Dear Reader: This short treatise was originally a series of glob posts written in June of 2009, as

a summation of my daily devotions. Thoughts are probably incomplete in places but I expect to
fill them in as time and opportunity allows.

I hope and pray that they might be at best an encouragement in your life and circumstances, and
at worst a gentle prodding to dig into the scriptures in a deeper fashion. God's word truly never
returns to him void. May God go with you fellow traveler and I look forward to meeting you on
the other side of eternity, while worshiping in His presence.

Daniel Berman
http:danielcberman.com

Reflections on 1 Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 1

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a
demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on
God’s power. - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV

I pray that this is evident in my life and ministry, both in the public square and in the Church.
 God's Green House – U'Da Farmer: 1 Corinthians 3

…neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God makes things grow. The
man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded
according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s
building. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 NIV

Its rather interesting how we can get so caught up in finding the right “way” in our lives, our
marriages, our jobs, and dare I say it in our churches. All of us want to find the best church for
us, and just the right pastor who will minister to my needs. And furthermore my pastor is better
than that pastor because my pastor preaches from the WORD!

Wait a minute! Are we after finding the “right” way in life, or the path that God wants us to
travel to perfect us for eternity with Him? Does the path, that God has specifically planned out
for us always include the best, in our understanding of best?

I would suggest that its possible that God would rather have us learn about the people who
already around us, and seek out why God has allowed those people to cross our path. What is
the hearts of your leaders for the Lord, and how can you encourage them to love Him deeper?
What is the hearts of the people around you that God has placed under your care and
mentorship? Are you doing everything in your ability and strength to encourage them to walk
closer to the flame?
 Suffering & Leadership: 1 Corinthians 4

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are
homeless. We work hard with our own hands. We are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted,
we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the
scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 1 Cor. 4:11-13 NIV

How often do we commonly believe that everything should be going good for us, and we
complain when it doesn’t? We complain about mowing the lawn, we complain about our kids,
we complain about our jobs, and some of us husbands are even tempted to complain about our
wives. We think the whole world’s against us, and God should fix it for us.

In this passage Paul describes a microscopic snapshot of his life. Its interesting, if you look
through most of the New Testament you will find Paul’s fingerprints. Would it be to much of a
stretch to suggest that the experience of suffering is what enabled God to use Paul in such a
significant way?

I have heard that believers outside of North America do not pray for persecution and suffering
to go away, but rather that God would give them strength to continue in spite of the persecution
and suffering. They pray this in order that they might witness of Christ’s love and redemption,
all the more in spite of the challenging circumstances. What is God doing in your life? Now if
you consider all the challenges He’s given you to face, what is He actually doing in your life?
 Attraction & Discipline: 1 Corinthians 5

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not all meaning
the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that
case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate
with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or
slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. 1 Cor 5:9-11 NIV

In a sex crazed society not unlike our own, Paul strikes an amazing balance in his instructions
here. The world is to find the church attractive for precisely what the world is not. But at the
same time, the church is not allowed to isolate itself with the expectation that if we build it, they
will come. In line with Jesus’ instructions we are to be IN the world but not of it.

At the same time, that balance can only be maintained if blatant acknowledged sin is not
allowed to continue. This is not the stuff of rumors where you suspect a fellow brother or sister
of sin, because someone else told you. This is the stuff that comes directly from the person. Out
of the natural relationships already established, the person sinning must be brought to decision
point with the ultimate goal of their redemption.

How often do we point fingers at other people’s sin, while minimizing our own? How often do
we wince whenever that motorcycle dude shows up at worship, and he’s wearing chaps! How
often do we pass on rumors about other people’s escapades at work or church, for simply the
joy of the experience with no concern for the actual subject of the conversation? How long will
we be content to let this continue instead of building the community that Christ desires the
Church to be?
 Bought at a Price! : 1 Corinthians 6

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God
with your body. 1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV

Let us stop and ponder this for one moment, eternal God who created us and the world around
us, who sacrificed His Son because of our rejection, has chosen to invest in the most intimate
relationship possible residing within us as Spirit. We have complete free will, in yet the God
desires relationship.

