Scripture:
1 Corinthians 1:4-12
Thu, 21 July 2022

Divine Faithfulness in Eschatological Realism

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Paul’s ministry to
the Corinthians?

Deeper Reflection
AMONG ALL THE CHURCHES THAT PAUL PLANTED AND BUILT which we know of from the New Testament, the one that gave him most headache and heartache was probably the church in Corinth. He “stayed a year and six months” in Corinth “teaching the Word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). And Apollos, “an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures”, was with the Corinthians, teaching them the Word of God (Acts 18:24, 27-28; 1 Cor 3:5). With such good teaching of God’s Word by such good teachers, we would reasonably expect this church to grow and mature spiritually. But no, they were living “as people who are still worldly – mere infants in Christ” (1 Cor 3:1, NIV).Paul was an eschatological realist in both discipleship and ministry. In 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote to address certain serious pastoral problems in the church, the root cause of which was their spiritual immaturity. While knowing full well the Corinthians’ spiritual condition, Paul began his letter with a highly positive note (vv.4-9). Paul’s ministry was eschatological in nature, marked by an eschatological vision and eschatological confidence. He could see in his ministry to the problematic Corinthians the Lord sustaining them, keeping them firm and strong, “to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.8). Then, standing on this eschatological assurance, Paul went head-on to deal with reality: the problem of divisions in the church (vv.10-12). That’s eschatological realism. But for Paul, eschatology and reality are tied together by “God is faithful”, “who called us into the fellowship of His Son” (v.9).
Application:

How do I need to rethink my ministry?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To know how to live as an eschatological realist in this world
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

Download this Building Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for East QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for WDL QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

Download this New Life Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for BPJ QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.