It’s A Family Affair

April 2, 2026 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

⁸First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. ⁹For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you ¹⁰always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. ¹¹For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹²that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ¹³I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. – Romans 1:8-15 ESV

Paul had heard about the believers in Rome, but he probably had little or no awareness of any particular individuals, because he had not yet been able to visit the church there. However, he had become aware of the church as a whole and expressed his gratitude to God for them.

I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. – Romans 1:8 NLT

The church in Rome had gained a reputation for its faith. News of their corporate commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ had been spread throughout the known world, and Paul longed to see them face to face. He prayed for them consistently and persistently asked God to allow him the opportunity to visit them.

It is clear that Paul loved the believers in Rome even though he had never met them. He was more than an evangelist, spreading the good news about Jesus Christ and watching people come to faith in Him. Paul was a builder. He wanted to see the local congregations that were springing up all around the world grow into spiritual maturity. The majority of his letters were written to local congregations and have a corporate context. There is a tendency to read his letters from an individualistic viewpoint, failing to understand that his words were intended for the congregation as a whole, not the individual believer.

The church in Rome had a corporate reputation for its faith. It was as a body that they had become known for their faith, not as individuals. Somehow, with our Western, individualistic mindsets, we lose sight of the fact that there is a reason we were baptized into both the local and global body of Christ. We have become members of something far greater and more significant than ourselves. For Paul, salvation was not an individual event; it was a team sport.

Later in this same letter, Paul tells the believers in Rome, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.r” (Romans 12:4-5 NLT). He wrote something similar to the church in Corinth.

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. – 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 NLT

Our tendency is to focus on our own spiritual growth while neglecting the body’s well-being. We concentrate all our efforts on ourselves. But it’s interesting to note Paul’s comment to his brothers and sisters in Rome.

For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to strengthen you. – Romans 1:11 ESV

It is unlikely that Paul is saying he wants to lay hands on every one of them and give them a spiritual gift, such as tongues or healing. He clarifies what he means in the very next line.

…that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. – Romans 1:12 ESV

In other words, Paul simply wanted to be a source of encouragement to them as he shared his faith with them. And he knew that they would lift him up in his own faith as they ministered to him. He was less focused on any specific spiritual gift than he was on the mutual encouragement that believers receive as members of the body of Christ. Paul’s heart was for unity in the body and a sense of shared concern for one another, so “that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:25-26 ESV).

Sometimes we make far more of the gifts than the purpose behind them. Paul told the Corinthian believers, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). Whatever gift the Spirit has given, He has done so for the mutual benefit of the body. We exist to build one another up. My presence within the body of Christ is other-oriented, making it all about us and not me. That is why God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers to the early church “to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13 NLT).

The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT).

The gift of mutual encouragement is desperately needed in the church today. We are in this thing together. We are members of one body, serving one God and sharing a common faith in one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we learn to share our gifts with one another and grow in our desire to love and encourage one another. And may our corporate reputation for faith in Christ spread throughout the world.

Father, we live in an individualistic society where the sense of community has been lost or replaced by a souless focus on identity politics and group think. Our affiiliations are shallow and have little to do with a shared faith or a common bond in a just or righteous cause. Yet, You have placed Your sons and daughters into a family where they are meant to enjoy the benefits of a loving, faith-based community that is empowered by Your Spirit, instructed by Your Word, and built up by their shared belief in a Savior who died for their sins. This isn’t about idealogy or perceived identity. It is all about the saving work of Jesus Christ and how he broke down the barriers of identity, ethnicity, and individuality. His death unified a disperate and diverse group of people into a family where our selfless displays of mutual love and corporate care reveal that we are Your children. But it is so easy to practice an individualistic faith that negates the blessings of community and destroys the testimony of the body of Christ. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT). When we live in unity, we are a force to be reckoned with. Together, we become a powerful light shining in the sin-stained darkness of this world. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

It Is Never Wrong To Do What Is Right

March 30, 2026 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

⁵Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! ⁶I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. ⁷But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. ¹⁰For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. – 2 Corinthians 13:5-10 ESV

At first glance, it may appear that Paul is calling on the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they are truly saved. But in reality, Paul is calling on them to do the right thing because they are saved. They have Christ within them and, therefore, they have all they need to do what God would have them do. The real issue here is sanctification, not salvation. Paul wants them to live out the reality of their position as children of God. He wants their behavior to match their confessed belief in Christ. He has no doubt that they have the capacity to do the right thing. It is more a matter of commitment. Are they willing to do what is right?

Paul is praying that they will be and assures them that he “cannot do anything against the truth, but on for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8 ESV). He is unwilling to act in a way that would be contrary or detrimental to the gospel.

It is essential to understand that much of what Paul has said throughout this letter has been in defense of his apostleship. There were those who cast doubts about his qualifications. So when he asked them to examine themselves, he was really challenging them to take a long, hard look at their lives to see whether they themselves are not the very proof they are looking for. In other words, their changed lives were the greatest testimony to Paul’s calling they would ever find. The gospel message he had brought to them had been effective, resulting in their conversions and proving his calling as a messenger of Jesus Christ.

But they had struggled in their sanctification and had hit some tough spots along the way. Since Paul’s initial visit, divisions and disunity had erupted in the church. There were some moral indiscretions that had gone unpunished and remained unconfessed. Paul had already told them that he feared he would find them still struggling with the same old issues of “quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” (2 Corinthians 12:20 NLT). So he let them know that he was praying for their restoration. Not only that, he was writing in a very blunt, in-your-face style because, when he arrived, he didn’t want to have to spend all his time playing bad cop. His goal was to build them up, not tear them down. He wanted to see them continue to grow in their salvation, increasing in their knowledge of Jesus Christ and developing an ever-deeper dependence upon God, resulting in a desire to do His will, to do the right thing.

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded them that God’s will for them was their holiness or sanctification.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification… – 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

In his first letter, the apostle Peter told his readers that it was God’s will that they do good.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. – 1 Peter 2:15 ESV

Doing good (what is right) and holiness go hand in hand. Our sanctification or growth in Christlikeness should have an outward expression. It should manifest itself in godly living (doing what God would have us do). That is Paul’s prayer for the Corinthians. He wants them to live out their faith by stepping out in obedience to God’s will.

We do good, not to win God’s favor, but because we have been the recipients of His favor. We do what is right, not to make God love us, but because He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. Doing what is right brings God’s blessing. Doing what is wrong brings His discipline. Both are motivated by His love for us. But Paul would prefer that we learn to live obediently, doing what God deems best, even when it makes no sense. Paul would have us enjoy the benefits of a life lived within the will of God, faithfully doing what He deems to be right and good.

