“Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am. So let no one despise him. But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren” (1 Corinthians 16:10-11).

Working amongst the Lord’s people is not always easy. People are wary and mistrustful. Yet the Lord always provides according to the goodness of His mercy. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Test, but do no harm. Some things do not change and there are those who make it difficult to do the Lord’s work. Live then in harmony with others and do not be contentious.

Lord, where I am wary, guide me that I may be helpful. Where I do not trust, but should, lead me to trust. Help me to live into the life of loving my neighbor. Help me to learn how to do for others as I would want them to do by me. Guide me in the upward call of this fellowship into which You have brought me that I may grow in the likeness of Christ, living a life of faith.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope in the future. Guide me that I would receive those who come into our midst in Your name. Grant that I be both discerning and also hospitable that I would be led as You intend in the upward way of salvation. Through all things, be the One who guides and leads. Amen.

“For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:7-8).

For what do you live? Is it to live each day as it comes, or is there a purpose. We are called into the presence of Almighty God and in salvation to live into the life to which He calls us. Do not be satisfied with what is temporary, but live into that which is forever. Yes, there are adversaries, but greater is He who is in you than any who are in this world. Stay in the presence of the Lord now and forever.

Lord, I do struggle each day in the ebbs and flows of this age. I seek for that which I do not need and ignore that which is important. Move my heart to the place where I live for that which never fails. Lead me in the upward path that I may now and always abide in the truth of Your presence and purpose. Guide me, Lord, along the path of salvation that I may walk with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have sent Your Spirit to guide each of us in the way You have established. Help me, I pray, to see that in You alone is all hope. Guide me today to live with purpose and not to focus upon those things which do not matter. In the truth of all You have revealed, lift up my spirit to walk humbly and joyfully in those ways which are eternally pleasing and uplifting. Amen.

“But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go” (1 Corinthians 16:5-6).

Paul traveled all over the Mediterranean Sea to share the Good News of Jesus. He went where the Lord sent Him. We too are called to go where the Lord sends us. Come into the Lord’s presence and go according to His will where He would send you. Know that the Lord of all is the One who leads all who are faithful in the good and fruitful way that leads to eternal life.

Lord, I often think in terms of where I am and where I want to stay. Help me, O Lord, to begin to think in terms of who You are and where You would send me. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of eternal life that I would walk wherever You would have me walk and do whatever You would have me do. Let me look to You as the One who guides me in all things, knowing that You alone knows all things.

Lord Jesus, You who gave up Your eternal throne to walk among us, guide me in the way of truth and grant me a willingness to go where the Father would have me go. Lead me to be the servant of others, helping where You direct. In all things, lift up my countenance to willingly serve others no matter the inconvenience and do so with a cheerful heart and thankful attitude. Amen

“When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me” (1 Corinthians 16:3-4).

We do not just work for ourselves, but on behalf of all whom the Lord would have us work for. We are a part of what the Lord is doing and need to be reminded that all who are in the Lord are those with whom we are connected. Live then, knowing that your neighbor is all whom you will encounter this day. Love them as you love yourself. Live in the Lord’s presence always.

Lord, this age sees an increase of the self and the uplifting of self-interest. Help me to move away from this sin of pride and into the reality that You alone are the way, truth, and life. Guide me according to Your goodness to walk in the light of the revelation You have given that I may always look to You first, my neighbor second, and myself last. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for all who trust in You. You have taught us to love our neighbor as our selves. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may now and always walk in that way which is pleasing to the Father. Grant me a sensitive heart that sees the needs of those around me and responds in the way which You direct. In all things, may I look to You first. Amen.

“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.