“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”  Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).

It is not a matter of trying to be perfect, for if you could do this, you would not need a Savior.  It is a matter of working toward the goal of your salvation, which is to become like Jesus.  Pay attention to whom you associate.  Bad behavior is contagious.  Good behavior is hard enough in this world; one does not need a reason to fall into sin through the encouragement of others.

Lord God, I am to love my neighbor, but that does not mean I need to be influenced by those who willingly and freely sin.  Help me to strike a balance in these two things, to be willing to love all of those around me while also being cautious about who is in the inner circle of friends who influence me.  Guide me toward the goal of being like Jesus knowing full well that apart from Him I can do nothing.

Lord Jesus, You have fulfilled the law.  You know all that needs to be done.  I can only seek to be like You.  Holy Sprirt, help me to always do my part, but also know that I need You every step of the way.  Lead me to walk the path You set before me and live into the life to which You guide me.  Help me overcome temptation and walk upright in Your sight.  Amen.

“I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”(1 Corinthians 15:31-32).

If all we seek are the pleasures of this world and if this life is all we have, then live with abandon. But the hope of the resurrection sets us on a different course. We did not create ourselves and we do not live for ourselves. So then, do not be carried away by the lusts of this life, but seek the new life which has been given through Christ our Savior. Know that in Him is true and everlasting life.

Lord, that which is temporary, in this age, and available is so tempting. Why should I forgo what is before me? Yet, I know that these temporary things are distractions, for they never satisfy. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of what feeds my soul. Lead me in the way of truth that I would see that this life is preparation for what is to come. Guide me in the goodness of Your eternal truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way into all goodness through Your mercy. Help me, I pray, to see through the nonsense of this age and know that in Your goodness I may overcome those things which distract me and keep me from the prize of salvation which is in You alone. Not for glory, but by Your truth  lead me wherever I may go, knowing that You alone are the author and finisher of my faith. Amen.

“Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? Why are we also in danger every hour?” (1 Corinthians 15:29-30)

We often fixate upon what we do not know. If there is no resurrection from the dead, then all is hopeless. Yet we worry about ourselves and about those whom we love. Does not God know those who are His? Has He not cared even for the sparrow that falls to the ground? Trust in the One who was crucified and by the power of God, resurrected from the dead, for He has already overcome.

Lord, guide my worries and fears away from the fickle circumstances of this world and into the glorious light of Your presence that I may not doubt. Help me at all times to see that it is You who is at work. In You alone is there hope and a glorious future. In You is all life, even eternal life. Lead me, O Lord, and I will follow You. Help me, Lord, and I will be helped here, now, and forever.

Lord Jesus, when You said it is finished, it was the final word to sin and death. Guide me, Lord, according to Your goodness to see through the fears and aggravations of this world to place my hope upon You. Keep me in Your will that I may live according to Your promises. Through all things, Lord Jesus, may I see You there before me clearly at all times and follow You alone. Amen.

“For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.  When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

All authority and power belong to the Lord.  It is He who has made all things.  Therefore, know that the Lord has created the order of the universe and He will, after this age has run its course, subject everything to Himself, even Trinity.  Yes, the mystery is great, but the reality is eternity.  Be one who is willing to be subject to the King of kings and Lord of lords and live the life for which you have been created.

Lord, although the mystery is deep, yet I am able to grasp that there is rebellion not only in others living in this age, but also in me.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see through the darkness of this age and learn to live the life of obedience to which You have called me.  Let me learn how to honor authority and be willing to be subject to those who are in authority over me.

Lord Jesus, You have come as a servant to all.  Yet the time will come when who You are will be revealed as the King of glory.  With this simple understanding, help us to realize that You are a friend, as You have said, but also the King of all creation who will subject all things to God the Father of us all.  In the freedom You have given, guide me, Lord, now and always in the way of truth.  Amen.

“For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that will be abolished is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26).

Who are the enemies of God?  As we look at history we see the many ways evil has taken on life and accelerated.  The Lord allows all to unfold for His purpose, but never think the Lord is not Lord of all.  He is bringing all things into subjection to His perfect and immutable will.  Trust the Lord of the harvest who will even conquer death, which is the last enemy to be overcome.

Lord, there are many things I do not understand.  Help me to live out the first commandment and trust You above all things.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that all hope for all people is in You alone who has made all things.  Lead me according to Your goodness to see through the evil of this age and know that our hope has always been in You who has and will overcome all that goes against Your power and authority, even death. Lord Jesus, because You rose from the dead, we shall rise from the dead at the appointed time. Help me, I pray, to see through all of the things of this age which get in the way of knowing the simplicity of truth that You have already overcome death that those who trust in You may have hope.

Lord Jesus, through Your death and resurrection You have paved the way of everlasting life.  Lead me in the truth of what You have done that I may now and always live according to Your perfect will.  Lift me up and into the life of one who follows You.  Guide me in Your Spirit to listen and obey.   In all things, help me to know that I am in You and You are in me.  Amen.

“But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,  then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:23-24).

There is a plan.  The Lord is unfolding all that needs to happen before the end of this age.  Do not suppose that things are random, for that is what the world would have you believe.  Do not think that the Lord does not have power, for that is a lie of the devil.  Know that God knows the end from the beginning and live into the life to which You have been called in Christ Jesus.

Lord, help me to see clearly the obfuscations of this age and how there are those who lift up the same excuses to continue in hatred of You.  Lead me instead to see through these things to know that all things are now, as they always have been, in Your hands.  Guide me in Your goodness to trust in You above all things knowing that You have called me to You by grace.

Lord Jesus, You told Your disciples about what would come in the future.  You gave signs that those who would listen may know that You are the One who will lead us to the end.  At the end, it is You who will be there to greet each and every one of us.  Help me to learn from You and humbly accept all the circumstances in which I find myself, knowing that You are the One with all authority and power.  Amen.

“For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

In Adam, all die.  This age is filled with sinful people who have been doomed to death and destruction.  It is of our own bringing.  When we tell the Lord we do not want His presence, how then can we expect His mercy?  Yet, He has come that all who turn to Him, though they die, yet shall they live.  This is the Gospel that He offers.  Come to Christ and live in Him, now and forever.

Lord, it is so simple, but I often find myself confused, but then, You have told me who the author of confusion is.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may no longer be confused, but know that in You is true life.  Take my hand and teach me to follow You in all of Your ways and know the true life You infuse to all believers.  Teach me to walk in all of Your ways and live in the hope of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk with You leading me.  Let me not look to this world which is confused, but to You who is the author of all life.  In You is the hope for all who are living in this sinful age.  Redeem me that I would forever abide in You and You in me.  Amen.

“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20).

The very thing the world accuses us of is what they believe. They believe Christ was a mythical creature and that no one has ever risen from the dead.  Of course, if they are right, we are to be pitied. But Christ has risen from the dead and this is at the heart of our faith. So stand firm against those who think you crazy. Denying the Lord of all creation is truly what is crazy.

Lord, I too often fall prey to the forceful and insistent voices of this age which are hostile against You. Help me to see this for what it is knowing that in You alone is all hope. You have risen from the dead and because You live, I too shall live. Help me to be bold in this faith You have given me that I may stand firm in a hostile world which does not want to believe the truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come to me and called me by my name. You have reached into my life to give me Your life. Help me, O Lord, to live into this life which You have given me. Guide me that I may learn to abide in You as You abide in me. Prepare me as I need to be prepared that I would become whom You are making me to be. Resurrect me with You now and forever. Amen.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Corinthians 15:17-18).

How important is this? It is the backbone of the hope we have been given. Jesus was not just some good guy that taught us some good things. If He is not God in the flesh, if He did not rise from the dead, then there is no hope. It is not about being good, but about becoming children of God. Live then in the hope you have been given through the resurrection; Christ has been raised!

Lord, so many things are said that confuse and confound. Lead me through these things to see that my hope is eternal because of what You have done. Guide me in the truth of Your salvation that I may know and not just hope in my mind the truth of the resurrection. Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always abide in You as You abide in me.

Lord Jesus. Lord of the living and the dead, lead me in the upward path of faith that I may now and always abide humbly with You, following where You lead. Guide me in Your goodness to see through the haze of this world’s tirades to live out the faith You have given me. Guide me now and always in the hope of the resurrection that because You live, I too shall live. Amen.

“Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised” (1 Corinthians 15:15-16)

We believe and confess the resurrection of the dead. In the face of what so-called moderns often deny, it is an essential part of the faith. It all hinges on Christ being the only Begotten Son, died, buried, and resurrected. If Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too shall be raised. This is the hope given us through the resurrection. Christ has been raised from the dead!

Lord, help me to see through the fog of this generation which does all it can to discredit the greatest thing that has happened in history. Help me to see that we do not have a faith built on fables, but facts. Help me to know that because Christ lives, I too shall live. Like Job, help me to hope in the declaration that even after my skin has been destroyed, I myself shall live and see my Redeemer.

Lord Jesus, though the world calls you a fable, You have come and revealed Your glory to one as lowly as me. Help me to simply follow You all the days of my life here until that day when I stand before You face to face. Guide me in hope and wisdom that I may not be unbelieving, but believing, doing those things You give me to do. May my life become all that You intend through Your grace. Amen.