Father, Your will is for my holiness, not my happiness. Your desire is that I live righteously, according to Your standards, not those of a fallen world. You’ve given me Your Spirit to guide, convict, and instruct me. His power makes obeying Your commands possible, and Your Word is “a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT). You’ve placed me within the body of Christ so that I might have enjoy the community of like-minded believers who comfort and challenge me in my walk and provide me with opportunities to use the gifts You have given me. Yet, I live in a world where the pursuit of personal satisfaction takes precedence over sanctification, happiness trumps holiness, and selfishness is more important than selflessness. Don’t let me give in to the temptation to make this life all about me. Continue to show me how to do what is good and right, because that is Your will for me, and You alone know what is best. Amen

Missing the Point and the Mark

February 8, 2026 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹³Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. ¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹Nevertheless, 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 14:13-19 ESV

Once again, Paul emphasizes the importance of the spiritual gifts as tools given by God for the mutual edification of the body of Christ. He indicates that a person who prays during worship using an unknown language may be giving thanks to God, but the rest of the congregation will not be built up. They will not understand what is being said, so they will be unable to join in thanksgiving. In fact, Paul says that someone praying in a tongue has no idea what they are saying as well.

For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. – 1 Corinthians 14:14 NLT

That’s why Paul encourages those who say they have the gift of tongues to pray that they might also be given the ability to interpret what they are saying. The spiritual part of a believer’s life was not to be viewed as separate or distinct from their intellectual or cognitive capacities. God puts a high priority on knowledge. He wants us to know Him, and He desires for us to know the truth. He wants us to “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19 ESV). Paul expressed his desire for knowledge this way: “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death” (Philippians 3:10 NLT).

Earlier in this letter, Paul spoke of the Spirit’s role in helping believers understand the mind of God.

For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. – 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 NLT

The Spirit of God exists to make God known. He helps us understand those things given to us by God. Without His presence within us, we would still be natural and not spiritual. The “natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV).

So the Spirit within us is there to help us understand, and when the Spirit speaks through us by means of our gift, others should be able to understand as well. They should be drawn closer to God. But Paul indicates that the gift of tongues, without interpretation, is of no use to anyone. It may make the speaker feel spiritual, but it offers no benefit to their understanding.

Underlying all of this is Paul’s emphasis on the content of the message. What God is trying to communicate is far more important than the means or the method of delivery. That’s why he makes the bold statement: “But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language” (1 Corinthians 14:19 NLT). He is not discounting the validity of tongues as a gift, but he is elevating the priority of communication and edification.

One of the more difficult portions of this passage to understand is Paul’s claim, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18 ESV). Many in the charismatic movement who view tongues as ecstatic utterances and not actual languages use this verse as proof that Paul used the gift of tongues in private. But in every case where tongues is mentioned in the New Testament, it is in a corporate context. Not only that, but it always involved unbelievers, such as on the day of Pentecost.

Paul even goes on to clarify that “tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers” (1 Corinthians 14:22 ESV). So what does Paul mean when he says that he speaks in tongues more than any of them? I think he is using sarcasm. He is saying that what they claim is the gift of tongues is not tongues at all. Paul had evidently spoken in tongues before, and he had done so in keeping with the New Testament criteria that it be done for the benefit of non-believers. More than likely, Paul is referring to his ability to speak more than one language. He was fluent in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, and likely spoke Latin as well. It would seem that Paul was referring to his ability to speak foreign languages to those who understood them. But his emphasis remains on the church’s corporate environment.

“in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.” – 1 Corinthians 14:19 NLT

The bottom line for Paul was the proper use of the gifts, in keeping with God’s design for them. If they did not benefit others, either the lost or other believers, they were being misused or even abused. Paul will go on to use an absurd example intended to show the danger of the Corinthians’ improper view of gifts.

If one Sunday the entire congregation broke out in the gift of tongues and an unbeliever walked in the door, he would be confused rather than edified. This stranger to their fellowship would have no idea what they were saying and would probably conclude that everyone had lost their minds.

The disciples of Jesus got a similar response when they spoke in tongues at Pentecost. Some who heard them were amazed, while others were perplexed. Then there were those who just accused them of being drunk. However, the overall effect was that this powerful outpouring of the Spirit drew the attention of the crowd that had gathered.

“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” – Acts 2:7-11 NLT

And Peter used the opportunity to share the gospel.

The gift of tongues had a divine purpose, yet any gift that does not edify is being misused. Any view of the gifts that emphasizes the emotions over spiritual edification is misguided and dangerous. There must be a benefit to the entire congregation. Which is why Paul said, “If I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?” (1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV). When we are operating in the power of the Spirit, it is for the benefit of all. It is for the building up of the body of Christ, not the individual.

Father, there is still a lot of debate over the nature of the gift of tongues. It remains a divisive topic that pits believer against believer. Arguments erupt over whether it is the gift of ecstatic utterances or actual languages. We spend far too much time arguing over what the gift of tongues is, when we should be more concerned about what You intended it for. As always, we tend to make everything about ourselves, just as the Corinthians were doing. Their obsession over certain gifts was not building up the body of Christ; it was dividiing it. Their incessant desire to possess the superior gift was prideful, not helpful. It was selfless rather than selfless. But it is so easy to make our personal spirituality a badge of honor and a form of one-upmanship. Comparison and competition are deadly to the body of Christ. So, I ask that You expose our ungodly obsession with spiritual elitism and replace it with a desire to serve the body of Christ in humility and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

A Spirit of Unity, Community, and Mutual Dependability

February 6, 2026 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

¹ Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ²For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. ³On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. ⁴The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

⁶Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? – 1 Corinthians 13:13-14:1-6 ESV

Now Paul begins to differentiate between the gifts. He is not necessarily making one more important or spiritually more relevant than another, but he is prioritizing them based on their particular benefit to the body of Christ. He has just spent an entire chapter emphasizing the importance of love.

He has described love as selfless and sacrificial. Those who practice this godly brand of love under the influence of the Holy Spirit put the needs of others ahead of their own. And the same should be true when they use their spiritual gift. Now, it seems that the Corinthians had so elevated the gift of tongues that it had become a problem within the church. And their practice of the gift was not in keeping with Paul’s admonition that love be the motivating factor behind all the gifts. For the Corinthians, the gift of tongues had become the most desirable of all the gifts. Evidently, they viewed that particular gift as more spiritual and therefore, more preferable. It was flashy and flamboyant, and to be able to speak in an unknown tongue was sure to be an attention-getter. But that was a big part of the problem with their prioritizing this gift over all the others. Those who practiced it seemed to do so with a focus on self rather than on building up the body of Christ.

So while Paul encourages them to earnestly seek the spiritual gifts, he promotes prophecy over tongues, and his explanation is simple and direct.

For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. – 1 Corinthians 14:2 NLT

If no one understands what you are saying, no one benefits from your use of the gift, not even you. It will remain a mystery, known only to God. And while you may be speaking in the power of the Spirit of God, it will do nothing to build up those around you. However, as Paul points out, someone “who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” (1 Corinthians 14:3 NLT).

The gift of prophecy was the Spirit-empowered ability to reveal truth from God that had not yet been revealed. It was a word from God intended for the benefit of the entire congregation. This gift was evident and necessary in the early days of the church because the Canon of Scripture had not yet been compiled. The Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) existed but were not always available to the new congregations springing up among the Gentiles. The gospels had not yet been written, and Paul, Peter, and James were still writing their letters, which would later be included in the Canon of Scripture. So, there was a desperate need among these fledgling and far-flung congregations to hear the truth of God. And those who had been given the gift of prophecy were to speak through the Spirit’s power for the benefit of the people of God. But tongues, at least as practiced by the Corinthians, was a more self-centered gift.

A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. – 1 Corinthians 14:4 NLT

The one who spoke in an unknown tongue may receive a blessing from knowing that they were being used as an instrument of God, but if no one could understand what they were saying, the body of Christ could receive no benefit. But when someone prophesied, everyone gained from the experience. In the previous chapter, Paul made the bold statement, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NLT).

None of the gifts were of benefit if they were practiced without love. But tongues, because it involved speaking in an unknown language, was particularly troublesome. The first time the gift of tongues was manifested in the church was at Pentecost.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” – Acts 2:1-8 ESV

The purpose of this manifestation of the Spirit of God was to communicate the gospel so that all could comprehend it. For this to happen, the Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in languages they did not know, for the benefit of the thousands of people from other countries who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.

There was no need for interpretation, because the hearers understood what was being said. However, in Corinth, the use of tongues had become self-centered and self-edifying. They were missing the point. At Pentecost, the people who heard the disciples speak in tongues, or foreign languages, were amazed. They said, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” (Acts 2:7-8 NLT). But look closely, and you will see that it was the substance of their message that got their attention, not the style. The very same people reacted, “‘We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.’ And all were amazed and perplexed” (Acts 2:11-12 NLT).

It was the content that was important, not the means of delivery. For Paul, the bottom line was the church’s spiritual edification. The question to ask is, “How will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching” (1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV). Speaking in a foreign tongue was of no benefit to anyone unless the message it contained was understandable and from God.

We tend to think of the gifts of the Spirit from a purely personal perspective. We seem to believe our gift was given for our own benefit and spiritual enlightenment. But the gifts are given to individuals for the benefit of the community. My gift is for you, and your gift is for me. The one who receives the gift is simply a conduit through whom God pours His blessings on others. As Paul told the church in Rome, when we practice our gifts in love, all will benefit.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. – Romans 12:6-10 NLT

Notice the other-oriented nature of Paul’s instructions. His emphasis is on the edification and encouragement of the body of Christ, not the individual. The gifts were never to be used in a selfish or self-promotional manner. They were never intended to elevate the recipient’s spiritual status. Instead, they were to promote a spirit of unity, community, and mutual dependability that edified all and glorified God.

Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. You didn’t have to provide us with His presence and power, but You did. And I am grateful that Your Son’s resurrection and return to Your side in heaven was accompanied by the coming of the Spirit. Without Him, we would be helpless and hopeless. Yet, we tend to operate as if He doesn’t exist or we’re tempted to use His gifts as if they only exist for us. But You have always been about unity and community. And, Holy Spirit, Your presence in my life was never intended to make me appear good to others or make me feel better about myself. My life is supposed to serve as a conduit for Your power as it passes through me to all those around me. The gift You have given me was never for my benefit; it was intended to bless others. We have all the gifts we need but, like the Corinthians, we need to learn how to use them for Your glory and the good of others. Amen

The Gift of Love

February 3, 2026 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3 ESV

Paul says that we are individuals who, together, make up the body of Christ, the church. We are individuals, and our Spirit-endowed giftedness makes us indispensable. We have each been given a gift by the Holy Spirit for the corporate good of the rest of the faith community in which God has placed us. God has designed it so that none of us is an independent agent operating in isolation.

As Paul points out to the Corinthians, the body of Christ included some who were apostles. Others were assigned the gift of prophecy or teaching. Some worked miracles or performed healings, while others used their gift of administration or helping. And then there were those who had been given the gift of tongues. Each was necessary. Yes, some of the gifts might seem more significant, but all were essential to the church’s overall well-being. Their fallen nature led the Corinthians to elevate one gift above another. This categorization and prioritization of the gifts produced jealousy or pride, depending on the particular gift an individual received. So, Paul determined to show them a “more excellent way.”

Essentially, Paul addresses the one thing that holds the body of Christ together. Interestingly enough, it isn’t going to be our shared faith in Christ. That is what places us in the body of Christ, but it is not the glue that holds us together. Even our giftedness is not enough to keep us unified and compatible. So what is the glue that holds this unique collection of individuals together? What prevents our diversity, even in our areas of giftedness, from creating division, disorder, and dysfunctionality?

For Paul, the answer was love.

Within the Corinthian church, the gift of tongues had been elevated to rock-star status. In their estimation, tongues was a more flamboyant, outwardly obvious gift that garnered attention and created an aura of spirituality for the one who practiced it. But Paul is going to take a handful of the gifts, including tongues, and show that each is worthless if they are performed without love.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. – 1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

The gift of tongues, practiced without love, was nothing more than a loud, irritating noise. It may be unavoidably noticeable, but it will also be undeniably unprofitable. The gift of tongues, like every other gift of the Spirit, was intended to build up and edify the body. To practice tongues without love would be to focus on self and to neglect the overall health of the church. The goal of the one speaking in tongues would be to garner attention for themself, rather than allowing the Spirit to use the gift for the good of others.

