Chapter 1
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours”… “Is Christ Divided?” (v.2&13a) As a pastor, a constant battle that is fought in my head is comparing the church I minister at to others. Worship styles, attendance, amount of conversions, church events; you name it and it probably falls into my line of thinking at least some point every ten minutes (kidding…sort of). But God has opened up to me such an amazing revelation the past few years as I have been able to grow into some deep friendships with other pastors. That these other churches and pastors are not my competitors, they’re my teammates. We are all, together (key word there), working to make Jesus known in the world around us. Why would there ever be a disconnect created between two people working for the same goal? Because while those other churches and pastors aren’t my enemy, we do have an enemy. We need to realize other churches, other pastors, other members of our own church who might not be in the same ministry area as us; they are not our enemies. Don’t waste your thoughts on how to one up them or avoid them, they are designed by God to help you! Pour that energy you’ve been giving to better that other person into creating a fellowship with them because that’s how we defeat the enemy in this area. When we refuse to be divided and disconnected from our fellow followers of Christ, we are an unstoppable force for God. We are designed to be dependent upon each other. Don’t let the worldly standards or attacks from the enemy break apart what God has put together. – Daily DEVO 3
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…1 Corinthians 1:26-30 – While its a longer passage, one phrase sums it up. There in verse 30 it’s says, “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus.” We are with Jesus because of Jesus. Not by anything you’ve done or didn’t do nor by anything anyone else other than Jesus has done for you are you saved. Jesus brought you to Himself and chose you not because of your strength or standing, but because of His love for you. Let this lift you up today if your confidence in Christ is down or humble you today if your confidence has been in yourself too much. You’re with Jesus because of Jesus and you’ll stay with Jesus because of Jesus. It’s not about you, it’s all about Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 703
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 1 Corinthians1:2 – “called to be saints together.” This phrase really stood out to me this morning as I read through this passage. First we are called to live as saints. We have been made holy through Jesus’ sacrifice, now it’s time to begin living holy. Then it goes even further and speaks of a key way we are to live holy. We are to do it together. As much as this message was needed for the Corinthian church, the Christian church of today needs it too. We are not called to live holy for God alone. Yes we can find quality time with God in our own personal quiet time, or a walk around the lake, or by watching church online from home. All are great to do, but if we refuse to gather with other saints somehow we are missing something huge to our faith life. We are not being encouraged/challenged by others. We as well aren’t encouraging/challenging others. I totally understand the world we currently live in does make it difficult to be together for some, but we all must be intentional about being invested in someone else’s life. How can you today come close to someone else’s faith life? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1768
Chapter 2
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were no in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (v.2-5) In this passage, God opens up for us a couple amazing points about our sharing of His message. As you know if you’ve ever stepped out of your comfort zone and actually carried out your calling of spreading His message of love and grace, the bombardment of thoughts of how to do it and what to say always seem to find their way into your mind. This passage though gives a simplistic and freeing answer to those worry-filled questions. For to what to say, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” For how to say it, “In demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” That our message is Jesus loves us and was willing to die just to be in a relationship with us, and our means of spreading that message is completed by the demonstration of the way we live our lives. When our message is Jesus’ love and grace and that is shown throughout the way we live our everyday life, our witness is never ending. I love the quote from Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words.” This is opening to us the reality that our lives every day is our testimony to the love and grace of Jesus. So question for you…would someone who sees your life understand the love and grace of Jesus more just because they spent time with you? – Daily DEVO 4
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12 – There are many things about God that just doesn’t make sense. Like how could someone love so unconditionally? Maybe in your walk with God you’ve come across some questions as well about His character and Word. Thankfully though what we read here is that God has given us His Spirit so we can understand and know Him better. Meaning God wants us to deeply know Him and His ways. He knows that without His help there’s no chance that we could even begin to understand God like He desires us to know Him so He chose to help us out. Today hear the message that God wants you to know Him and wants to help you know Him. He doesn’t want the type of relationship with you that keeps you at arms distance because He’s afraid if you get too close you might find out something bad about Him. He’s bringing you close and helping you know Him. He has nothing to hide, and the more we see into His character the more we’ll see how much He loves us and how much we love Him. We have a pretty amazing God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 704
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – Many of us shy away from sharing the Gospel because we feel as if we can’t do it properly. We don’t know enough, we don’t speak fancy Christians terms, and we are just too nervous to talk with people. Yet just read through once again the posture of Paul when he taught. He didn’t use fancy words, he came fearful, and the message was simple. What was His message? Jesus and Him crucified. He told them about who Jesus is and what He did for them. Maybe you don’t know the full Bible super well, but what Paul spoke on is a message you can talk about with people. Know it’s ok to not feel qualified to talk and it’s ok to not know everything there is about the Bible before you share the gospel. What’s not ok is using those reasons and others you may come up with as to why you don’t share the gospel. The message of Jesus is alive and people are dying without it, lean into what Jesus has called you to do and share His story with others. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1769
Chapter 3
