5-minute Devo & Go

"I have the right to do anything," you say-but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"-but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV The world approaches everything as their right to do it. It's their right to have an abortion, it's their right to be sexually active with whomever they want, it's their right to do drugs, drink to get drunk. But when that happens, they become slaves to their whims, controlled by their desires. Let's not be fooled by this so-called freedom but realize that the Holy Spirit directs us in the way we should go. Let's walk by the Spirit rather than become obsessed by the world. 

 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:8 NLT When we come together as one body in Christ, we must sift out the obvious evil among us. We are not perfect, none of us are. That why we need Christ. But let's not be obvious in accepting sin, especially sexual sin that is among us Christians. Our community in Christ reflects Jesus in everything we do. The Christian cause will be negatively affected when we ignore wickedness and evil in the Church. Let's seek out sincerity and Truth!

 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure 1 Corinthians 4:12 NET Our goal is maturity in Christ. We continue to pursue what the Father gives us and strive to do good no matter what. Our maturity is reflected by the way we handle abuse and persecution. Let's mirror Christ. We are His image-bearers and show the world that Jesus makes a difference. We seek Truth and love rather than popularity and comfort. We are but sojourners in the world. Our true home is with the Father. We can endure now because of the promise of God!

 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 NET We are stewards for the Father, everything belongs to Him and He has given us dominion over it all. How are we doing as His servants and managers? The Father wants us to be faithful in taking care of everything since it is His. Let's be conscientious of what we do every day with God's possessions, whether it is material belongings, friendships with one another, or resources that He provides. When we realize that God is in control of all, our intentions shift, and our focus moves up. We are His! Let's act like it.

 Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18 NET We think ourselves much higher than we really are. We may have university degrees, a lot of world experience, be the SME in our field, all that may impress the world, but for the Father this is meaningless and foolish. True Wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit through the free-flowing thoughts that He releases in us and that we believe, hear and listen to. Let's be true to ourselves and vulnerable to the world that we may become wise in the eyes of the Father.

 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NET The Church is not a building, it's all of us that are followers of Christ. We may have some differences in protocol or liturgy, but our focus must be on Christ's gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit's guidance, and the Father's grace, mercy and love. Let's not pick battles on the small stuff, but let's unite as the capital "C" Church to make a difference in the world. We are God's image-bearers, and a lost world will fixate on the arguments rather than on the Truth. Our words lack when our actions speak so loudly that they overwhelm the message. Let's be His Church!

 He himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15b NET Salvation is only the beginning. Once we accept the gift from Christ, our heart, our attitude, our purpose shifted to seeking God's will. Our purpose is now higher and greater. If we waste our time on earth doing the same thing as before our salvation, all of it will be for nothing, but our salvation is secured. We are image-bearers, reflecting God's goodness, mercy and grace. This shift will have external indicators. We will be more pleasant to be around, forgiveness becomes a way of life, crises become faith journeys. Let's seek the Father's face that we may be a light into the darkness!

 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 NET What is our starting point? Where do we begin? Our only choice is to put Christ first, no matter what we are building, starting, or beginning. Let's remember that when we build on the wrong foundation such as gold, silver, wood, hay or straw, the time will come when our work will be tested by fire. The only thing that will be left upright is that which was built on Christ. God wants us to grow with Him at the center of every project, every thought, every action. This way, we will not go wrong!

 So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:7 NET Each of us has a role in sharing God's Truth. Without us, the Gospel would be stagnant. So, we must speak the Good News, but we must also realize that we are not the ones that save, nor redeem a lost world. Ultimately, God is the One that changes hearts, reveals to the human spirit His Spirit, and brings salvation to an unbelieving world. Let's be clear of our role and not think of ourselves higher than we ought. Religion comes from men thinking they know more than God, relationship with the Father is an extension of a connection with God!

 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12 NET God will speak to us without condemnation, fear or judgment. Let's learn to listen to the Holy Spirit guided free flowing thoughts. When we commune with the Father and set aside time for a One on one with the Creator of the universe, God will bring to the surface His ideas and solutions. The busyness of the world masks the intent of the Spirit. Let's be quiet with the Lord! No distraction, no cellphone, no multitasking, simply together with the Father.