But Paul is not done.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand 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 ESV

You could have legitimate prophetic power to foretell the future and reveal God’s hidden truth, but if you did so without love, your efforts would be of no value. In essence, Paul is saying that, while your gift might make you a somebody in the eyes of others, in God’s eyes, you would be a nobody, unimportant and non-essential. Your lack of love would negate any value your gift might have had. It is worthless to understand the mysteries of God and to grasp the knowledge of God if that information is shared in a loveless and selfless manner. Paul drives his point home by stating that mountain-moving faith is useless without love. Even if you had enough faith to do the impossible but lacked love, your actions would not impress God, because your accomplishment would lack any redeeming value.

Next, Paul brings up a seemingly contradictory example.

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV

Isn’t sacrifice always motivated by love? Wouldn’t love be the only thing that would cause someone to sacrifice their life? After all, Jesus Himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 ESV). But Paul’s point is that even the gift of giving, demonstrated by the ultimate act of martyrdom, can be done without love. You can die for a cause, but fail to do so out of love for others. You can give away all your possessions to gain the praise of men, but not out of love for them. It was Jesus who said, “When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward” (Matthew 6:2 ESV). You may enjoy the accolades of men, but you will gain nothing from God.

Love is essential because God is love. To practice any of the gifts without love would be ungodly and out of character. It is possible for us to emulate or imitate the spiritual gifts, but we can’t produce them on our own. We can easily confuse talents with gifts. Just because we are capable leaders in the marketplace does not mean we have the spiritual gift of leadership or administration in the body of Christ. We may be gifted teachers or educators, but that does not mean we have the spiritual gift of teaching. When the Spirit of God gives a gift, it is always accompanied by love and intended to build up others in the body. Each gift is inherently selfless in its expression and is never accompanied by the question, “What’s in it for me?” A spiritual gift simply gives, expecting nothing in return, because that is the essence of love.

As Paul will make clear in the following verses, love is the only thing that will last. There is a day coming when all of the spiritual gifts will be unnecessary, having served their earthly purpose. In the eternal state, there will be no need for tongues, prophecy, healing, or miracles. We will no longer need faith or hope, because all things will have been fulfilled and made complete. God is love, and because He is eternal, so is love. Love is the glue that holds all things together; it is the bond of unity between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

For Paul, love is the more excellent way. It is the ultimate expression of God’s identity and far surpasses any of the gifts. In fact, it is love that gives each gift its true value.

Father, the bottom line for You is love because it is the greatest expression of Your divine character. Even Your holiness is best expressed through Your love. But Your love is not some kind of sentimental, sacrine, Valentine’s card kind of love. It is selfless, righteous, redemptive, and always focused on the betterment of others. Paul seemed to have You in mind when he wrote, “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 ESV). You desire that we follow Your example, and You sent Your Son, as an expression of Your love for us, to make it possible. Then You gave us Your Spirit so that we have the power to model Your love here on earth. But we tend to make everything about us. We practice a form of self-love that is always motivated by greed rather than grace. We can even make the gifts of the Spirit all about us. But without love, even the gifts of the Spirit lose their value. Without love, our faith becomes meaningless. So, give us an ever-increasing understanding of and appreciation for Your love for us so that we might pass it on to all those around us. Amen

That’s the Spirit!

February 1, 2026 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. ²You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. ³Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

⁴Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 ESV

Paul now takes on yet another issue causing conflict within the Corinthian church. Like authority in worship and the celebration of the Lord’s table, this one has led to conflict and confusion. It is being misunderstood and, therefore, misused by many within the church. This will cause Paul to dedicate far more time and attention to this topic than any of the previous ones, indicating its importance within the body of Christ.

The issue at hand is the role of the Spirit of God within the life of a believer and the usage of the gifts He provides within the body of Christ. There is an obvious difference of opinion between Paul and some in the church regarding the Holy Spirit’s role and the use of the gifts He gives. The Corinthians, having come out of a pagan background, brought their own definition of the Spirit to the table. They tended to view the Holy Spirit through their former religious experience.

Living in a Greek culture, they viewed life from a dualistic perspective, separating the spiritual from the material. They believed that the spiritual portion of their life is what led to wisdom and knowledge, so it was considered good. But the physical or material aspects of life and the world were evil. Even tongues, as practiced in the pagan religions of the time, was a means of having a spiritual, heavenly-like experience while living in the physical/material realm. This bifurcated view of the human existence was having an unhealthy influence on their understanding of the Spirit of God and the use spiritual gifts within the church. For instance, they tended to view the gift of tongues from a self-centered perspective, considering it as a highly personal experience. They gave little thought to its influence or impact on the body of Christ as a whole.

Paul tells them, “I do not want you to be uninformed.” The word translated as “uninformed” can also be translated as “ignorant.” He is inferring that they were ignorant regarding the role of the Spirit and the proper use of the spiritual gifts, but he didn’t want them to remain that way. Throughout this section of his letter, and culminating in chapter 14, Paul stresses the role of love and the importance of community when it comes to the Spirit and the gifts He bestows. He will tell them, “Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church” (1 Corinthians 14:12 NLT). And sandwiched in-between chapters 12 and 14 he places his famous “love” chapter, dedicating a section on the significance of love when it comes to the use of the gifts of the Spirit.

Early in this chapter, Paul provides a simple test for true Spirit-filled expression. He wants to clear up any misconception that any seemingly spiritual-sounding utterance was necessarily from the Spirit of God. Someone could claim to be filled with the Spirit, but the proof would be in the words that came out of their mouth. He tells them, “no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3 NLT). In other words, a Spirit-filled person would never deny Christ, and a non-Spirit-filled person would never proclaim the deity of Christ. The presence of the Spirit is the key, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, always promoting and making much of Him.

Paul confirms that there are all kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come through the Holy Spirit and are ultimately given by God to the church. In fact, Paul states, “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV). Every spiritual gift is intended to build up of the body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit are for mutual edification, not the personal pleasure or promotion of the individual.

Paul provides them with a partial list of the gifts, indicating that each of them comes from the Spirit. It is the Spirit who determines how the gifts are distributed. It is not a competition, and the gifts are not handed out based on merit. However, the Corinthians were using their gifts as a kind of barometer to determine spiritual worthiness. The more demonstrative the gift, the more spiritual the bearer considered themselves.

In the opening of his letter, Paul seemed to indicate that the church in Corinth had been given all of the gifts of the Spirit. He proudly proclaimed, “you are not lacking in any gift” (1 Corinthians 1:7 ESV). The problem was not the presence of the gifts, but the proper use and understanding of them. The Corinthians were guilty of prioritizing the gifts, making some more important or significant than others. They tended to elevate and aspire after the more flamboyant gifts, such as tongues or prophecy. They were turning the gifts into badges of honor, wearing them with arrogance and pride, and promoting themselves as somehow more spiritual than others because of their particular gift.

But the gifts of the Spirit, like the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5, were not to be self-promoting or self-focused. They were intended for the good of others. The Holy Spirit apportions or hands out the gifts based on community need, not individual merit. The gifts are given for the good of others. For instance, the gift of tongues was intended to minister to those who spoke another language. The gift of wisdom was not meant to make one person wiser than everyone else, but was given to share the wisdom of God with all. Healing, miracles, faith, prophecy, and tongues are all other-oriented and designed to build up, edify, minister to and strengthen the body of Christ.

The Spirit of God brings a spirit of unity and love, not division and competition. We can know that the Spirit of God is active within us when our lives have a positive influence on those around us. The Spirit never produces jealousy, pride, anger, or division. When we pridefully conclude that we are more spiritual than someone else, we are operating outside the will of the Spirit. He produces a spirit of humility and a heart of service. His power creates within us an unnatural compassion and care for others. When He is at work within us, we will be motivated to put the needs of others ahead of our own desires.

This problem of misusing or abusing the gifts of the Spirit was not unique to the church in Corinth. Paul addressed s similar issue when writing to the believers in Galatia.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:25-26 NLT

There is no place for pride, petty posturing, and a spirit of competition within the body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit are not evidence of our godliness. They are not the byproduct or fruit of our personal success at achieving spiritual maturity. They are gifts freely given by the Spirit of God and designed to build up the body of Christ.

Our new life in Christ was made possible by the Spirit, and He is the one who makes possible our daily walk with Christ, so that we can live in selfless, sacrificial, loving community with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Father, thank You for the promise of the Spirit. Had he not opened my eyes to the truth of the gospel message, I would have remained blind and incapable of accepting Your gift of grace and forgiveness made possible through faith in Your Son. And the One who played a vital role in my salvation is continuing His work in my sanctification through the gifts He has given me. But I needed this reminder that the gifts of the Spirit were never intended for the benefit of the bearer. The gift I have been is not my own; it belongs to the body of Christ. It was never intended to be a measuring rod to determine my spirituality. Everyone of the gifts of the Spirit are other-oriented and intended for the edification of the church. Keep us from allowing pride and selfishness to dilute the impact of the Spirit’s gifts. Show us how to operate in His power and for the good of Your people at all times. Amen

Set Apart But Not To Stand Alone

December 25, 2025December 25, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

²To 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:

³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 ESV

Paul begins this letter in his usual manner. The first thing he does is introduce himself, which was a common letter-writing style in Paul’s day. It was not because the recipients of the letter did not know him, because he had actually lived among them for 18 months (Acts 18:11) after he had helped found the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey. Paul’s point in re-introducing himself was to establish his calling as an apostle of God. This will become an important factor as his letter unfolds. This letter was likely written from Ephesus, where Paul spent three years on his third missionary journey.

Paul was cordial, even complimentary, in his greeting to the believers in Corinth. But there was a subtle, underlying purpose behind his words. He referred to them as “the church of God in Corinth.” This, too, will prove to have a purpose behind it. Paul wanted them to understand that they belonged to God and no one else. He was preparing to deal with a problem of division that had made its way into the church there. He refers to them as being “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and as “saints.” He uses two words, ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) and ἅγιος (hagios), to describe the believers in Corinth. At salvation, they had been set apart as God and dedicated for His purposes, so they belonged to Him. This also made them saints, or set-apart ones (“G37 – hagiazō, G40 – hagios – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible). They no longer belonged to themselves or to this world. And yet, as Paul eventually points out in this letter, they were not living up to their calling as saints. Their actions did not reflect their set-apartness.

Paul’s emphasis in the opening of his letter is on God. He even thanks God for all He has done to bring the Corinthians to faith. It had been God who extended grace to them by allowing them to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The “testimony about Christ was confirmed” among them (1 Corinthians 1:6 ESV) as they came to faith in Christ and their lives were radically transformed. The believers in Corinth had received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts He provides. In fact, Paul states that they were “not lacking in any gift” (1 Corinthians 1:7 ESV). God had been good to them; He had called them, and He would be faithful to continue His work among them, and would sustain them to the end. The problem, Paul seems to be saying, was not with God, but with them. It was the Corinthians who were proving to be unfaithful. They had lost sight of their unique standing as God’s holy, set-apart people. His calling on their lives had taken a back seat to their own selfish agendas and worldly outlooks on life. They were missing the point.

Paul was preparing to deal harshly with his readers and was setting them up so that he might call them out. He would tolerate their behavior. The honor of God and the integrity of the gospel were at stake. Their behavior was not in keeping with their status as God’s chosen people. Rather than living as set apart and distinctly different from the world around them, they were allowing themselves to blend in and take on the ungodly characteristics of the society in which they lived. Their professed beliefs and their behavior were inconsistent and contradictory. There was a disconnect between their faith and daily practice. Their spiritual talk and their daily walk were in conflict. So Paul started his letter by reminding them of who they were and to whom they belonged. Later in this same letter, he writes, “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” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV).

Paul was about to call out the called-out ones. He was going to sit down the set-apart ones and give them a piece of his mind – in love. He would not tolerate their actions or excuse their sinful attitudes. God had sacrificed His Son on their behalf, paying a high price for their salvation. So, Paul was not willing to sit back and watch them waste God’s grace or bring shame to His name. Their profession of faith needed to show up in their walk and talk. Their conduct needed to match their confession. Their status as sons and daughters of God was to be reflected in their actions and attitudes.

One of the mistakes we make when reading the letters of Paul is to take every personal pronoun and make it personal. So every time we read the word “you,” we believe he is talking to us as individuals. But in most cases, Paul uses a plural personal pronoun. That’s because most of his letters were written to churches, not individuals. In this case, he was writing to the believers in Corinth – all those individuals who made up the corporate body of Christ in that city. So his words are to be taken in a corporate context. But because of our intense individualism as Western Christians, we attempt to make it all about us as individuals. We read these verses and fail to see the community focus of Paul’s words. The New Living Translation renders verse 5 in this way: “God has enriched your church in every way…”

In this letter, Paul is addressing the issue of spiritual gifts. He wants the Corinthian believers to know that they have been given spiritual gifts as individual believers, but those gifts are intended and designed for use within the body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit were meant to enhance life within the community. My spiritual gift is not for me, but for the benefit of others with whom I live as part of the body of Christ.

In verse 7, Paul makes it clear that he is talking about spiritual gifts when he writes, “Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The body of Christ in Corinth had been blessed by God with a full assortment of spiritual gifts designed to enhance and encourage their spiritual growth and vitality as a community. Even when Paul writes, “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT), he has a community focus in mind.

Through the proper use of their spiritual gifts, God would keep the church in Corinth strong until the Lord returned. Paul knew that their spiritual well-being and health depended on the proper use of their individual gifts. But there were abuses of the spiritual gifts going on in Corinth, and Paul was going to address this vital issue. From the outset, he wants them to understand that the gifts were God-given and designed to be life-giving to the community. A healthy body is one in which all the members are performing their intended tasks faithfully and with the overall well-being of the body in mind. There is no place for selfishness or self-centeredness within the body of Christ.

Father, how easy it is to make it all about me. We are wired to think about ourselves and to neglect the needs of others. Our instincts of self-preservation and survival have allowed us to misunderstand the spiritual life. We make it an individual pursuit and fail to recognize that You intended it to be a corporate experience – a team sport. As we read through the letter to the Corinthians, remind us again of the power of the gifts used in the context of community as You designed them to be used. Amen.

A Like-Minded Love for God’s Law

June 25, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

Zayin

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction,
    that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹The insolent utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
⁵²When I think of your rules from of old,
    I take comfort, O LORD.
⁵³Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    who forsake your law.
⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my sojourning.
⁵⁵I remember your name in the night, O LORD,
    and keep your law.
⁵⁶This blessing has fallen to me,
    that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

⁵⁷The LORD is my portion;
    I promise to keep your words.
⁵⁸I entreat your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹When I think on my ways,
    I turn my feet to your testimonies;
⁶⁰I hasten and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.
⁶¹Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
    I do not forget your law.
⁶²At midnight I rise to praise you,
    because of your righteous rules.
⁶³I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your statutes!

Teth

⁶⁵You have dealt well with your servant,
    O LORD, according to your word.
⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸You are good and do good;
    teach me your statutes.
⁶⁹The insolent smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
⁷⁰their heart is unfeeling like fat,
    but I delight in your law.
⁷¹It is good for me that I was afflicted,
    that I might learn your statutes.
⁷²The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces. – Psalm 119:49-72 ESV

Life for the psalmist was full of ups and downs and twists and turns. He knew what it was like to experience Yahweh’s blessings and the difficulties that come with living in a fallen world. He had his share of setbacks and sorrows, but remained faithful to Yahweh and committed to keeping His law.

The “words” of Yawheh gave him hope (vs 49) and provided comfort in the face of affliction (vs 50). As the psalmist considered the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures, he found them to be filled with messages of Yahweh’s sovereignty, power, and provision for His chosen people. The stories of Israel’s past confirmed Yahweh’s promise that He would dwell among His people.

“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” – Exodus 29:45-46 ESV

“I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” – Leviticus 26:11-12 ESV

Yahweh had remained with them through thick and thin. Despite their disobedience and spiritual infidelity, He had maintained His covenant commitments. This did not mean that He overlooked their apostasy or that their sins went unpunished. Their track record of unfaithfulness cost them dearly, because Yahweh eventually followed through on His promise to punish them for their disobedience. Long before the Israelites had set foot in Canaan, Moses warned the Israelites that failure to obey Yahweh’s commands would prove costly.

“But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:

Your towns and your fields
will be cursed.
Your fruit baskets and breadboards
will be cursed.
Your children and your crops
will be cursed.
The offspring of your herds and flocks
will be cursed.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
you will be cursed.

“The LORD himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning me.” – Deuteronomy 28:15-20 NLT

Yet, the psalmist knew that Yahweh’s judgment was justified; the people of Israel had gotten what they deserved. But he also knew they had received what they didn’t deserve: Yahweh’s mercy and forgiveness. He had redeemed and restored them. That message of Yahweh’s persistence and patience with His unworthy people resonated with the psalmist because he also needed that undeserved grace.

The psalmist knew he was far from perfect. He struggled with sin just like everyone else, but strongly desired to live obediently.

LORD, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.– Psalm 119:57-58 NLT

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – Psalm 119:61 NLT

He shared the experience of the Israelites, having chosen the path of disobedience until the LORD lovingly rebuked and restored him.

I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
but now I closely follow your word. – Psalm 119:67 NLT

When he writes, “You are good and do only good,” (Psalm 119:68 NLT), he echoes the words of a song written by Moses.

I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
    how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
    Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is! – Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NLT

Though he had experienced Yahweh’s judgment, he was not bitter or angry. Instead, he was grateful for having his eyes opened and his heart softened by the gracious hand of the LORD.

My suffering was good for me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
than millions in gold and silver. – Psalm 119:71-72 NLT

This personal experience with Yahweh’s loving discipline made him all the more committed to the integrity and efficacy of Yahweh’s commands. He had discovered the truth behind the ancient proverbial statement:

My son, do not despise the LORD‘s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV

Rather than despise the LORD’s discipline, the psalmist despised those who dismissed or disobeyed God’s commands.

I become furious with the wicked,
because they reject your instructions. – Psalm 119:53 NLT

He had no patience with the godless and lawless. He refused to tolerate or associate with those who promoted profligate living. Those who had chosen to disobey God’s commands were constantly tempting him to join in their camp, but he wasn’t taking the bait.

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – Psalm 119:61 NLT

Yahweh’s commands were his anchor in the storm. The word of God was the solid rock on which he built his life and depended upon for peace, contentment, hope, and assurance for tomorrow. This reliance upon God’s truth prompted him to seek the company of like-minded individuals.

I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
anyone who obeys your commandments. – Psalm 119:63 NLT

Surrounded by wicked and lawless people, he knew he needed the companionship of other faithful men and women who shared his love for and commitment to Yahweh’s commands. Godliness is not a solo activity; it is a team sport that requires the combined efforts of all those involved. The psalmist seemed to understand the concept that Paul expressed to the church in Corinth. This was a divided congregation suffering from unhealthy competition and infighting over spiritual gifts. Rather than working together for the good of the body, they were clamoring and competing for supremacy based on their individual spiritual gift. So Paul

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 NLT

God’s commands were given to the entire community, not just individuals. Faithfulness is a group endeavor that benefits everyone, which the psalmist and Paul both understood. A love for God’s law that lacks love for others is of no value to anyone. The apostle John summed up this need for communal love and a unified commitment to God’s commands.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. – 1 John 4:20-21 NLT

Father, it’s so easy to turn my pursuit of Christlikeness into a solo sport that leaves everyone else out of the picture. We are prone to practice a form of Lone Ranger Christianity that misses the point of the body of Christ and our need for unity. It is amazing to consider that many of Your laws were horizontal in nature; in other words they had to do with the relationships between individuals. That is why Jesus gave a new commandment, that we love one another. Obedience to Your law without a love for Your people is useless. That is what the Pharisees practiced. Give me a love for Your Word that manifests itself in a love for others and a desire to live in unity with all those who share a common faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Constructive Faith

December 4, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. ²And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

³The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁴And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. ⁵And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

⁶Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁷And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. ⁸Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. ⁹Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. ¹⁰Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. ¹¹Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. ¹²Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

¹³Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.