The silent cry of humanity, that is all to often expressed in crime, divorce, hate, ethnic
cleansing, war, and so many other atrocities can ultimately be traced back to the condition of the
heart in its rejection of relationship with God. Do not follow suite, its not worth the pain and
suffering, its not worth the cost.

Will you honor God with all that you do, the way you treat people today, the way in which you
treat your family and your spouse, and most importantly the way in which you treat your
relationship with God? Follow Him today!
 Know God, Purpose Discovered: 1 Corinthians 7

Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God has called him
too. 1 Cor 7:24 NIV

Its very interesting how in this time of unbridled opportunity, and privilege we wonder what is
the purpose of our lives. Why are we here? We forget that God understands all things and has
done so since the beginning of time. He sees the beginning from the end. God has placed you
and me in this time and place for a very specific purpose.

What is that purpose? To be witnesses of His Glory, His Power, His Majesty, His Love, His
desire for relationship with the creation He came to die for, and in doing so conquered death and
rose again. This is not to say that God will do absolutely nothing with you, au contraire!

He shapes us and molds us just like a master craftsman perfects the object of his skill. Not only
that but He does bring new opportunities across our path, but its based on what we have learned
from our previous experiences walking with Him.

Want to know your purpose in life? Know God, from the standpoint of eternity the rest will fall
into place!
 Food & Stumbling Blocks: 1 Corinthians 8

But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we
do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to
the weak. 1 Cor 8:8-9 NIV

As we build a deeper relationship with the Lord we discover that our boundaries of what we
believe, understand, and do within the context of our walk with the Lord is often stretched. This
is proper thing to occur as we walk closer to our Creator, maker, and friend. Our humanity often
gets in the way however, and we often seek to run ahead of God or off to one side or the other.

Upon doing this we run a serious possibility of knocking someone else off their path of walking
with God. Not a good situation anyway you cut it. Others may get distracted from what God is
doing in their lives and begin to critique, how God is working in you.

In the first situation we stand responsible for causing someone to get diverted from building a
deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In the second, we must remember that ultimately we stand
responsible before God alone with Jesus as advocate.

The Christian faith and walk is and has never been an easy path to follow. But the necessity is
without compare and the rewards are beyond earthly comprehension. Will you join me?
 Acting Outside the Box: 1 Corinthians 9

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all
possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I might share in
its blessings. 1 Cor. 9:22-23

Inevitably in course of our walk with the Lord we run across someone who just doesn’t get it.
We try everything that we know, we try every approach thats worked in the past, but it just
doesn’t get through. We then become frustrated and wonder whats wrong, us or them.

There is no easy solution, but prayer for wisdom to see what God sees and the process whereby
we might approach this new challenge within the realm of Godly behavior, but outside of our
comfort zone will yield rewards beyond our comprehension.

Are you willing to act outside your box?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do , do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause
anyone to stumble, whether Jew or Greeks or the Church of God - even as I try to please
everyone in everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,
so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NIV

In this complex world we live in, we often try to subdivide it down into smaller sections so that
we can understand it or control it better. In doing so we often fall into the trap that is something
not related to Church or my faith, and thus I can do whatever I care to. A driver gets in front of
you, tell him off. Your angry at someone at work, yell at him it doesn’t matter!

Or does it. Paul encourages us to remember that every single action in our lives is interacting
with someone. Even if they have already come to a faith in Christ, we have the opportunity to
encourage them in their walk or discourage them. With every single person we come across we
have the opportunity to display the glory of God, are we doing it the most effectively?

It doesn’t matter which culture they come, skateboarders, prostitutes, North American mutts,
Indians, Native Americans; God wants us to share his love with everyone using whatever Godly
means possible. The mission has been described, the path is dangerous, will you choose to
accept it?
 Sharing A Divided Meal, Or Not? : 1 Corinthians 11

When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you ear, each of you goes
ahead without waiting for any anybody else. One remains hungry, without waiting for anybody
else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do
you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?… 1 Corinthians 11:20-
22a NIV

Its amazing how some of the simplest things like food can cause divisions. The Lord’s supper is
meant as a shared remembrance and participation with the Lord’s death and resurrection. But
when status and scheduling get in the way, the meaning and the necessity get lost.