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth, So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (v.6-7) God gave and still gives the growth. What does that mean for us who serve the church? That it’s not all about us. It’s a humbling way to think about the time and effort we put into the life of the church. All the accomplishments and milestones, all the spiritual growth that is taking place in the church, everything is brought about by God. We are just serving Him and taking part in the bigger plan that God is working on. I believe for everyone who has been called to serve in the church, this passage has to be at the heart of why and what we do. It’s not about me and it’s not about you; it all about Him. He’s the healer. He’s the unifier. He’s the grower. We are just servants following the lead of the one who is really bringing the life into the church. Does that mean we are nothing and what we do doesn’t matter? Absolutely not! God has chosen and called you to an honorable position and an amazing purpose; it’s God though who needs to be in the highlight for the growth of the church. Remember, it’s all about Him but He’s all about us. – Daily DEVO 5
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 – This passage is something key for those of you who serve in the church. Not just pastors, but anyone who gives their time and talents to the ministries of your church home. Its not you who is causing people to grow, that’s all God. You are not the reason people are growing, it’s because of Jesus that they are growing. Remember your place, you are God’s tool that He choose to work through to bring about growth in people. Without His power there would be nothing happening. Make sure then that as you see growth in people happening around you that you give the praise to where it belongs. Once we start claiming the glory for ourselves we’ve missed the mark. Thank God everyday for even the small amount of growth happening in people around you. That means God is using you and sees you as a faithful follower to work through. Keep the glory on Him and you’ll see the growth continue in those around you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 705
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. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15- You have a choice as to what material you build with. Here Paul is speaking of how we choose to invest in the growth of God’s church. It says that however we choose to help the church grow, whatever we add to help build the church up, all will be put through a fire test. If it remains after the test, it was something worthwhile. If it burns up, then it didn’t truly help the church get anywhere. This should cause us to pause and dwell on what we are truly adding to the growth of the church. Will what we add actually stand the test of time and fire? That’s a big question and one maybe not easily worked through in a short devotion. Here though are a couple things that will stand the fire test that is always worth investing in: your own knowledge of God and the relationships you form with others. Both are so key in growing the church well. By far those aren’t the only two things, but for a start today make sure your are deeply, deeply investing in those things. These are sound, structural pieces to the church God is calling us to build. Choose to build in a way that lasts. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1770
Chapter 4
When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure (v.12b) These two attributes set apart clearly the true followers of Christ and those who simply carry this name Christian (and there is a distinction between the two). The heart of one who is following the lead of Christ, when reviled – hated, loathed, despised – reacts in the opposite manner than how they were treated. To be able to respond to hate with such true love and forgiveness only comes from a heart that is being continually transformed by Jesus. Also when persecuted and pushed to the point that anyone else would give in and give up, what keeps a person standing firm and enduring? An understanding that their life is held together and directed by the orchestrator of everything. If He on our side, what persecution has the power to overcome the power of our God? For a Christian who is just in name alone, that support to bless and endure is so often not taken advantage of. When your life isn’t about following Him with your every day life, why would you expect Him to be your filter on how to follow Him in these sorts of situations? It’s those who are truly seeking Him in the everyday that will seek Him in the persecution. It’s too easy to fall back on the worldly reactions to persecution, to respond back in hate and give up in these times. Only a habitual life of following Him will lead you to following His lead even in the rough times. As a true follower, we are called to live differently. What gives us the strength to live that different life is relying on something different than what the rest of the world relies on. – Daily DEVO 7
I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 – Does this idea intimidate you? This idea of having people look at your life and imitate it. Like how you worship at church or how you treat your spouse or what you do when no one is around. Would you be fine with them imitating certain areas yet not others? Why is that? What’s the difference between certain areas and others in your life? Let’s begin to ask that question of ourselves, why is it that certain areas of our life we’d prefer if people didn’t imitate them. Most often the answer is those areas aren’t leading us closer to Christ and leave a poor witness and we’d rather that not be the path for someone else. I’ll just leave you with this, remember people are watching your life. They are seeing how you react, speak, and live and are learning about Jesus every time they see you. Just be aware that you can’t always control which sides of you they see. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 706
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:15 – I’m not sure how much this devotion will impact the story of others, but I write these first anyways for myself then I simply share them with the hopes someone else can be encouraged in their walk. Many of you know my story and know we are in this adoption process. I’ll be real with you and say I’ve struggled acknowledging and accepting this title of “father.” I just haven’t fully settled in what that all looks like for this unique situation God has placed me in. Our passage this morning framed for me once again my true role in this whole adoption, to not just be a guide pointing to Jesus but someone who is close to them setting a daily example of what a follower of Jesus looks like that they can base their walk off of. I’m a “guide” for others for sure like the people at my church or even here on social media. But my role is different for the ones in my home. Know your role is different too with the people God has brought into your family. This isn’t to diminish our role in the lives of those outside our family but it does elevate our responsibilities with those in our family. You’ve been placed in your family for the reason of guiding, pointing, walking with, taking with, living with them so they can come to know Jesus as deeply as they can. You have a unique role that no one else has in another’s life if you carry a title like mom, dad, husband, or wife. Use that unique position to uniquely point people to Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1771
Chapter 5
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (v.7) Brandi and I have been hooked on a newer show called “Fixer Upper.” Simple theme of the show is this handy couple is given the task of transforming houses from the worst house on the block to the one everyone stares at (in a good way!). What is so appealing about the show is this couple’s vision. They see things, possibilities and potential, that normal people like me would have never seen and because of that they can transform this fixer upper into a magazine cover house. When I see a passage like this one, my heart connects stories like this show and the story of Christ. See Christ loves you enough for you to come to Him as you are, but loves you enough to not leave you that way. He see the possibility and potential in you and isn’t afraid of coming into the life of a “fixer upper.” He knows what you could be if He was able to get involved into your story and knows the ending is something people will stare at in amazement. So what’s the catch? Nothing, except you have to be willing to let Him enter into your story and clean out the “old leaven.” Clean out the stuff that got your life to the stage where it needs a fixer upper. That takes trust in Him. Trust that what He’s doing in you is for your good. Trust that the pain of the removal is worth it in the end. Trust that He knows what He doing, even in the rough times. Just know if God is willing to love and accept you in the stage you are at now, He must know something about your future potential that is worth investing in. If He was willing to sacrifice the most precious thing to Him to have this chance of being in your story, let’s trust He knows what He getting into. – Daily DEVO 8
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 1 Corinthians 5:9-12 – This passage certainly challenges many Christian’s way of viewing the world. We tend to lean on the idea that the sinners of the world are those we need to keep distance from yet Paul here tells us a different type of person to lean away from. The “brother” in Christ who is content living in sin and refuses to change, that’s the person we need to watch our relationship with. It would be impossible and contradictory to the great commission for us to isolate ourselves from the sinful world, and we must be careful about our time with Christians who refuse to let go of their sin. While I feel this passage has a lot of depth to it we could discuss, let’s begin with just checking ourselves as to who are purposely trying to keep away. We are to share God’s love with the broken sinner and that takes a closeness to them. Be careful not to push aside who God is wanting you to bring close. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 707
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. 1 Corinthians 5:1 – What we see spoken of is within the church there was a sinful thing being done and the church wasn’t addressing it. What I find unique here is that Paul even describes this sin as a sin that even pagans, those not following God, would consider disgusting and evil. Hopefully the church today would step up if we saw this sin spoken of in the passage taking place and not sit idle, but is there sin in the church that even those outside the church sees as wrong? How about apathy for the poor? How about how we speak of each other behind closed doors or behind a screen? We could go on but dwell on this fact for a moment. If someone who doesn’t even follow Jesus recognizes these sort of things shouldn’t be in their life, why should we think it’s okay for them to remain an unaddressed thing within our church family? Gossip, pride, and apathy can steal, kill, and destroy just as easily as “big” sins like the ones in our passage. Pray today on how you can make sure in your own story you aren’t adding to the wedges that seek to tear at the church. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1772
Chapter 6
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (v.19-20) Your actions no longer reflect just you. Your words no longer represent just you. Your lifestyle no longer just identifying you. Your life as a whole is no longer just affecting you. When you choose to carry the name of Jesus on your life, you reflect, represent, identify, and affect Him with every part of your life. You are one with Him. You are not your own anymore. You have someone close to you that is being depicted to the world by your words and actions. When you carry the name of Jesus, you aren’t just representing yourself anymore, you’re telling the world who Jesus is by every part of your life. You are called to give God a good representation to the world. That when those around you see you, hear you, spend time with you, and learn about you, they understand who God really is all due to them getting to know you. Be careful what you do with your life and the image it is casting. You are no longer just letting the world know who you are, you’re letting the world know who Christ is. If you’re not careful, you can give a horrible image of who God is just by the way you are living your life. By your life, you could actually push someone so far away from God that they would never want to start a relationship with Him. Is that the sort of story you want your life to tell? Or do you want your story to be one that is attracting people to Jesus? Make a choice and begin living that choice out. Your body, your life, is a gift from God to carry His name to the world, make it count. – Daily DEVO 9
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 – This is a “Check your heart” type of verse for sure. If we read the verse prior to it we can get pretty worked up and start pointing fingers. It gives a good list of all the sinners that won’t step into the kingdom of God. The homosexual, the thief, the drunkard. We could begin to use that verse as our reason so throw hate at such people….that is until you read the first few words in the next verse, “As such were some of you.” What right do we have to throw hate at someone for a sin we used to be trapped under? While your sin struggle may not have been listed here, understand you aren’t off the hook, it’s sin that keeps you from inheriting the kingdom of God. It’s only because you’ve been washed, sanctified, and justified by Jesus that your story is any different than the person you want to throw hate at. Remember, just like you’ve been changed, the offer of salvation is offered to them as well and God may want to use you to share His love to them. Are you willing to be used like that? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 708
