"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." -- 1 Corinthians 12-13

Life does not occur in a vacuum.  We live interconnected and intimately woven with all the people around us.  Consider the simplest of things--  I can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich only because wheat farmers grew wheat, peanut farmers grew peanuts, and vintners grew grapes.  Additionally, bread makers had to make bread, peanut butter makers had to make peanut butter, and jelly makers made jelly.  Then they had to be packed and labeled, transported, and placed on the shelf to sell.  I counted on the manufacturer of my car to get me to the store, the roads to drive on, the store itself and its employees to run it before I could trade my cash for it.  But I had to work to earn that with which to buy it.  So it took the community I work for hiring me in order for that to happen as well, which required my teachers and parents to educate me and send me to school in order to learn what I know in order to do what I do... and they were all dependent on the people who did what they did to allow them to get where they were in order to teach, influence, and prepare me...

Do you see how even the simplest of things don't just "happen"?  When speaking of the body of Christ, it takes all of us working in the same direction toward the same end to make change happen in this world in the name of Jesus Christ.  You are a vital part of it.  Use your gifts faithfully today and every day.  By doing what seems so simple to you, may just be saving someone else's life.

Readings:  Esther 4:1-7:10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 21:21-22

"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." -- Proverbs 21:19-20

So in yesterday's readings, we read that if you things like oil, you'll never be rich.  Today we're told that in the house of the wise, you'll find stores of choice food and oil.  Isn't that frustrating?  Yesterday, it was more about letting money burn through your pocket and not holding anything back.  Today's is along the same line.  The proverb goes on to say but the foolish man devours all he has.  If you can't discipline yourself to hold back from spending everything you make and using up all you have, you'll always be scratching and clawing for your existence.  If that is your reality now, begin the discipline of saving and having dry foods stored for a rainy day.  Rain in life does come.  Be prepared.

Readings:  Esther 1:1-3:15; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 21:19-20

"He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich." -- Proverbs 21:17

There is an assumption among many that it's only been in modernity that people have been able to rise and fall into and out of their social class.  But in this proverb written thousands of years ago, we find that it probably isn't a modern idea after all.  Here the writer speaks to those who are not rich, saying that if you love expensive things, you're not going to get anywhere-- and that it's the saver, not the spender who builds wealth.  The same holds true today.  Multiple books are written on the topic these days and for those who aren't wealthy that wish to be so, the secret is usually found in living below your means.  While this isn't a Christian teaching (Jesus taught not to worry about money and stuff at all), it is a Biblical one.   But it's common sense of the ages too.  Proverbs was written to give common-sense guidance to the young so that they might live to be healthy, wealthy, and wise.  We can learn from them just as much today-- even if we're not so young anymore.

Readings:  Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18

"Everything is permissible" -- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" -- but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. -- 1 Corinthians 10:23

There appeared to be confusion over the good news that Paul was sharing in regard to "freedom" from the law.  When Jesus says in Matthew 11 that his yoke is "easy" and his burden is "light", he's inviting those who live under the burden of the law to follow him... that his law is one-- not the six hundred thirteen found in the OT-- but one in two parts: love God; love each other.  So it's not what goes into you that matters, but what comes out of you... man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man, etc...

While you are free from the tyranny of the law, that doesn't mean that any action follows the path of love.  You have the freedom to do anything you want, but there are always consequences to your actions.  Free will is yours, but seek to do God's will-- the right things.

Readings:  Nehemiah 11:1-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." -- 1 Corinthians 9:19

When differing ideologies have the power to sever the ties of even close families, it's time to consider what's really important in life.  I recently heard a respected organizational consultant define life.  He defined life as being "people and time spent with the ones you love".  I thought about that quite a bit, and I've come to agree.  Someone else once told me that it's important that relationship always be placed above doctrine.  I've held onto that one too.  I think in reading today's readings, we see that Paul understood that too.  Are you willing to put aside doctrinal differences in order to strengthen important relationships in your life?  Are you willing to enter into relationship with others who believe differently than you? 

Readings:  Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13

"No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save." -- Psalm 33:16-17

The death rate remains around 100%.  There's just no getting around that right now.  Yet there seems to be a race to wealth and power that fools some into thinking that by getting enough of it, they will cheat it.  The truth is, it is by God's grace that we live... and I don't just mean physical life.  I mean having a life that is worth living.  If we live our lives thinking that all we have is permanent, and that somehow we can secure it all, we are living blindly.  Only when we realize that life is fragile and that things are temporary, do we even come to appreciate them in the first place. 

Readings:  Nehemiah 7:61-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12

"We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know." -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-2

If we are sincerely growing in knowledge, then one of the things we learn is that we have yet so much to learn.  To think we know everything is arrogant.  It is hubris.  To reduce God and discussions of faith to scientific query is folly, for we will never unravel the complete mysteries of God.  They will only be made known to us if God chooses to reveal them.  But this has been revealed already:  that love is the way to God.  That if you love, you participate in the building of God's Kingdom.  If you love, you have encounter with God, and God knows you.  So in your quest for spiritual enlightenment, go ahead and read the books, listen to wise people, and study hard.  But do it with the understanding that knowledge leads to an unpacking of what's already been done.  But love leads to the experience of God.  That experience requires action.  It is present.  It is now.  It is yet to come.  By loving, you become a fellow builder. 

Readings:  Nehemiah 5:14-7:60; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10