Author: David Short

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Personal Challenge…

We have come to the same state that the early Corinthian church was at and which Paul challenged then. “I follow Martin Luther!” “I follow John Calvin!” “I follow John and Charles Wesley!” “I follow the apostles!” “I am Greek or Russian or…!” This list goes on and on. And what is missing here? We all, hopefully, are following Christ. Yes, we must take a stand against heretical teaching, but we must become unified in Christ. I am so saddened by rhos who see me as an Orthodox Christian as “unsaved” and that they must try to woo me to their practice of Christianity. Our continued push for factions in the Body of Christ will be levied in the judgment day. Love above all things should be our common, uniting action. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Romans 8:31-32

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Encouraging Words…

Once again we are reminded by our early church fathers that we are not on our journey through life alone. We have our Lord, the Creator of all, walking the road with us. What a comfort!

Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Command with a Promise…

Paul makes it clear in this passage (vs. 1-10) what our role is in relationship to the governing authorities that we are under. It is disconcerting to me to see more and more people who claim to be followers of Christ who blatantly violate this command to be subject to those officials whom God has placed in authority over us. I am not always happy with what they do or how they do it, but there are proper, even godly, ways to deal with them. May God’s way always be in the forefront of my thoughts, words, and actions.

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Encouraging Words…

It is always good to remember that God is not a source of confusion or discord or disarray. He provides peace and clarity for His children. When I enter into a period of life where the confusion begins to be be obvious I claim this promise about God and demons that are causing the discord flee. Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Personal Challenge…

Paul very clearly reminds me here that as I go through life I am to do all that I do for the glory of God. The context of this verse sets this reminder in relationship to what I do around others. If what I want to do will affect them or take them down the wrong path the it is up to me to sacrifice what I want for the greater good. I do not compromise on what God wants me to do, but I do deal with those around me in love.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Luke 5:27-28


After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.


Personal Challenge…


I am always amazed at how responsive some of the people in the scriptures were to the calling of Jesus. If Jesus where to say to me today, “Go here and do My work.” would I drop everything and go? Levi, Peter, Joseph, Mary, Paul, and the list goes on demonstrate that if I am a follower of Christ then I must be ready to say, “Yes!” when He calls upon me. He has promised to take care of my needs. Do I believe Him? He has promised to guard and protect me. Do I trust Him? My prayer is that if, or when, He calls upon me that I will be able to say, “Yes!”

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.

Encouraging Words…

It has been such a blessing to go through the years of life that I have so far knowing that I can hold on to verses such as this one. I have had my share of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, successes and failures. And I am very aware that there are many, if not most, people that have had many more, and many worse downs, sorrows, and failures than I ever have. My prayers go up to the Father of life and love on their behalf. But I still come back to share that this verse is one of the cornerstones that a life can be built on. If I start here and add other foundational truths my life will be one that defies the impossible because it will be a life built on Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:1-3

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Personal Challenge…

I am not only commanded to love my neighbor, but I am also commanded to bear their burdens with them, to lift them up. This all leads to edification, for them, for the name of Christ, and for me as well. And this is not something that Christ Himself was unwilling to demonstrate for us. For He bore my burdens and sins on the cross. Glory be to God!

Matthew 10:38-39

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Personal Challenge…

Here is one of the core requirements for living a Christian life…taking up my cross and following Jesus. Where did Jesus go? He gave up the comforts of heaven to come to be amongst us. What comforts of my home, my “entitlement” as a comfortable American citizen, am I being asked to leave behind so that I can follow where He leads me? All of them! He spent time with the outcast, the sick, the broken, the lonely, the lowly. Who is He asking me to spend time with? The homeless, the sick, the broken, my enemies, those whom I love and those whom I don’t, anyone in need! He let go of the possessions that were His. What does He want me to let go of? All that I have because it belongs to Him anyway! Does He want me to give everything away, run off into the desert and spend the rest of my life living the life of a hermit? Not necessarily, but He does want me to live my life ascetically…putting others first, loving my neighbor and doing all that I do in love, holding on to those things that He has given me lightly so that they do not become idols, manifesting the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Glory be to God!