Daily Reading Week 8
Sunday
Esther 3
RESPOND
What do you discover from verse 6 that exposes Haman’s evil heart?
In what ways might you face situations where your faith or personal beliefs come into conflict with societal norms or authority?
How would you handle a situation where you felt pressured to compromise your values for the sake of societal acceptance?
What lessons can we draw from Haman's actions regarding the dangers of pride and vengeance?
DISCOVER
In Esther 3 we are introduced to Haman, a man whose hatred and abusive power throws the empire into confusion and brings the Jewish people to the brink of disaster. To this day, when the Feast of Purim is celebrated and the book of Esther is read, the very mention of Haman’s name provokes a strong response and the people proclaim: “Let his name be blotted out!”
Haman’s promotion made him second only to the king himself. The king even issued a special decree that all his servants were to bow down and pay homage whenever they saw Haman. This bit of information implies what Haman’s actions will soon confirm, he was an ambitious man with an enormous ego. Mordecai’s daily refusal to bow down sent Haman into a rage, when they turned Haman’s wrath towards the entire Jewish population.
Haman was a descendant from Agag, king of the Amalekites who fought against the Jews during the time of King Saul. When Saul became king, God commanded him to strike the Amalekites and totally destroy everything belonging to them (1 Samuel 15). Saul did attack and God gave them victory, but Saul spared Agag’s life and kept the best cattle for himself. For this disobedience, God took Saul’s anointing as king.
The ancestral seeds of Jewish hatred that Haman carried towards Mordecai and the Jews were fed by his own pride and arrogance. The scene set in Esther 3 is set and Haman’s scheme to destroy all the Jews will play out to his own disastrous end.
As followers of Christ, there are times when people will lie about us, look for ways to create hardships, and express their disdain towards us. In moments like these, it’s imperative for the followers of Christ to stay true to our identity, which is in Christ, and fulfill the calling and mission He has given us.
Monday
1 Corinthians 4
RESPOND
This passage is very clear that God will one day bring our deepest secrets and motives to light. How does truth motivate you and challenge you at the same time?
What/who is the source of all things that we have received (v 7)? How does this impact your daily life as it relates to the things you have and you want?
Verses 12-13 express the reality that Paul and his friend Apollos faced some hardships. How did they respond?
According to verse 17, Paul sent Timothy to these Christ followers. What role did Timothy play in this? What was Timothy’ primary role? As a follower of Christ, how can you live out the same role?
DISCOVER
Benjamin Franklin said, "The proud hate pride -- in others.” That was the exact problem of the Corinthian Christians. With the beginning of chapter 4, Paul brings to conclusion his treatment of division as it existed in the church at Corinth.
They were puffed up with pride which manifested itself in conceit. They were glorying in their preachers; Paul, Apollos, and Peter - rather than Christ. They were exalting their own human wisdom which fed their pride. They had become conceited because they actually believed they had arrived spiritually under the authority of their particular preacher-hero when in actuality they were babes in Christ who needed much spiritual growth. The irony was the Corinthians hated the pride they thought they saw in Pau,l but could not see the glaring pride and conceit in their own lives.
This chapter is a great reminder to all of us that every good thing we have is from God. If we’re not careful, pride can hijack this. This is easy for us to see in those that appear to have so much (athletes, artists, actors, etc). Yet, this is a reality that challenges all of us to realize that anything and everything good in us comes from the Lord. This truth is a call for us to pray fervently for humility.
Tuesday
1 Corinthians 5
RESPOND
As Paul writes, he expresses his frustration with the church and some sexual immorality that has shown up. Interestingly, what does Paul say is a primary cause for the behavior (v 2)? How do you see pride causing this behavior?
Tragically, it appears they are bragging about this sin (v 6). In what ways can bragging about our sin be a detriment in our walk with the Lord?
As it relates to not associating with those who indulge in sexual sin, what statement of clarification does Paul give in verses 9-11?
How does this chapter inform our approach to dealing with serious sins within our Christian circles?
DISCOVER
1 Corinthians 5 issues a strong call for moral integrity with the church, demanding vigilance against sin and complacency. These are some really strong verses. The instructions given by Paul really challenges us to hold each other accountable, recognizing that a community’s spiritual health can be jeopardized by the unaddressed sins of individuals.
Two big takeaways from this chapter. First, the Bible is not saying don’t associate with sinners in the world. Like Paul said, if that were the case, we couldn’t be in the world. Sinners, those who disobey God, are everywhere in the world, and we are some of them. We do associate with all kinds of people in the world. However, in doing so, we (followers of Christ) have been called to live in such a way that brings much glory to God and provides a beautiful picture of the Gospel to the unbeliever.
Secondly, we must be really careful not to be selective about sin that we need to address/confront in the church. We are called to address sexual immorality, but we are also called to address greed, pride, gossip, etc. So, we’ve got to be careful not to be selective in graciously confronting all kinds of sin.
Wednesday
1 Corinthians 6
RESPOND
How does Paul’s guidance about resolving disputes among believers challenge our usual approach to conflict?
In verse 9, Paul warns the Corinthian church to not be fooled or deceived. What were they fooled about, or at least in danger of being fooled about?
How do you best understand the idea “I must not become a slave to anything?” (verse 12)
In this passage, Paul tells us to run from sexual immorality, keep on fleeing, and make it a habit to run from sexual sin. Sexual sin is just as devastating now as it was then. How does knowing that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, help us live our lives for the glory and honor of God?
DISCOVER
The church in Corinth suffered from serious issues, which Paul set out to address in his letter. Earlier chapters dealt with problems such as divisive factions or tolerance for extreme sin. He confronts two additional issues in 1 Corinthians 6.