Christian is not about ritual but relationship. Its not about a dead leader, but a relationship with
a risen Lord. We have a way of muddying up the works in so many ways, but let us seek the
Lord to ask for his forgiveness and deepen our relationship with Him. Let us grow together, and
seriously evaluate that which causes divisions within the Church. It not about us, it is about
Jesus.
 Common Gifts, Common Good: 1 Corinthians 12

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Cor 12:7 NIV

Its interesting, remembering back to Bible college, each student took a spiritual gifts test to
begin to bring some direction and purpose to where each person was heading. While there is
widespread debate on the usefulness of these tests, it did begin to identify natural tendencies
that God had designed into our individual fabrics.

The interesting part is that we weren’t told that not only is it wise to identify what God has
gifted you with, but the importance that whether in the sacred or the secular world we have a
responsibility to use these gifts for the Glory of God, and the betterment of his Church.

Its not about us, its about God and the task and purpose God has designed us for. This
ultimately is witnessing to the restoration of relationship between God and man torn asunder by
our rejection of Him, and restored through Jesus' death and resurrection. Every single action
should be with this goal in mind, whether its between you and your spouse, your coworker, your
customer, or the jerk who cut in front of you and almost caused you to be in an accident. God
has a purpose in it all, are you ready to live it?
 Love The Original Design Proposal: 1 Corinthians 13

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it
is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails….1 Cor 13:4-8a NIV

This is how God loves us. This is not the cheap loves portrayed on popular media, but the true
meaning of love as designed by the creator of the world. Do we love like this? Obviously not,
but we begin to understand our need for a relationship with our creator in order to operate as
designed. How are you functioning these days?
 Church: 1 Corinthians 14

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the
strengthening of of the church. 1 Cor 14:26 NIV

Paul describes a fascinating look at body life with a church. The leaders must be respected and
honored, but contributions are needed from everyone in order for congregation to function as
needed.

So often we think we know what Church is. Its this or that, and what your doing doesn’t told
Scriptural weight because its different from how I practice Church. There are very legitimate
areas of Christianity that must not be compromised. However, do we truly understand the
background of those parts which are critical to the Christian faith and those which have grown
up because of tradition which has been applied way beyond its original scope?

Does the tradition have support in scripture? Does it glorify God? Does it encourage continual
spiritual growth within believers? It might be wise to respect it, at least for the place and time in
which it has proved helpful and not a hindrance.
 Standing Firm: 1 Corinthians 15

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to
the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor 15:58
NIV

Standing firm. Interesting image provoked here in the mind. Perhaps in our perspective we
think of a light house, with waves crashing against it as a hurricane rips through the area or
perhaps we think of an old pine that has seen the test of time. Or perhaps a large rock that has
been whittled and eroded by the wind and elements but ultimately formed into a stunning
display of God’s power through creation.

What has God given us to do in this world? Thats an interesting question that even I am still
trying to figure out, and every time I think I do it costs more money. But through all the twists
and turns it seems to come back to what sort of situation God has already brought me through.
What has He already been preparing me, for when I didn’t have the foggiest clue of His actions.
Ultimately its not what we do, its not who we are, its how we respond to God’s desire for
relationship with us.

Don’t turn away, He desires you. He knows the passions and desires He has placed in your
heart, and eagerly eagerly desires to partner with you in bringing glory to himself. This is the
highest calling of creation, to glorify its creator.

Stand Firm!
 In Strength, In Weakness, God Be Praised: 1 Corinthians 16

But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has
opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. 1 Cor 16:8-9 NIV

We often evaluate ministry by the results we accomplish and the ease by which we get there. In
yet in this situation, Paul praises God for the opportunity for ministry, acknowledges the
opposition and remains confident in God’s will that he remain to finish the job.

How often do we lag behind when opposition comes, believing that well it must not be God’s
will that I be here or minister to this person? They simply are just to hard to get too. Yes life is a
challenge, and it can be scary coming to grips with the fact that while God reigns, Satan does
his best to spoil everything to the best of his ability.

However just as God provides a way out of temptation, I believe he provides a way to the
opportunities He has in mind for us. That provision may come through strength, or it may come
through weakness but that provision will come.