“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1Corinthians 16:1-2).

Paul was fastidious about providing for his own support. Unlike modern money takers who solicit, Paul set the standard that the Gospel is free to those who receive it. Yet, at the same time, Paul admonishes to continue collections for the good work of the church. Here we see the charity we should all practice, the balance between doing good and being responsible.

Lord, I know I am saved apart from works of the law, but help me to live in balance between what I need to do and the freedom You grant in grace. You are the One who is doing all that needs to be done. You are the One who provides all that is needed, yet You call for me to learn discipline and cooperation. Lead me, Lord, in the principles You teach that I may follow according to Your Word.

Lord Jesus, You also did not provide for yourself but led a life living humbly upon what others freely provided. At the same time, you provided for others along the way, granting what they needed. Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk the line of good stewardship in freedom knowing that all things are possible because of You. You are the One who has accomplished salvation for us all. Amen.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).

It is God who gives the victory. We do not earn it. We do not deserve it. It is a victory that the Lord has won by Himself for us. It is only in Him that there is any hope. Therefore, do not rely upon your own efforts, though in faith you should live with all of your efforts towards the goal, knowing that the Lord of all has accomplished salvation for all who believe.

Lord, how simple it is. Trust You in and through all things. Yet my heart is weak and I am often in conflict. Lead me, O Lord, away from the foolish things of this world that I would live into the life to which You have called me through faith. It is You who has overcome the obstacle of this world. In You is all hope, for through You all things have been made. Lead me, Lord, in this faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have paid the price none of us could pay. You have made possible through the cross the life for which all of us long. Lead me, O Lord, in the way, truth, and life that You have revealed through Your ministry. Guide me to trust in You alone always and to lean not upon my own understanding. Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life and help me to always live in this new life that You give. Amen.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56)

Sin is a killer. It kills the soul. All sin and all have fallen short of God’s glory. But where is the sting of death? It is in the law. When you know the law and willingly violate it, you are embracing death, for in that moment you are distancing yourself from the Lord. Why this choice? Why do we all choose to sin? That is the disease. The Lord has provided the cure which takes this away.

Lord, let me see the simplicity of the Gospel that I may walk humbly with You no matter what happens in this world. Guide me according to Your goodness that I would see where I make choices that are sin. Guide me so that I would walk with You and not flee from Your presence. Help me to uphold what is right and good always knowing that only in You is there life and hope.

Lord Jesus, I need You more than I can ever know. Help me see that I am dead to myself because of sin, but that You make me alive because of grace. Let me need Your grace less and less because I sin less and less. Help me to love more and more because You are in me and cause me to see others as You see them. In all things, lead me where I need to go that I may walk in life and not death. Amen.

“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).

We are not all we will be. We are on a journey and every human being who thinks about it knows that this is true. There is before us in this age, death, but death does not have the final answer. Death is swallowed up in victory. But know that death has its purpose, for the Lord has determined in His goodness how all things are to work together. Look to the One who promises to replace the perishable with the imperishable.

Lord, there is great mystery here and I do not understand all of these things. Help me to trust You knowing that I am in process. We all see death, for it is all around us, but there is also the basic drive for something more. You have placed in all of us the desire for eternal life. You have given us the longing for the imperishable and to enjoy it eternally. Connect the longing with the practice in us.

Lord Jesus, You came that we might have eternal life. You are the connection the puts together the longing with the reality, for You are reality itself. Lead me, O Lord, in the only way of the eternal, imperishable life that I would walk humbly with You all of the days of my life. Guide me in all goodness to see that only in You is there hope and a future. Take my hand and always be my guide. Amen.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Do not worry about when the moment will come. Whether it is at the end of the age or not, because for you who sleep, it will all be at the same moment, and just a moment away after death. Rather than worry about the when, think upon the Whom who is doing this. Look to Him and see that He will accomplish all that has been promised. In Him alone is all goodness.

Lord, this world scrambles to figure things out in a universe that is temporary. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would not live in this world only, but know that the moment will come when I shall be changed and truly be like Christ. Guide me, O Lord, now and always upon this narrow way to live into the life for which You have created and called me. Keep my eyes upon You.

Come, Holy Spirit, and in the power unleashed in this world through Christ, guide me along the upward path moment by moment and day by day until that time I stand before Christ face to face. Help me when I struggle that I would not falter and fail, but that I may learn and grow. In all things, lead me according to Your goodness to see through the false things of this world. Amen.

“Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:49-50).

Do you see what is being said? We are physical bi-pedal creatures. We are being made into heavenly creatures through the grace of God. It is not one or the other, but both. What we will be we do not know, but this we do know, that we will be like Christ. Therefore, focus upon what the Lord is doing in You knowing that He is making something new of You for the age to come.

Lord, I so focus upon this world that I am unable to see beyond what is in front of me. Lead me, O Lord, to see through this that I may live into the life for which You are making me new. Let me see the beauty of both and see that You, who are the author and finisher of my faith, leads me into all godliness. Guide me, O Lord, according to Your grace and mercy that I would become what is pleasing to You.

Lord Jesus, You have always known what You are doing amidst a world that has no clue what is really going on. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would walk humbly wherever You lead me. Help me to see that only in You is there hope and a future. Guide me According to Your goodness to see through the pitfalls of this world that I may become like You. Amen.

“The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:47-48).

The new creation is for those who will abide eternally with the Lord. Being born in earthly fashion, we are often unable to see things as they truly are. Yet, Christ has come to lead the way from the earthly to the heavenly. It is a matter of following the One through whom all things have their being in order to be lifted up with Him to be as He is. Come, follow the One who makes this possible.

Lord, You know what is needed and have provided that all who believe would not perish, but have everlasting life. Come and guide me as You know I need to be guided that I would abide fully in You. Lead me in my thinking and in all that I do that I would look to You for instruction, guidance, and action. Help me overcome this world by Your grace to be prepared for all that is to come.

Lord Jesus, You lived the human life and then rose from the dead to prepare the way for life everlasting. Lead me in the upward way that I may grow each day in the way of preparation. Help me to not be tempted by the earthly things, but to overcome them for the sake of what is eternal. Guide me O Lord in the way of life that I may now and always humbly walk with You. Amen.

“So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:45-46).

There is a progression and Paul points this out. There needs to be the death of Adam that the new life of one resurrected in Christ may become the new man. In the mystery of faith, what is before us is often not seen by those who have no faith. We do not do what we do to become, but do what we do because we are already becoming through the grace of the One who saves us.

Lord, this world is a mixed up mess and I hear many kinds of things. Help me to see and hear what You reveal that I would not be mixed up, but clear that You are the One who establishes the order of things. Guide me in Your goodness to simply live the life You have given me knowing that In You alone is all hope and that only by Your grace am I able to live into the new life You give.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has overcome the old Adam and has made possible for us the way and life through Your death and resurrection. Grant that I would live into all that You offer and abide in You and You in me as You have spoken. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go that I would now and always live this new life by Your grace with the hope of eternity with You. Amen.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

These seemingly simple words relay thoughts so profound that we are barely able to grasp them. We may be guilty of thinking along the lines that this existence is all there is. We may think that it is a single line going forward. Think about the depth and breadth of God, His creation, and the promises He has given You. Know that there is more, much more ahead for His people.

Lord, teach me to walk again that I would walk with You in a new way. Teach me to see again that I would see in a new way. Teach me to think again that I would think differently. Teach me to live as You are preparing me to live. Fill me from the inside out with all that is needed for what is to come. Help me to trust You each step of the way, knowing You are accomplishing all that is needed.

Lord Jesus, You know anxiety. You know all of the difficulties of this age and those things that get in the way of faith. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth, that following You, I would learn and grow in preparation for all that is to come. Guide me to see that You have come, experienced death and the resurrection in order for those who have faith to follow You in the way of truth. Amen.

“There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory” (1 Corinthians 15:40-41).

We like to think that we are able to figure things out. This has accelerated in the so-called age of science. But the mysteries of the Lord are deep and all of eternity is not enough to explore the depths of the Lord. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you know it all, but ponder over the glory you see and marvel at what God has done knowing that you know only a small part.

Lord, return to me the joy of a child that I would marvel at all of these things that are around me. You have created all things uniquely and they should be marveled at, for they are a small reflection of Your glory. Take me back and forward at the same time that I may mature in faith and regain the wonder of a child as I view creation and all that You have done with hope and faith.

Lord, all things have always been in Your hands. Guide me according to Your goodness to see through the nonsense of this age knowing that the mysteries run deep, but deeper still is Your love for those whom You have made. Lead me, Jesus, in the way of salvation that I may live as Your lead, go where You lead. And live in the wonder of all that You are constantly doing. Amen.