1 Corinthians 15:1-4

¹Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ²By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. ³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Petal

January is almost over; February is approaching. The month of February is widely celebrated as the month for lovers. Most single people are hoping to meet someone who may love and care for them. And most often, young people are wondering if the person they are infatuated with has the same feelings for them.

Somewhere in the meadows, someone picked a flower and stared beyond the horizon. He removed one of the petals of the flower and flicked into the air saying, “She loves me!” The second petal he tossed into the air he said, “She loves me not!” Tossing one petal after another into the air and alternately saying, “She loves me; she loves me not,” and the last petal should be the answer.

Young people tried using petals of flowers to determine if the person they are in love with has feelings for them. Have you tried it? Did it come out right? How does tossing flower into the air help anyone choose the right partner?

Can you agree that God has also chosen the right lifetime partner for you?

Seriously, how do we interpret 1 John 5:14? ¹⁴This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Did you have criteria when you choose your partner in life? Some ladies are fascinated by someone who is “Tall, dark and handsome!” I know a person who prayed, “Lord, I want a God-fearing person to be my spouse.” Truly, blessed are you if your spouse is God-fearing person. Someone said, “Appearance will fade away,” but if you choose someone who loves God, you won’t be mistaken.

Anyway, did you ask God if he wants you to be married or not? How can we identify the will of God? Reflect on Romans 12:2, ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

In some cultures, parents may urge adult children to get married. As if, being married is the best situation for their children. Maybe, they just want their clan to increase, and not necessarily want the best for their children. What does the Scripture teach about getting married and remain unmarried?

Seriously, let’s reflect on 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, ³²An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. ³³But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—

³⁴and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Marriage is great experience. It’s temporal concern of life in this world that may reduce devotion to the Lord. Married Christians will juggle and balance their priority between their spouse and the Lord. Is it God’s will for you to be married or not yet? Well, our top priority should be to witness for Christ. It’s our reminder.

1.  Remind

¹Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 

When Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians as brothers and sisters, he implied that they were very precious to him. They were not simply acquaintances. He reminded them that they heard the gospel of Christ from him. He was also confident that they received the gospel with sincerity because they defended it.

Apostle Paul may have recalled what happened during their early days in Corinth. It narrated in Acts 18:8-11, ⁸Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. ⁹One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

¹¹So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Crispus, a synagogue leader and his household became members of the church of Corinth, and other synagogue leaders were jealous. So, they tried to persecute Paul and his mission team. Maybe, Crispus and other believers kept Apostle Paul and his mission team safe and secured from the crowd in Corinth.

Likewise, our loyalty should belong to the Lord and not to organizations or certain individuals. We should take our stand to proclaim the gospel of Christ; we should disregard any personal agenda that may cause confusion to believers.

Canada

The Prime Minister of Canada declared his intention to step down once the next leader of his party is chosen. The Prime Minister became unpopular among members of his own political party after someone accused him of costly political gimmicks. Well, what can we do? We may agree or disagree with political parties, but it’s our obligation as Christians to regularly pray for government leaders.

We have no idea if politicians have hidden agenda. Our part is to regularly pray for our concerns regarding government officials, why? We want our leaders to be wise and responsible, don’t we? Are you anxious about the next Canadian Prime Minister? Together, let us reflect on Philippians 4:6-7, ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How does the gospel of Christ relate to praying for government? We are blessed that we can practice faith in Christ in this land. Somewhere around the world, government controls the practice of religion. And there are undesirable policies that their government had issued that are not favorable to Christianity.

Sharing the gospel is not smooth in particular public places. When housing projects are slow, house hunters have limited options. The increase of population becomes anybody’s concern. But possibly, particular groups of legislators may introduce laws that could promote better privileges for citizens in this land.

Everyone wants a better life. The government can introduce laws that may stabilize prices of basic commodities, housing and other necessities. We pray that the next government may preserve and retain laws favorable to citizens.

2.  Retain

²By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

If we retain and hold firmly to the word of God, our confidence to enter heaven when Christ comes again may grow stronger. By faith, we believe that Christ redeemed us from eternal torture. But how can the gospel of Christ save us from torture of practical or personal concerns? How about church concern?

Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians to hold firmly to the word they heard from him because he cared so much of the spiritual wellbeing.

The church of Corinth had factions. Some followed their preferred leaders. Some preferred motivational speakers while others preferred sound doctrines. Some leaders favored immoral individuals. And Apostle Paul encouraged us to desire the gift of prophecy so that we can correctly interpret the gospel of Christ.

