, there are many instances where, in all honesty, we are going against the flow of humanity. What many hold to be true may not be so.

In this particular passage, the Apostle Paul addresses his readers’ battle against those who denied Jesus’ resurrection. (Yet today, our world is also full of naysayers.) There are multiple things in which we hold to what we believe is the right and proper way to do something, while others cast caution to the wind and bend rules and regulations left and right.

For example, telling the truth. I was raised always to tell the truth and would still be hard-pressed to tell a “white lie.” One incident that I still get teased about is when I was supposed to get my wife to a local eatery for a “surprise” birthday get-together for her. Her family was going to be there, as well as mine. When she asked why we were going to that particular location, all I could think was that my mom really enjoyed their soft-serve ice cream. (I asked Karen about it again this evening, and she still thought it was hilarious that I couldn’t come up with something more “creative.)

Now, that is more humorous than serious, but you get the idea. We could talk about sneaking out to party with friends as a teenager, or pilfering office supplies from work because “everybody” does it, and many other scenarios, but there are times when we can’t go along with the crowd and have to stand up for what is right.

You might think these examples are trivial, but what about matters of the heart that could have long-lasting impacts on our faith?

Paul, quoting a famous Greek dramatist Menander (342-291 B.C.), states,

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” v33

My Life Application Study Bible says,

Don’t let your relationships with unbelievers lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.

I don’t know about you, but often, I just run out of resources. In going against the crowd, I grow weak—Jesus is strong. My patience wears thin, and my love wanes—Jesus is the epitome of love! My knowledge and understanding of circumstances become inadequate – Jesus knows everything (that’s what omniscient means!)

Jesus – He is all we need. In Him, we can stand steady and firm in our faith; that is the only way we cannot falter in our interaction with the world!

Mar 12th, 2024, Tues, 6:35 pm