To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 – Paul is coming down pretty hard on them here, but what we must remember is Paul understands what’s on the line here. The church here was getting into such deep tension and hurt that they were taking matters to be handled in a worldly court of law. So what was going to be the end result of this? Yes, their issue might be figured out, but what else? Disunity between the church body grows, our witness to those not in the church is damaged, and people will not be attracted to the church because it looks no different than anything else. This is why Paul asks them wouldn’t it be better to just suffer some wrong. No, it’s not always fair or right, but is our being in the right worth the damage? It’s a lot to dwell on and something I will even be giving a lot of thought to today. Keep in mind Paul doesn’t say to never address problems, He asks is there any among you that can judge the issue. We just need to ask what’s actually worth the fight and what should be let go. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1773
Chapter 7
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. (v.17) When you’re invested into a ministry heavily, it’s easy to see your work as of higher value than others. That those who aren’t serving in your area aren’t serving the Lord as well as you are and become judgmental over your brothers and sisters. What we have to understand is that our work, if we are following the direction of the Lord, is extremely valuable, but the work our brothers and sisters are doing is extremely valuable as well. Possibly you have a gift for working with teenagers and can connect and help them fall in love with Jesus, but that doesn’t make your work any more important than those who are committed prayer warriors in the church or those who are invested in keeping the church building looking nice. If someone has been called to serve whether it is cleaning bathrooms, changing diapers, or preaching, we need to encourage their following of that call rather than looking down on it because it might not be what we were called to. We need people in the church who are willing to listen to the call wherever God is leading them and for those of us who have found that spot we need to encourage them and each other to continue following wherever God has lead us. Without this, we’ll be a church that lacks unity and direction and love for each other. God has called you and He’s called your brother too. Encourage the commitment rather than discourage the calling. – Daily DEVO 10
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Corinthians 7:5 – This passage is sharing with us how to handle our sex life in our marriage. What I love about this is that according to scripture when we handle sex the way God teaches us to, not only is it not sinful, but it actually keeps the enemy away. Something like sex that the world has perverted so much can actually keep us safe from the enemy’s attacks, yet only when we handle it like God says to handle it. Same with marriage, money, power, relationship, talents. All can be tools to draw us closer to God or tools the enemy uses to tear us away from a faithful life following God. Make sure you are seeking God’s direction on how to handle all these things. Listen to Him and humble your ways to His ways. Only when we allow God’s way of living be the way we live will we truly see how good things like marriage, sex, and all these other things can be. So whatever stage you’re in on the category of relationships follow God’s lead each step of the way so you can taste the best version of the stage you’re in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 709
This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none…1 Corinthians 7:29 – Context, context, context. If you read this with no context of what Paul is speaking on you may walk away from this passage with a completely wrong message! What’s is being spoken of here? Paul is reminding the church of how precious each moment we have is. We have no clue as to when Jesus will return or when the lives of those around us will end. Every second matters in this effort to share the gospel with the world. Paul then tells us to seek to live as if all you had in your life was God. Live totally focused on Him. As if…you weren’t married, weren’t a parent, weren’t focused on anything of this world. This does not mean to forsake and forget about your responsibilities, but to imagine how focused you would be without them and strive for that even in the midst of your relationships. Be the best spouse you can be (or best parent, brother, sister, etc.) yet seek to live so focused on Jesus and the mission of the gospel as if there was nothing else but Him in your story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1774
Chapter 8
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (v.9) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (v.13) We must take time to realize not everyone may understand our freedoms in Christ as well as us. Those of us who have matured in Christ and drawn close to Him realize that this amazing thing we have with God is not just a religion to judge our lives off of, but a relationship to live out. We understand that our lives aren’t about somehow winning God’s approval with our goodness, but offering our lives to Him as a sign of our gratitude because of the goodness He’s shown to us. Yet while we may have grown to that point of understanding, possibly not everyone around us has. We need to be aware that our lives are helping those not as mature learn what it’s like to live out their relationship with God. This is going to take a selfless mindset. That you’ll actually take time to think, “How is my life helping those around me live out their life for Christ better?” I pray that our knowledge and experience with Christ doesn’t actually become a stumbling block to those who may haven’t had the chance yet to experience Him like we have. Let’s rather use that knowledge and experience to benefit the maturity of those who are still new to the faith so they too can experience the freedom that is a part of knowing Jesus. We are all in this together. If you are mature, use that blessing of maturity to help those who are newer to the faith. If you are new to this relationship with Christ, allow those who are mature and willing to invest into your spiritual life to do just that. Let’s together grow into the mature followers of Christ that He is longing for us to be. – Daily DEVO 11
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 – Would you be willing to drop something out of your life to help a fellow Christian live more faithfully for Jesus? Paul understood that not all Christians have matured and learned the freedom that truly comes with a relationship with Christ. Because of that, Paul knew he could easily become a stumbling block in the lives of those who weren’t as mature yet in their faith. Like with the food offers to idols, Paul knew it he had the freedom to eat it but also knew it would trip others up if he did. How about for you, is there something like this in your life where you know you have the freedom to do but it would cause someone newer in the faith to stumble? Would you be willing to let go of that to help them stay on the right path? We need to be willing to love our less mature in the faith brothers and sisters like this, to where whatever we can do to help them grow we’ll do even if it means giving up something for a bit. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 710
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2 – The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a term used in psychology. In simple terms it is when someone gains a small amount of knowledge on something and begins to become overconfident in that subject thinking they know it all. This is what was taking place here with the people Paul was writing to concerning food offered to idols. They had a little knowledge and assumed they knew everything. We must be careful as well to not fall into this trap. We can allow ourselves to become puffed us with pride thinking we know so much about scripture, the way scripture should be interpreted, and how we should live our lives accordingly. We must be willing to continue to learn and accept that we may have learned wrong in the past. No one fully understands all there is to know about God nor fully understands the depth of scripture. Meaning we all have room to grow. Let’s remain in a humble posture recognizing we don’t know it all, others may actually be able to help us, and as hard as it may be to accept, that we may be wrong about some things too. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1775
Chapter 9
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. (v.19) Meekness in scripture has often been misunderstood from what God wanted us to see it as. We read it a weakness and submissiveness. Where those who are meek are those who have no power and cannot stand up for themselves. Yet this is not the image of meekness that I believe God is calling His followers to. We are called to be meek. So does that mean we are to be weak and submissive to everyone around us? Not at all, but I see this passage in 1 Corinthians 9 illustrating for us clearly the meekness that God is wanting His followers to hold. Where we who have all the power and freedom in the world due to our relationship with Christ, actually hold it back to be servants to those around us who don’t have the same power and freedom we have. For what purpose? That we might invite them into a relationship with the same Lord we have. Meekness in not about weakness, it’s about being willing to hold back the power that you do possess to be able come to a level that gives you an opportunity to share with someone about the love of Jesus. Jesus gave us the perfect example of what meekness looks like when He left the throne in Heaven to walk around with us on earth only to hold back that power and hang on a cross. Let’s follow in Jesus’ footsteps, live in meekness so that we might win more of them. – Daily DEVO 12
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 – That final word in the verse is a hard pill to swallow but one we have to come to understand is true. Not everyone we show God’s love to will accept it. Not everyone we live a great witness in front of will care. Not everyone we give up something for so they can hear about Jesus’ grace will listen. While we have to remember that, we must also remember that some will. That some will accept, see, and listen. That “some” whether it’s one or one million is worth living out our faith for. Understand yes that not everyone will give their life over to God, but some will and you can be a part of their story of coming to know Jesus. Keep up the good work because today you just might reach some. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 711
If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:12- Paul is speaking of his right to have the churches who he is preaching to support him financially along his journey. He has the right to ask this of them, but doesn’t in this case so as to not put any sort of obstacle between them and them accepting the gospel. He is willing to drop his rights all in order for someone else to hear the gospel. Why? Because the gospel and people coming to Jesus is more important than any right he/we have. Is there a right you have that you’d be unwilling to drop in order for someone to hear the gospel? Why is holding that right more important to you than their salvation? What does your willingness to set aside that right for a time say about how deeply you care about them? Our life is no longer about us when we place our faith in Jesus. It’s all about Him and helping people come to Him. Before you hold fast to a choice because it’s your right, dwell on how it will impact your witness. If it will push people away from you, from the church, and from Jesus, it’s not worth it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1776
Chapter 10
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (v.6) I know this sounds bad, but for the longest time whenever someone asked me about my older brother, I told them I loved having him. That’s not that bad part, but as to why I loved having him was. I always replied, “I love having him as an older brother, I see all the dumb things he did and know not to do them myself.” Even writing that down sounds so horrible and for future reference, I love my brother for more reasons than that! But in all reality, there is some truth to a statement like that. See we can read about all the struggles the nation of Israel went through in the Old Testament and wonder why their failings are recorded so often. This passage in 1 Corinthians gives us an understanding why God included their failings and it was for us. The nation of Israel struggled often to follow the direction of God and had to deal with the consequences for that failure to follow. God though doesn’t want us, His current church, to have to walk through the same struggles and consequences the church before us went though. We can see in scripture that choosing to devote ourselves to something other than God isn’t going to fulfill us. We can see in scripture that God will always provide for those that are following Him. We can see from scripture that God has a tremendous amount of grace for those who fail but desire forgiveness. Let’s take the messages that scriptures hold and rather than just reading it, holding fast to it. Due to the messages we find in scripture, we can move ahead in ways that the church before us never could have, all because of the lessons we can learn from them. God gave us His word so we can move closer to Him not stay where we are at. Let’s move the church ahead not camp where the church has camped already. – Daily DEVO 13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 – This passage often gets misused and misunderstood, so let’s unpack what it says here about temptation in our life. First that the temptations you are facing are not unique but ones that other people have faced meaning others can help. Second God is with you during the temptation and knows how much will be too much and won’t let you get to that point. And lastly, God always provides a different route to take than just to fall into the temptation. After hearing all that, I question myself as to why I’ve fallen into temptations in my life so easily. God is with me, taking care of me, and always provides as way out for me. He has done and will continue to do the same for you. Know your temptations you are facing don’t have to control you. With God, you can actually make a different choice than just falling into them like before. Seek His way of escape this time to see for yourself how He can help. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 712