Personally, how do you interpret what it declares in Romans 1:16-17?

¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

¹⁷For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Missionary

Practically, how could we live by faith? Someone was very enthusiastic that a missionary dropped by for a visit. He wanted the missionary to enjoy and have wonderful memory with his family. So, he planned for fabulous dinner. He cooked delicacies like: beef stew, roasted lamb, fried pork, grilled fish, vegetables, cakes and different kinds of fruits that were commonly reserved for special occasions.

During dinner time, the host enthusiastically told the missionary to eat and enjoy the feast. The missionary enjoyed the veggies and fruits but did not touch the beef stew, roasted lamb, fried pork and cake. The host curiously asked why. Accordingly, the missionary avoided some food due to delicate health concern.

Most often, we plan for things that we deem as great and wonderful, right?

Yet not everyone can agree with us. Others have their own standards of what is great and wonderful. Each individual has ideas of what is right and what is not. But we have to realize what God wants. What does God want from us?

God wants us to live by faith; he is the best; he knows the best; he defines what is best for creation. We belong to God when by faith we believe that Jesus Christ redeemed us from sin and shame. Now, let’s reflect on Romans 14:8-9.

⁸If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Ask yourself: “Do I belong to Christ? Am I living for Christ?” Someone may confess, “I cannot absolutely follow the Lord.” Most often, we just follow our own instinct, passion or dream. Well, anyone can dream. We may plan for favorable, commendable things. We prayerfully ask God to align our dream to his will. Why? Dreams may come out better if we can accept what it declares in Proverbs 16:9.

        ⁹In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

If God establishes or directs our steps, it follows that if it’s not within the will of God, anything we plan won’t materialize. Can you accept that? You planned to become like this or like that, one day, but you are not very sure if it will happen.

Why? God had better plan that we should follow. To avoid regrettable step, be prayerful and discern the will of the Lord for you. How? The gift of prophecy is useful to correctly understand the message of God for us. Prayerfully ask God to grant you the gift of prophecy, and keep on praying for it until you received it.

3.  Receive

³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Did you receive the same gospel of Christ that Apostle Paul had received? The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to correctly understand and explain the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ that Apostle Paul personally received is this: Jesus Christ died to redeem believers from the penalty of sins; his dead body was buried, and on the third day, he resurrected, according to the Scriptures.

On the Pentecost, Apostle Peter testified in Acts 2:31-36, ³¹The Messiah was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. ³²God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. ³³Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand ³⁵until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” ³⁶Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.

Before that event, Apostle Peter was scared to admit that he knew Jesus. After he was filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter courageously preached the gospel. Formerly, Apostle Paul was called Saul, and he persecuted the Christian church. The gospel of Christ transformed him into devoted preacher of Christ’s gospel.

Personally ask yourself: What transformation happened to my life ever since I received the gospel of Christ? Believing the gospel of Christ includes being filled with the Holy Spirit. We rely upon the Holy Spirit to sincerely believe the gospel of Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the Scripture to transform our behavior.

Reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:18, ¹⁸The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Ever since you believed that Jesus Christ redeemed you from the penalty of sin, can you recall a memorable experience of the power of God in your life?

John Wesley

John Wesley was a missionary to America. He admitted and recorded it in his journal, “I went to America, to convert the Indians; but oh! who shall convert me? Who, what is He that will deliver me from this evil heart of mischief?”

          His mission ministry to the native Americans was a failure accordingly. So, John returned home aboard a ship, but there was violent storm, and he panicked. John observed other passengers were calm, particularly the Moravian Christians. They were praying and singing hymns. That distinctive scary storm at sea served as turning point of his life and ministry. He reflected seriously on his own belief.

He testified in his journal, “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

Sometimes, worries of life may help us evaluate our faith in God. Christ had explained in Matthew 13:22-23, ²²The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

This world is filled with deceitful schemes, and millions of Christians are deceived also. Anyone may readily declare that by faith in Christ they have been redeemed from sin and shame. Personally, how firm is your confidence in Christ?

Prayerfully ask for stronger faith in Christ. Nurture your faith, how? Share the gospel of Christ. Tell others that Christ died and redeemed you from sin and shame. Testify how the gospel of Christ transformed you. Here’s an assignment:

Write down how the gospel of Christ transformed you, your memorable experience of the power of God. Why? If you write down on paper your personal testimony, memorize it, and you will be ready to testify for Christ. Amen!

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