LIVE FOR THE LORD’S COMMENDATION For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. —II Corinthians 10:18 Of Noah the Lord said, “I have found you righteous in this generation.” —Genesis 7:1 Of Abraham the Lord said, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. —James 2:23 Of Job the Lord said, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” —Job 1:8 Of David the Lord said, “I have found David…

ACCOUNTABILITY DAY For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. —II Corinthians 5:10 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. —II Corinthians 5:14-15 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.  God made Him who…

GOD IS OUR SUFFICIENCY AND SURPASSING POWER! Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 –II Corinthians 3:5 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. —II Corinthians 4:7 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. —II Corinthians 4:16             We have no sufficiency in ourselves and no surpassing power in ourselves.  The sufficiency and surpassing power belongs to God and it is He who renews our inner being day…

PRAISE HIM! Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! —Psalm 150 Praise is to admire, to commend, to honor, to applaud…   So with this in mind when was the last time you praised God? When was it that you admired Him for Who He is and what He has…

REMAIN AT YOUR POST! Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. —I Corinthians 15:58             Why “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord?”   It is because “knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Am I being steadfast— persistent, committed, unwavering, loyal dependable and devoted? Am I “always abounding in the work of the Lord” —-always thriving, flourishing or multiplying in His work? Hmmm… Where and how is that happening in my life or through my life?             To “be steadfast” and to…

CONSTRUCTING OR DESTRUCTING On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. —I Corinthians 14:3 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. —I Corinthians 14:12  What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. —I Corinthians 14:26             Am I seeking to build or tear down? Am I seeking to encourage or discourage? Am I seeking to console or depress people? As I reflect on my walk with…

DON’T BE SELFISH, BE OTHERISH No one should seek his own good, but the good of others. —I Corinthians 10:24 For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved. —I Corinthians 10:33 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. —Philippians 2:3-4             How am I seeking the good of others? Am I seeking the good of the lost that they may be saved? Am I doing what I am doing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit?…

RUN FROM SIN AND TO HOLINESS! When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.  But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.  I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly…

FAITHFUL SERVICE WILL BE COMMENDED! Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. —I Corinthians 3:12-15 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. —I Corinthians 4:2 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before…

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. —I Corinthians 2:14             The natural person is still dead in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1).   The natural person is blinded to the gospel (II Corinthians 4:4). The natural person thinks the gospel is foolishness (I Corinthians 1:18). But those who follow Jesus have been “made alive” (Ephesians 2:5). They have had “His light shine in (their) hearts to give (them) the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of…