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 – Paul was not a people pleaser as we think of it today. He was willing to check people on their wrong doings and wasn’t the type to back down when it came to standing up for His beliefs. Yet we see here a posture Paul is taking when it comes to relating and existing with others. Paul is seeking to live as peacefully as possible with others, not seeking to cause unnecessary offense. And the point of it all was so that peace would open doors to gospel conversations. We must ask ourselves is there enough peace within the relationships we have where we could have a gospel conversation with them and they’d listen? If not, what’s the cause of the lack of peace? Make sure the lack of peace isn’t a result of our pride or self-righteousness. As far as it depends on us there should be peace in our connections with others. Not so we can be elevated in anyway, but so we can help them come to know Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1777
Chapter 11
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (v.1) Would someone following your footsteps find Christ? Could you say that the direction your life is going right now is one that could lead someone else to closeness with God if they followed your example? Could you right now say to someone else the words Paul wrote in verse one and mean it? I am aware I am asking some personal questions here, but I believe we all should stop today and try to answer them for ourselves. Could my life if someone followed me actually find Christ or would they find themselves somewhere else? As a follower of Christ our lives should be striving to follow the lead of Christ in a way that if someone who doesn’t yet know Christ as well as us, they could follow our lead and in doing so, begin knowing Christ better. This is our calling. While Jesus was on the earth, we could follow His lead, but His physical presence isn’t here anymore like that. That though isn’t a problem, because His church is still physically here. We are His physical representations to the world as to who Jesus is. While we follow Him, the world should be able to follow us and find themselves to Christ. That takes a church though who is actually following the One they say they are following. Let’s today as a church begin truly following our Leader. How? Begin with you. Look at your life today and see how could you follow Him more closely. When we have a church together seeking daily how to follow Christ more closely, the world won’t stand a chance. – Daily DEVO 14
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 1 Corinthians 11:17-19 – In our day, hearing this talk about churches having divisions in the isn’t such a foreign thought to us. I wish it was, but tension between members and disagreements in meetings can be found all too easily. Today I want to share with you something I’ve been sharing deeply with my youth at church. When we have the same goal we’ll be moving closer together. When you put Christ first in your life and I do the same our mission, values, beliefs, and desires suddenly become united because of a shared goal. Following Jesus should never be a source of disunity in the church but rather the glue that holds us together. While giving their life to following Jesus is something each person has to do on their own, make sure today you are choosing to do it for yourself. Choose to be a source of unity and not disruption. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 713
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 – In the church Paul was writing to they had begun to handle communion in some improper ways. It began to be a place to get drunk at and to have a feast on the food to the amount that others didn’t even get a chance to eat. Paul told them to deeply check themselves here as to what the attitude of their heart was when coming together for communion. Was it for their physical filling or their spiritual outpouring? This message then is redirected onto us, what’s the attitude of our heart when we come together? Coming together for communion, Sunday worship, Bible studies? There are so many poor reasons we can give but few right ones. The ultimate reason should be because we want to draw nearer to Jesus. Let’s examine then our hearts each time we step into something like this. Why are we there? What’s our goal with being there? What are we wanting to come out of that time? How transforming could our future times with God be if we took the time to examine our hearts before we gathered and chose to lean in the proper direction. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1778
Chapter 12
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. (v.15) As a church family, we need to do a better job of holding each other together and connected with the church family. Too often we see people come and go from our churches without the body stepping into their story to see why they aren’t connected anymore. If God brought them to our family, the reason why is because they have a gift and talent that is needed in our body to stay healthy. If the reason they have stepped away is because God has called them elsewhere, that’s a whole another story and God will honor that move for us and them. That though I feel is not the case as to why many people stop coming to church. Could be needing to get priorities straight, sin in check, or devotion reset; whatever the reason is, we who are the body of Christ have a calling to encourage the staying together of those who are disconnecting themselves from us. We need them and they need us. We can’t move without our feet and can’t serve without our hands. We’ll be in this constant compromising and unnecessary struggle to stay healthy if we allow parts of our body to walk away. Let’s do our best to help every part know they are essential to our growth and valued become compare. Family takes work, but in the end it’s always better to have everyone fellowshipping together and serving in the ways we each are called to. That’s the church family that God longs for us to have. – Daily DEVO 15
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 – What you were given was not meant for your own good alone. This passage is speaking of the blessing of the spiritual gifts inside the church. We see that God gives us these gifts to help us grow in our faith, but to also be used to help the church grow. This is where that phrase “common good” comes in. It’s tempting to use something like a gift of yours to achieve some personal goal like popularity or power. God though gave us His Spirit so we can help others around us, not to use others to reach our selfish goals. While even I am still learning all the importance of knowing your spiritual gifts and how they fit into your walk with God, one thing is for certain here about them. The gifts God blesses you with are meant to help more than just you. Use them accordingly. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 714
