Author: BTP

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Do you understand what the Apostle Paul is saying in this verse? He is pointing out that we, as Christians, are called to give up everything in this world in order to follow a rejected Christ. We do not, in that sense, enjoy the pleasures of this world, for we are not part of the world system that is under Satan’s control. But if there is nothing beyond this life—no resurrection from the dead, then we have given up everything in this world for nothing. If there is no resurrection, then there will be no reward for faithfulness to Christ.

But thank God, as Paul points out, Christ has risen from the dead, and many had witnessed to it. Many had seen Him after He rose from the dead. Because of His resurrection, any who have died in Christ will also rise when the Lord comes. What wonderful power will be displayed then; millions of believers from all ages suddenly rising from the dead, and being given glorified bodies! It will be an amazing display of God’s power, and it will all happen in “the twinkling of an eye!”

“For now we see through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12 JND).

Have you ever tried to look at something through a very dirty window? Or perhaps tried to look through a window that had some glaze or frosting on it, so that you could not see clearly? We are used to looking through clear glass, but sometimes the glass is not as clear as we would like. If you wear glasses, have you ever tried to look at something when your glasses needed cleaning?

God uses this comparison to explain to us what we see now in spiritual things, compared to what we will be able to understand when we are taken home to be with the Lord. We are hindered now by the limitations of our bodies, by the presence of our old sinful nature, and by being surrounded by a sinful world. In that day we will have glorified bodies, and will have perfect understanding. What a day that will be!

“Love…does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4,7 JND).

Here is a quality of true divine love that we sometimes forget. True love does not go along with wrongdoing, just to keep the peace and prevent any trouble. No, divine love rejoices with the truth. I have heard some people say, “Family sticks together,” as if family members should always defend one another, even if they are in the wrong. But the Bible never tells us to do that, for that is not true love.

We can be very thankful that the Lord loved us when we were sinners, and guilty before God. But now, when we are saved, He expects us to display that new life that He has given us in Christ. He loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way. He wants us to become more like Christ.

“Love…bears all things…endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4,7 JND).

As we read through this 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, perhaps we enjoy thinking of those who display some of these characteristics. We greatly appreciate seeing some of these things in others. But there was only One who displayed them all perfectly. The Lord Jesus was the only One who perfectly displayed divine love.

This was especially true when He went to the cross, for it was there that He bore all things and endured all things. Yes, He endured many bad things in His lifetime, but on the cross, during those three hours of darkness, He bore the judgment of God for sin. Truly He bore all things, and endured all things. How thankful we should be for that divine love—a love that kept Him on that cross until all the judgment was exhausted.

Love that no tongue can teach,
Love that no thought can reach,
No love like His.
God is its blessed source,
Death ne’er can stop its course,
Nothing can stay its force;
Matchless it is.

“And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2 JND).

We might think it would be wonderful to have all the gifts spoken of in the beginning of this verse. Think of being able to understand the secrets of God, and having a good knowledge of the truth of God. Think of being able to tell others about it, and being able to explain it well. But God says that even if we can do all that, and do not have love, we are nothing. Yes, nothing!

The word used for love in this chapter is the Greek word agape, which is the word used in the New Testament for divine love. It is the kind of love that does not demand a response from its object, but just keeps on loving, even if the person who is loved does not give any love in return.

As children of God, we are capable of that kind of love, and the Lord wants us to show that love to others. It gives a meaning to what we say, and without that love, we are nothing.

“But [we] have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty…but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

When we are wronged, and supposing that we ourselves have done nothing wrong, we should seek to reach the conscience of the one who has wronged us. The Lord Jesus did this many times during His earthly ministry, and the Apostle Paul did it when he stood before Festus, King Agrippa, and other dignitaries, in Acts 26.

The Lord Jesus reached Pilate’s conscience when He reminded Pilate that he had no authority except from above; that is, from God. Our Lord reminded Pilate of his responsibility to God, as a ruler to whom God had given authority. The Apostle Paul did not complain of being kept in prison for no reason, but he did remind all those in authority that they needed to be saved.

When we are wronged, instead of fighting back, let us remember that it is a good opportunity to speak about the Lord. There is moral power in someone who is right, but who chooses not to fight back. To do so is being like Christ.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

Here is the Lord’s answer to yesterday’s question, in the New Testament. Part of this verse is quoted from the Old Testament, however; see if you can find the place. It is mentioned once in Leviticus, and once in Deuteronomy.

We are not to avenge ourselves; we are to “give place unto wrath.” This means that we let others get angry with us, without fighting back. The Lord reminds us that it is His job to repay people for the wrong they have done to us: it is not our job. But in a coming day, the Lord will remember the wrong done to us, and will repay those who have done it. For now, you and I can let it go. However, there is one more thing we can do when we are wronged, and should do, if it is possible. We will see that tomorrow.

“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work” (Proverbs 24:29).

When someone does something bad to you, the world around us has a saying, “Don’t get mad: get even!” A doctor with whom I worked for many years ago once boasted that his daughter did both of these things, when someone treated her badly. He said, “She gets mad and gets even!” This kind of reaction has been going on for thousands of years, even escalating to feuds between families that sometimes last for generations. No one ever wins with this behavior, for everybody gets hurt in one way or another. It is the sinful heart of man wanting revenge.

Even back in the Old Testament, before they had the full light of Christianity, Solomon recognized the wrong and the futility of taking revenge like this. But you and I might say, “Am I just to let everyone else do whatever they want to me? Can I not stick up for myself?”

Tomorrow we will see what the Lord’s answer is to this question, for it is a good question.

“Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

As we saw yesterday, there is no reason for us to be lonely as Christians, even if we are alone, but sadly, many people, even including Christians, are lonely today. Perhaps they are older and feel their health slipping, or perhaps close relatives are too busy to come and visit them. The days seem long, and they often do not have much to do.

Here is a poem that I have enjoyed, that speaks to each of our hearts. Do we remember those who perhaps would enjoy a visit, and some encouragement?

It is in loving, not in being loved,
The heart is blessed;
It is in giving, not in seeking gifts,
We find our quest.

If you are hungry, lacking heavenly food,
Give hope and cheer.
If you are sad, and would be comforted,
Stay sorrow’s tears.

Whatever be your longing and your need,
Of that do give;
So shall your soul be fed, and you indeed
Shall truly live.

“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32).

For those who do not live in Canada, we have a widespread chain of outlets called Tim Hortons, where you can buy coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and donuts. I do not visit them very often, but one morning a few days ago I had occasion to buy some donuts. I could not help but notice a number of older people sitting there, eating their breakfast all by themselves. I imagine most of them were lonely, and wanted to eat breakfast where there were at least some people around, even if they did not interact with them.

I felt sorry for them, but being alone and being lonely are not the same. The Lord Jesus was often left alone, as we see in our verse today, but it is safe to say that He was never lonely. Although He felt it when His disciples left Him alone, He was not lonely, for His Father was with Him.

We do not need to be lonely either. Even if others leave us alone, we can enjoy the company of the Lord in our hearts. He is always with us!