Conquering Fear

Morning Devos, Day 5.

Note from Mckenzie; You guys are doing so well! Let's finish this week strong!

1: Quiet your heart.
You know how to do this, but today I want to add in something new; If you are someone who struggles to quiet your heart, because your life is so chaotic. Tell God about your day, sort it out. Then do the quieting thing.

2: Scripture.
Read 1 Corinthians 3, write down references to verses that stick out to you.

3: Message.
A: Choose a character or the author of what you read and write down what you learned about them (what you think they were feeling, can you relate, what’s their character like, ect).

B: Write down what you learned about God in what you read.

4: Conversational Prayer.
You already know this, talk to Him about life or what you learned/read. Try to have at least 3 back and forth exchanges.

5: Feelings check.
Use a few words to describe how you feel emotionally (happy, sad, peaceful, drained, tired, anxious, ect), and how your body feels (relaxed, energetic, warm, restless, shaky, tense, drained, ect).

6: (Optional) Commentary for 1 Corinthians.
Chapter 3:

The problem of using worldly wisdom instead of godly wisdom resulted in the Corinthians being stunted spiritually. They were immature (vs.1-9) and would therefore suffer loss of rewards (vs.10-23).

Paul explained that when he cam to them he couldn’t speak to them like mature believers because they were like little babies who weren’t ready for solid food yet (vs.1-4). They were worldly and not spiritual back then, and the bad news is that in the time that had passed (probably 4 years), they still had not grown.

Their arguing about who to follow (Paul, Peter, ect.) was an example of this lack of growth. Paul explains about partnership in ministry using a metaphor- that he may have planted the seed, and Apollos watered it, but GOD made it grow (vs.5-8). To make sure they get the message he gives another example- Paul laid the foundation, and Apollos took over the building process (vs.10).

Then Paul explains that the Corinthians have a part to play too in the building, that they have a responsibility to build on that foundation with good materials (character). One day fire is going to come and expose how each person built and when it all burns up what will be left? If they stay immature and carnal state, any good performed will be considered wood, hay, and straw and will be burned up (vs.15) and lost at the judgement seat of Christ. 

Paul then reminds them that they are God’s temple because God’s spirit is in them (vs.16). He then goes back to the theme of godly wisdom versus human wisdom. They don’t need to argue about who they are following- everyone belongs to God in the end.