You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 1 Corinthians12:2 – “However you were led.” We are all not led away the same. Our enemy is clever in how he deceives and guides us away from following Jesus. For some he uses people, for others he uses circumstances, for others he uses destructive mindsets. How we are led away differs for sure, but what we see is the end destination is the same. Lifeless, mute idols. Know the temptations can be exciting and captivating but recognize where they led. To nothing. You are being led to things that can’t help you, hear you, or do anything for you. It’s literally a dead end. Dwell then on the end destination when the temptations are present. They may seem so desirable but where they lead is nothing you want. Jesus though has all you need and want and is able to breathe life into your situation because He Himself is alive. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1779
Chapter 13
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (v.7-8a) This summer I am getting the honor of officiating my first wedding. As expected, as I have been studying up on how to do a wedding, this passage is coming up quite often. We of course relate it to the love between man and wife, to show what they will…should…have for each other in their relationship. What we who are Christians need to understand about this passage is it goes far deeper than just what is used in a wedding. This is the sort of love that God has for you. He’s patient with you through all your wrong choices. He’s kind in response to your turning away. He rejoices when you seek after Him. He carries all your burdens with you. He walks through everything with you. Why? Because His love for you never ends. When we hear the famous verse say, “For God so loved the world,” this is the sort of love the passage is speaking of and you can replace “world” with your name. God loves you. Allow today the love of God, the real love that God has for you, be on your mind. Realize what could change in your story if you truly grasped that God loves you like this. We all can take steps forward in our walk with God when allow our hearts to settle in the love that God is showing us. – Daily DEVO 18
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 – Maybe for you this passage was super easy to understand, for me though it wasn’t so I figured for others out there like me I’d share what I found out about it to help that understanding along. It’s continuing the conversation about love and comparing our understanding of love now versus in Heaven to a child’s thoughts to a man’s thoughts. A man has so much greater understand than a child and so will we about love in Heaven. Like our understanding of love now is like trying to focus on something through thick, distorted glass but in Heaven it will be like staring at it face to face, nothing interfering the focus. While our understanding of true love is limited on earth, we have been given the example of true love in Jesus. Let’s learn deeply about the life of Jesus to know deeply about love. Then once this life is over and we see Jesus face to face, we’ll know true love in ways we never could imagine here in this life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 715
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Last year I had the honor of sharing a sermon on this passage. We’ve heard these verses many times so I tried to ask a different question concerning this passage. I asked what if our love isn’t. What if our love isn’t patient, or kind, or doesn’t bear all things? Looking over my old notes the last point stood out to me. What can happen if our love isn’t these things is that people won’t come to know Jesus because of us. It won’t be because of the news, it won’t be because of politics, it won’t be because of things in their past, what will push them away from Jesus is us. Please keep that deep truth at the front of your thoughts when you are debating how you will respond and relate with someone. Our love can draw them closer to a life with Jesus, our lack of love can push them so far that they’ll never want Jesus. Make sure your love is striving to be all that scripture says it should be. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1780
Chapter 14
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. (v.26) What’s at the heart of why you serve? Sometimes I see the superficial reason of why someone is serving is to worship God with that service, but the worship aspect isn’t at the heart of why they are doing what they are doing. The heart of their service is to give them an opportunity to be in the spotlight. The theme of their service is “Look at me.” Folks, if that is the heart and purpose of why we serve, it would be better for all of us to just sit in the pew doing nothing. God opens up for us the reason why we serve…to build the church up. We serve because we have seen the amazingness of Jesus and want others to experience it as well. So if I have talents, gifts, time, and/or resources that could help someone draw closer to Jesus, I will use them for just that. When that’s the heart of why we serve, God will honor that and use that. Yet, if we find ourselves serving only to catch the eyes of those watching, we’re missing the bigger picture. I encourage everyone to step out and serve in one way at your church home, and if you are already serving, I pray that your heartbeat for why you serve is to build the church not to build your spotlight. – Daily DEVO 19
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. 1 Corinthians 14:26 – For building up. Our reason for gathering together is to build up each other in the Lord. Not to gripe about each other or even just coming together yet trying to avoid any personal interaction with each other. I shared in my sermon Sunday how we are placed in the areas of our life for a deeper reason than we first see. We are there to love the people there. What an amazing way to love them by having a mindset of when I come together with someone I’m going to build them up somehow. Use the gifts God has given you to bring glory to Him and love to others. What you’ll be amazed to see is when you are building up all those around you how many will come around to build you up as well. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 716
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:19 – Building up of the church is of the highest priority to God. Everything about this chapter comes back to that point. If you speak in tongues, seek to have an interpreter so it can build up the church. If you speak prophecy it’s to build up the church. Whichever gift you use it’s purpose is to build up the church. God’s heart is all about using whatever He can to build His church…can that be said of us? God is using the gambit of His resources to invest in the growth of His church, we should be as well. Each talent, each blessing, and each gifting of our’s should be for the purpose of building the church. Building the joy up in the church, building the strength of the unity in the church, and building up of the good witness to those outside of the church. What is then even one thing you can do today to begin working alongside God in building up of His church? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1781
