Tuesday, February 21, 2023

“CONSISTENCY, THOU ART A RARE JEWEL.”

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 3-4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

The Corinth Canal is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, thus effectively making the former an island. The builders dug the canal through the Isthmus at sea level; no locks are employed. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) in length and only 21.3 metres (70 feet) wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships. It now has little economic importance. The canal was envisioned in classical times and an initial effort was made to build it in the 1st century AD, but the project was aborted. Construction finally got underway in 1881 and was completed in 1893.

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, thus effectively making the former an island. The builders dug the canal through the Isthmus at sea level; no locks are employed. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) in length and only 21.3 metres (70 feet) wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships. It now has little economic importance. The canal was envisioned in classical times and an initial effort was made to build it in the 1st century AD, but the project was aborted. Construction finally got underway in 1881 and was completed in 1893.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:1, 3

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ…for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

 

“Behaving like mere men?” Jesus said to Peter, “You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). A paraphrase of that is, “You think like men think and not as God thinks.” God’s Word is the expression of His thoughts. In order to think and behave as God would think and act, it is of ultimate importance to stay consistent in reading and meditating on God’s Word. God has called and equipped pastor/teacher servants and put them in the pulpits of our local churches. We need this ministry gift. God put these people in our home congregations. Some of us unwisely run after big name ministers, or even think we can grow in our Christian life without the local church. If we think that, we’re wrong, and we, our families and friends will suffer negative consequences.

As I think on today’s reading, it occurs to me that indeed, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Paul’s pen penetrates deeply into our innermost beings. The church of Corinth provides an understanding into what eventually became our many denominational divisions. Paul’s has cut away (ouch!) at our careless attitudes toward those things that are harmful to the temple (our bodies) in which we live… overeating, smoking, etc, etc, and laziness or failure to work. All things which harm us are dealt with. It may be repentance time right now!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Allow me this personal prayer today…

Lord God, I repent of my laziness. Recently, I’ve twice slept beyond my early morning prayer time. Please help me as I grow older, and have certain physical challenges, to remain faithful to the disciplines to which You’ve called me. I can’t do this on my own. I need Your supernatural strength 24/7. I believe with all my heart, mind and soul that You will impart Your grace to me at all times. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Several years ago, one of my fellow ministers introduced me to a book by Campbell McAlpine called, Alone with God. The author points out that our spiritual maturity is determined by the answer to this question, “How well do I know God?” He goes on to ask, “Do you believe your spiritual growth is commensurate with the time you’ve known God? Have you neglected the means of growth? What adjustments do you believe are necessary in your life to correct this?” I received a call from a person who is reading through the Bible with the 100words reading pattern. She said that she had read through the entire Bible once before, but could not remember reading of the horrible crimes recorded in the last chapters of Judges. My response was that in an attempt to read quickly, our eyes often glaze over and our minds go into neutral. Thus the extreme importance of a well-ordered reading schedule. The two-year program will make sure that we don’t miss anything and that our minds will stay sharp each reading time. As a young man, I remember my father quoting to me a phrase, attributed to Shakespeare, “Consistency, thou art a rare jewel.”

Yours for finding that rare jewel… “CONSISTENCY,”

David

A ship travels through the Corinth Canal.

A ship travels through the Corinth Canal.

8 thoughts on “Tuesday, February 21, 2023

  1. Thank you all for praying for me. I truly appreciate your love and compassion.
    I pray for you as well and ask that God will minister to your hearts . Bless you!

  2. Thank You, Lord God, for making us for a purpose. You love us and made us to be loving people. Help us live for You today, in Jesus’s name, amen

  3. Amen to the above comments.Let God’s will be done.
    I attached all of these notes back when this ‘message’ was saved to my files.I don’t remember sharing this one before.I hope it blesses someone.

    “If I gave everything I had to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

    “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with HUMILITY of mind regard one and other as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5

    Humility

    Humility and ego are vast strangers,
    For ego is filled with many dangers
    And can only take from your coffers,
    While humility has nothing to offer.

    Humility has to be earnestly sought,
    While ego is so cheaply bought,
    And can be taken and badly bent;
    Humility wants nothing,thus content.

    So seek yee to be mighty humble,
    Having nothing that can crumble
    For in being lowly you are mighty,
    As is Jesus our Lord and Deity.
    G W (Bill) Marshall / early Dec,2011

    A friend forwarded this:
    ” Work for a cause,
    Not applause.
    Live life to express,
    Not to impress.
    Don’t strive to make your presence noticed,
    Just make your absence felt.”

  4. An amazing channel. It is hard to imagine how they managed to go through rock a way back. It would be difficult to flee from an enemy who gathered on the high land above. The picture is great. Blessings on all today – especially Luisa as she waits on the Lord for His help and direction. Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem and for Turkey and Syria who have experienced severe earthquakes. And also for Ukraine. Amen

  5. Amen to the comments prayers and thank you William for your poem.
    Also praying for the people in Syria and turkey her as we all heard in the news have experience yet another earthquake also for the people in the Ukraine
    They need our prayers more than ever amen
    May you all have a blessed day ☀️🙏✝️❤️

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