¹⁴Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

¹⁵And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. ¹⁶After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. ¹⁷After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. ¹⁸After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. ¹⁹Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. ²⁰After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. ²¹After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. ²²After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. ²³After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. ²⁴After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner. ²⁵Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh ²⁶and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. ²⁷After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

²⁸Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. ²⁹After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. ³⁰After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. ³¹After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. ³²And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired. – Nehemiah 3:1-32 ESV

Nehemiah had a plan for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem but he would need manual labor to carry it out. This would be back-breaking work that required both strength and precision. Each work crew was assigned a gate to repair and, once the gate was completed, they were to construct the wall that led to the next gate. Their efforts needed to coordinate with the next team of builders so that the walls could be joined together seamlessly. This massive undertaking required brute force, keen engineering skills. craftsmanship, and a great deal of patience. But the people took on the project wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. Individuals from every walk of life joined in the effort, working side by side to see that the walls of their beloved city were rebuilt.

The work of rebuilding the walls began at the Sheep Gate at the northeastern corner near the Temple Mount. This section of the wall was repaired by the priests under the direction of Eliashib the high priest. He was the grandson of Jeshua, the former high priest, who had played a major role in rebuilding the altar of God so that the sacrificial system could be reinstituted.

Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening. – Ezra 3:2-3 NLT

The Sheep Gate played an important part in the sacrificial system as well. Located near the Temple Mount, this gate provided easy access for the shepherds who tended the flocks used for the Temple sacrifices. The reconstruction of this gate became a high priority and was taken on by the priests themselves. Even the high priest rolled up his sleeves and joined in the work. Once they completed their gate, they consecrated it, setting it apart as holy to the LORD. This symbolic act was meant to remind the people that their work was to be done “as to the LORD” (Proverbs 16:3). The gates and walls were intended to provide protection, but they would also be a constant reminder of God’s presence, power, and provision.

It is interesting to note that the men of Jericho worked beside the priests. This brief reference would have struck a chord with the Jewish audience who read Nehemiah’s recounting of this momentous occasion. The mention of Jericho would have conjured up the stories they had been told as children. When the Israelites first crossed over the Jordan in their attempt to conquer the land of Canaan, they encountered the fortified city of Jericho. God gave Joshua the following instructions for taking this seemingly impenetrable city.

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” – Joshua 6:1-5 NLT

Just the day before, Joshua had encountered an unknown and well-armed soldier. When Joshua asked whether he was a friend or foe, the man said, “I am the commander of the Lord’s army” (Joshuah 5:14 NLT). This pronouncement caused Joshua to fall to the ground in fear and reverence. It was from this divine messenger that Joshua received his orders to take the city of Jericho. By following the LORD’s command, the Israelites enjoyed a surprisingly easy victory over their enemies.

When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. – Joshua 6:20-21 NLT

The city of Jericho was eventually rebuilt and occupied by the Israelites. The walls that had fallen were restored, and the men who called this city their home came to assist in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Those who had the joy of living in the place where God gave the Israelites their first victory were more than happy to play a role in rebuilding the walls of their capital city.

Nehemiah goes on to chronicle the various groups that participated in the rebuilding process. While these names are unknown to modern readers, their inclusion gives the impression that people from every walk of life took part in this God-ordained project. The work was not done by peasants alone. Everyone from the high priest to the local government officials played their part. It was a community-wide effort. But there is one side note that reveals at least one group who chose to bow out of the proceedings.

…the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. – Nehemiah 3:5 ESV

These elitist upper-class snobs deemed themselves too high and mighty to get their hands dirty. But Nehemiah paints a much more harsh reality. He describes them as unwilling to serve their Lord. They were too good to serve Yahweh.

Yet, their less affluent neighbors labored diligently and willingly to rebuild not just one section of wall, but two.

…the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. – Nehemiah 3:27 ESV

No indictment is leveled against these unnamed nobles, but the Proverbs have much to say about men like them.

A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. – Proverbs 29:23 BSB

When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2 BSB

Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. – Proverbs 18:12 BSB

Despite the pompous attitude of the nobles of Tekoah, the work continued. Others pitched in and, over time, the gates were rebuilt and the walls were restored. This communal project was a testament to Nehemiah’s organizational skills and his powers of persuasion. He had successfully convinced the people of Judah to pool their efforts and accomplish a seemingly impossible task under less-than-ideal circumstances. They labored side by side for months on end, enduring harsh weather conditions and putting up with constant harassment from their enemies. Nehemiah’s description of their efforts makes it sound like everything went off without a hitch. He describes no injuries, setbacks, mishaps, or arguments. This was a do-it-yourself project of epic proportions that would have featured endless opportunities for frustration and confrontation. Mismeasured blocks would have needed to be repaired or replaced. Pulled muscles and broken limbs would have sidelined many, slowing down the work and increasing the workload of others.

And as the following chapter will reveal, the entire project was met with increasing hostility from the local inhabitants. Sanballat and Tobiah were relentless in their attacks, mocking the people of Judah for Don Quixote-like quest to do the impossible.

“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” – Nehemiah 4:2 NLT

“That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” – Nehemiah 4:3 NLT

But the work went on and the walls went up. Perseverance and patience were necessary. Faith was a non-negotiable requirement. Determination and cooperation were indispensable. And the people would need to constantly remember that they had Yahweh on their side. The words of Nehemiah needed to ring in their ears as they hammered, hauled, chiseled, and chipped their way to completion.

“The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall.” – Nehemiah 2:20 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Marvelous Mystery of the Body of Christ

March 11, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

³I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. – Philippians 1:3-11 ESV

When reading the letters of Paul it’s important to remember that, in most cases, he was writing to a community of believers, not a single individual. There are those occasions when he wrote personal letters addressed to individuals, such as Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. However, the majority of his correspondence was addressed to a corporate body of believers located in a specific city or community. These letters are usually referred to as his pastoral epistles. In them, we get a glimpse of Paul’s strong sense of calling as a shepherd over the flock of Jesus Christ.