Chapter 15
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (v.34) “Why don’t you _______?” I’ve gotten that question more times than I can count. Fill in the blank with whatever worldly thing most people think of; drink, smoke, go to bad parties, watch that type of stuff, have sex before marriage, etc. Often people look at us who have convictions over at least some of these things and assume we are just trying to better than everyone else. That by abstaining from these things we are somehow ranked higher than others and now can judge who we want. Now, if that’s the case for you as to why you abstain from sin, there needs to be a change of heart here. For what God is opening up to us in this passage is the real reason why those who carry the name of Jesus are called to live differently. It’s because there are still people out there who don’t know Jesus yet. When our lives are no different than that of the world, how are we being a light on a hill? How can someone see the healing power of Jesus in our own life if we aren’t displaying it in any way? How are they going to see the saving power of Jesus from our sin if we are still in our sin? Our lives are not to be lived differently just for our sake but for the sake of others. Let the way we live introduce the life giving power of Jesus to those who haven’t meet Him yet. – Daily DEVO 20
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:34 – Paul’s not playing games here with this message. Like there are for sure some passages in scripture where the meaning is hard to fully understand even after some deep studying…this though isn’t one of those passages. Wake up and stop sinning. Pretty clear. Yet Paul does something amazing and he gives the reason why as well. Answering for us why do we need to wake up and why do we need to stop sinning? It’s because there are people out there who still don’t know about God and His love for them. How are we ever going to be able to share with someone that God can free them from their chains of sins and offer them a better, more fulfilling life when we ourselves are neck deep in sin of our own? Today you’re faced with the question, which is more important the satisfying of your pleasure or the salvation of a person? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 717
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19 – Dwell on what the Christians during this time were going through. Persecution from the Jewish church against them. Hate from their families who still remained steadfast to the Jewish ways and didn’t accept their change to follow Jesus. Romans would throw them into battle with animals just for the spectacle of it. Soon the Romans would hang Christians alongside the roadside, light them on fire, simply to use them as a street lamp so people could walk at night. If all there was to this life with Jesus was what we have in this earthly life then yes, we should be the most pitied. Willing to go through all of that for nothing. Yet it’s not for nothing. There is a life of joy, love, and Heaven waiting for us when this life is over. The reason then we go through all the mess we do in our life for Jesus is so as many people as possible can join us in the beauty of Heaven when their earthly life is done. We have something beautiful to look forward to when this life is over, yet if someone doesn’t know Jesus their future only holds pain and sorrow. Love the person in front of you enough to speak about the life Jesus wants to have with them and the beautiful promised future it gives them as well. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1782
Chapter 16
On the first day of each week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. (v.2) Giving to God our tithes and offerings seems to have a growing disinterest to the body of the church as a part of their personal worship to God. I mean from a worldly stand point it makes sense to not give. Give to God your time and talents, alright, but giving Him your money…how is that going to help you? Again, looking at tithes and offerings from a worldly stand point doesn’t make sense. How could giving away money actually make you more financially, and other ways as well, secure? Well there is a truth about tithes that I’m sure we all are aware of yet maybe have forgotten. God doesn’t need your money, He looking for your obedience. To God, money means nothing, but He knows it means a lot to us. That’s one reason why Jesus spoke more on money than Heaven or Hell when physically on earth. He knows it’s a challenge for us to let go of it, but He also knows that if we show Him our faithfulness, He’ll show us His. That’s the part the worldly side doesn’t see or understand. It isn’t about the amount of money, it’s about the amount of faithful obedience. God knows He’s able to take care of you, your tithe and offerings is your way of acknowledging to God you know that too. – Daily DEVO 21
For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9 – Here we have scripture teaching us a lesson we need to listen to. God will open doors for real, powerful work to be done in His name and we need to take full advantage of those opportunities. At the same time though our enemy will be noticing those doors opening and continue his efforts to stop us as well. Meaning just because a door is opened doesn’t mean there won’t be any pushback as we try to go through it. Example, you may get the chance to share about God’s love at school/work yet someone hears about it and complains. Door opens yet pushback. Just remember God didn’t open the door for you to not go through it. It’s open and while yes the enemy is going to pushback, that doesn’t mean we can’t keep moving forward. If God opened the door, He’ll also help us through it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 718
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 1 Corinthians 16:1 – Note this collection of funds is being collected not for their local church, but to support the saints in Jerusalem who were under persecution. Yet what we see in this passage is a couple truths that hopefully are present in our local body. One, we should be aware of the needs of other church families. Two, we should partner with other church families who are doing well to support the ones not doing as well. Our local church isn’t all there is to THE church. Yes, celebrate when God is blessing our church home, but if we hear another church family isn’t doing as well we should embrace them and bless them. Yes they may do things different than us, but if they are preaching Jesus and Him crucified then we need to support their presence within our community. You can begin by simply praying for the closest church to your home. You may know nothing about them except their location because you drive by it all the time. Pray for their pastor, their unity, and their gospel presence. This is a beginning way to love the church. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1783
Daily DEVO 