 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man's spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11 NET Within our own mind, we are the only one that truly knows what we think, what we feel, what motivates us, what drives us. No one knows us to the extent of our thoughts. God can pierce through this and there is not one thought or feeling that we can hide from Him. Our free-flowing thoughts are the extension of the Holy Spirit overcoming our shortcomings and redirecting us in the way we should go because He knows us that well. God will reveal His thoughts, His plans, His will when we let go of the supposed control of our own mind. Let's release the Holy Spirit in our thought pattern!

 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10 NET When we find ourselves in a place that needs solutions, a moment where we do not have the answer in the natural, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the mysteries of this world, the secret of His Word, the challenges that we face. Let's take the time to ask the Father about our situations, no matter how insignificant we think they are. God is with us always and His light shine in us for His glory!

 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5 NET Faith is knowing in our heart before the evidence reveals itself. We don't need our own wisdom to determine the Truth. It is through the power of God that we know without seeing, we trust without proof, we understand without insight. Let's turn our face to the Father that we may know His Truth, His grace, and His glory! The Holy Spirit is our guide to discover the power of the gospel and the validity of the cross. In Christ, our foolishness demonstrates His victory!

 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 NET God's rational and true wisdom is opposite of what the world set up as truth.  Since Adam and Eve believed Satan's lie, the world's thinking and actions are contrary to what the Father created. We are stuck living in this lie, but the Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity to escape and live the Truth. Let's seek God's wisdom, knowledge, faith, understanding and purity every day, every moment, under every circumstances so that we may live life to the fullest!

 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25 NET We try to set the bar as high as we can when we do great things. We like to think of ourselves as wise and strong, but we are foolish and weak. The Father is our Creator and establishes what Truth is. He gives us the true goal of our life, a goal that we can only achieve through Christ who is the true Power and Wisdom. Let's not trust in our resources but look to God to show us how to live. We are His image-bearer, His reflection, His hands and feet. We reach our goals only through Him!

 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God 1 Corinthians 1:18 NET God set up the Way to salvation through the Word, through Christ. Yet, that message easily becomes foolishness because the world doesn't want to accept a gift they don't have to work for. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the power and wisdom of God become a reality in us. The foolishness of the world becomes clear, and we are willing to walk in the Father's wisdom. Let's be willing to be foolish to a dying world that we may bring the wisdom of salvation through Christ.

 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless 1 Corinthians 1:17 NET We mustn't put the cart before the horse. Our priority is Christ first.  Jesus gave us the gift of salvation, restoration and reconciliation. That's where new life starts. The Father wants to have a relationship with us and that only happen through Christ's death, resurrection and acceptance of the gift. Let's simply proclaim what the Son did on the cross. We don't need to have clever turns of phrases to persuade. The cross is sufficient!

 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose 1 Corinthians 1:10 NET As followers of Christ, we must be in one accord. We may have small differences in the way we do 'church', but we are one in the essentials. As image-bearers, we reflect Christ in our everyday life. We are being watched, scrutinized, marked and tested by an unbelieving crowd. Joy, peace and grace are our modus operandi. Let's trust that we are of the same mind and purpose with our fellow believers and focus on loving God and loving one another, the essence of our mission!

 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7 NET Jesus is coming back. That's a fact! But we do not know when. In our eagerly waiting for His return, we live our life as if He were coming back tomorrow, ready for Him. But we have the spiritual gifts necessary to wait for another 1,000 years, to live for Him today and every day, knowing that we are an influence in the world for Christ. The Holy Spirit guides and directs us to be influencers for the greater good. We are influencing image-bearers! Let's live that way!

 For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge 1 Corinthians 1:5 NET We have received spiritual gifts from the Father so that we can speak with understanding, knowledge and wisdom. These gifts are meant to enrich the ones that cross our paths. The free flowing of the Holy Spirit expresses our relationship with the One True God and testifies of Jesus Christ's faithfulness, goodness and grace. Let's not be shy in speaking God's Truth! We are His agents of Truth!

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 1:3 NET This is the day the Lord made; we are full of joy, grace and peace. Let's go this day and walk with the Father. He guides us today so that we may glorify His name in everything that we do. We have His grace and His peace. Today will be a good day because as His image bearers, we make a difference for those we encounter through the Son!