At one point in his ministry, Paul told the elders of the church in Ephesus:

“I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” – Acts 20:19-21 NLT

He wasn’t boasting, but simply reminding these men that he had made their spiritual well-being his highest priority. Without an ounce of pride or arrogance, Paul was able to say to them, “I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know” (Acts 20:26-27 NLT). Then he challenged them to follow his example.

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.” – Acts 20:28 NLT

Paul had a deep and abiding sense of love for the church, the body of Christ. Yes, he cared for each individual Christian, but he knew that the strength of the church lay in the overall health of its constituency. While the body of Christ was made up of individual believers, God had chosen to place them within a single unit where their spiritual gifts, talents, and mutual love for one another could have the greatest impact. Paul repeatedly made this point clear when writing to the church in Corinth:

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” – 1 Corinthians 12:14 NLT

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” – I Corinthians 12:27 NLT

His emphasis was always on unity and community.

“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” – 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 NLT

So, when reading the opening lines of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we must keep in mind that he is writing to a group of people. Even the reading of his letter would have taken place within a group context. Yet many believers include Paul’s letters as part of their daily personal devotionals and, in doing so, they run the risk of reading the letters as if they are addressed to them as individuals, taking every personal pronoun personally. Each time they see the word “you,” it’s as if Paul is somehow speaking to them as an individual. So, when they read, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ,” they apply it to themselves. When Paul states, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding,” they read it as if he is addressing them individually, and by name.

But in virtually every instance, each of the personal pronouns Paul uses is plural in nature. He is addressing the body, not the individual. You could almost read them as, “you all.” So, as you make your way through this letter, imagine it is being read to you as you sit alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ from your local fellowship. Yes, his admonitions most certainly apply individually, but we miss the point of his letter if we fail to see them as messages to the corporate body of believers.

With all that in mind, consider how Paul opens his letter to the church in Philippi; he expresses his thanks to God for their very existence. He is grateful that God has allowed him to play a part in the establishment of this local fellowship. Remember, it all began with the conversion of Lydia, who came to faith in Christ after hearing Paul and Silas share the gospel with her. This wealthy and influential Gentile woman became a key leader in the new faith community in Philippi, even hosting the fledgling church in her home.

Paul’s gratitude to God is based on his recognition that the ministry he helped to begin was continuing in his absence. He had been privileged to play a significant role in the founding of this local fellowship but was thankful that God was providentially overseeing its growth and maturity.

While penning the words of this letter, Paul was under house arrest in Rome and unable to physically return to the churches he had helped to plant. Yet, he was encouraged to know that the believers in Philippi were his partners in the gospel. In his absence, the message of the good news of Jesus Christ was being spread throughout the city and region. The Greek word that is translated as “partnership” is koinōnia, and it carries the idea of “fellowship.” Even though they were separated by many miles, Paul shared a sense of unity and mutual commitment with them as they continued to spread the gospel throughout Philippi.

But while Paul was concerned that the good news of Jesus Christ make it to every corner of Philippi, he knew that the success of that enterprise hinged on the spiritual health of the faith community to whom he wrote. Paul always maintained a balance between his desire for the salvation of the lost and the sanctification of the saved. He longed to see people come to faith in Christ but was equally concerned that they grow in their knowledge of Him and likeness to Him. That’s why he confidently told the believers in Philippi that “ he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6 ESV).

God would finish what He started in the church at Philippi but also in the lives of each individual believer. Yet, we must keep Paul’s emphasis on spiritual growth within its corporate context. Any increase in Christ-likeness the Philippians believers might experience was not solely for their own benefit. The gifts of the Spirit they enjoyed had not been meant for their individual use but were intended to benefit and bless the body of Christ. Rather than allow their salvation experience to result in a myopic focus on self, they were to cultivate an other-oriented attitude that stressed the importance of the faith community. In the very next chapter, Paul will powerfully drive this point home.

…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:2-4 ESV

When Paul states that he has been praying that their “love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,” he is speaking to the entire body of believers there in Philippi. He desires that their love for one another continue to grow exponentially. He longs for their knowledge and discernment to increase steadily. But what kind of knowledge and discernment have in mind?

Paul states that their growing love for one another when accompanied by an increase in knowledge and discernment will “approve what is excellent” (Philippians 1:10 ESV), or as The New Living Translation puts it, “what really matters.”

Paul seems to be emphasizing their need to do the will of God; that which really matters and is truly excellent. Later on in this same letter, Paul summarizes exactly what he means.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. – Philippians 4:8-9 NLT

As their love, knowledge, and discernment grow, they will become “pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:1-11 ESV).

The fruit of righteousness. That’s an interesting phrase that can be easily overlooked or misunderstood. Paul is letting his audience know that their corporate increase in righteousness will have benefits; it will produce fruit. If you think about it, a tree that produces fruit does so, not for its own benefit, but for the benefit of others. When Paul discusses the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, the list of attributes he provides are all outwardly focused: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

None of these things are meant to benefit the individual. Love is meant to be shared, not hoarded. Joy is something to be given away, not greedily pursued for self-satisfaction. Peace is best enjoyed in the company of others, not in isolation. Patience is impossible without the presence of others in our lives who put it to the test. All of these things are meant to be mutually shared and enjoyed as a faith community. As Paul told the believers in Corinth, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT).

So, Paul begins his letter to the believers in Philippi by reminding them that they are in partnership with him and one another for the cause of Christ. They are all in this together because Christianity is a team sport, not an individual event. The believer’s salvation is meant to be lived out within the community of faith, not in isolation or with an attitude of rugged individualism. Our sanctification is intended to be a group activity, rather than individual pursuit done in secrecy and seclusion.

The fellowship of faith is powerful. The community of faith is transformational. Any impact an individual believer will have in this life will be in proportion to his or her connection to and reliance upon the faith community into which God has placed them. That is why Paul emphasizes the return of Christ and His desire to find His bride, the Church, as “pure and blameless” (Philippians 1:10 ESV). Paul echoed this same sentiment in his letter to the church in Ephesus.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. – Ephesians 5:5-7 ESV

The Church was the focal point of Paul’s entire ministry. He believed the corporate health of the body of Christ to be of utmost importance and viewed its creation as wonderful evidence of God’s mysterious and marvelous ways. He had been privileged “to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 3:8-10 ESV).

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