First, it seems that some of the Corinthian Christians were involved in a lawsuit against each other over a small matter. This action really frustrates Paul. His main objection is that believers should be able to work this out among themselves. Paul goes on to remind the Corinthians they are not like those outside the church.
Next, he sought to correct some wrong thinking among the church about participating in sexual immorality. Sexual activity of all kinds was common in the Greek and Roman culture of Corinth. It’s not surprising that even some in the church had a difficult time seeing sexual immorality as a serious sin. There were different arguments among those in the church. Paul confronts each argument. He concludes by declaring, instead of practicing sexual immorality, Christians must run from it and run towards opportunities to glorify God with their bodies.
In modern culture this is a great challenge. Our society highlights and even encourages sexual immorality. As followers of Christ, we’ve been given the task and the responsibility to flee these situations. In addition, we’ve been called to treat our bodies and other’s bodies as special and sacred as ordained by God Himself. In doing this, it gives us a healthier and more holy understanding of sex and the human body as it pertains to God and His created order.
Thursday
1 Corinthians 7
RESPOND
In what ways can believers steward their current marital or single status for the glory of God?
Twice in verses 6-8 Paul states that he wishes everyone would remain single, and he even calls singleness a gift. How is singleness a gift? If you are single, do you consider it to be a gift or a curse? Why?
How does this passage challenge our culture’s view and values when it comes to sex, singleness, marriage, and divorce?
What reasons does Paul give in verses 32 and 35 for staying single?
DISCOVER
It is easy to envy what others have. The problem with this is it assumes that what you have is inferior to what you don’t have. This is especially true with marriage and singleness. In reality, both have accompanying benefits and problems. Paul saw this in the Corinthian church, where there was tremendous pressure for sexual immorality and a sense of urgency about spreading the Gospel. Single people wanted to be married to avoid sin, and married people wanted more time to serve God. Instead of worrying about what you don’t have, thank God for what you do have, and focus on serving God where you are.
As the Gospel was preached in Corinth, sometimes both a husband and wife became Christians. Sometimes, only one spouse became a believer, leaving a mixed marriage. Still others who responded to the Gospel were unmarried or widows. The Corinthians wanted to know how becoming a Christian would affect these various relationships.
Questions were raised such as: Should a Christian continue to share life’s most intimate union with a pagan partner? Should an unmarried Christian marry? Should a widowed believer remarry? How do these situations apply to various religious settings?
Paul answered these important questions, often deferring to the record of Jesus. Where no recorded teaching of the Lord’s was available, Paul gives his inspired insight “as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.” (vs. 25)
Friday
1 Corinthians 8
RESPOND
What is the big question being asked by the church? (v 1)
Why is it more important to be known by God than to know about God? (v 2-3)
Being free in Christ is a wonderful thing. In verses 9-13 what overriding principle does Paul give in an attempt to govern that freedom?
What should you do if you know your actions would cause another Christian to violate his or her convictions?
DISCOVER
In many ancient cultures people routinely sacrificed animals to their gods and then ate the meat. In the Greco- Roman world temples would often contain dining areas in which groups of people could feast together. The temple of Asclepius at Corinth, for example, had three dining rooms, each with space for 11 guests on couches lining the walls. It is uncertain whether these particular dining rooms were in use during Paul’s day, but some such arrangement seems to have been behind Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 8–10.
Corinth also included a temple for the goddess Demeter and her daughter Kore, as well as sanctuaries associated with Egyptian gods and Roman emperors. Although meals at these shrines were often more social occasions than religious ceremonies, no one could deny that there was in them a religious element. The presence of a Christian at a meal associated with such a pagan context was repugnant to Paul.
Excess meat from the temples may have found its way to the market. If such meat, which may or may not have been associated with idol worship, was presented to a believer in someone else’s home, Paul permitted the Christian to eat it. If, however, the host openly declared that the meat had come from a pagan shrine, the believer was to abstain for the sake of “weaker” brothers, whose consciences might still be sensitive to idolatrous practices.
Saturday
1 Corinthians 9
RESPOND
In an effort to share Christ with as many people as possible, Paul mentions finding common ground. What does it look like in your life to find common ground? How do we find that common ground while remaining true to God’s Word?
Look back at verse 16. Paul was compelled or sees how necessary it is for him to preach the Gospel. Literally, Paul sees how important it is for him to share the good news. How compelled are you? Does this declaration by Paul challenge you in any way?
What are some sacrifices that you might be called to make for the sake of furthering the Gospel?
Paul compares Christian life to running a race. What does this idea mean to you? How are you running the race?
DISCOVER
Paul explained the rights that he has as a man and how he willingly gives up those rights so he is able to build stronger relationships with not only Jesus Christ, but others. Paul reminded the people that, since he was in fact sowing spiritual seeds, he should be entitled to a certain amount of the harvest, such as food. Of course, since he is carrying out a sacred task for God, Paul told the people that he denied himself any luxuries that the people could provide. By refusing to be paid for his ministry work, Paul illustrated the fact that God would provide for those who preach the Good News.
As Paul sought to bring others to salvation in Christ, he explained that his ability to find common ground with those that he preached to helped him to not only understand them, but also helped him relate to a more broad range of people. At the end of 1 Corinthians Chapter 9, Paul compared himself to a dedicated and highly-trained athlete. Just as an athlete is disciplined and has intent, Paul said so should the followers of Jesus Christ. He went on to equate a runner in a foot race to God’s faithful followers, ultimately calling attention to the fact that Christians are racing towards more than just a medal or trophy.
Paul further explained that his life had a purpose and it was full of intent so that he could be assured of his eventual prize. For those who fully devoted themselves to God and to preaching the Good News, the prize at the end of the race is eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven.