““All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:23-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.10.23-24.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful.” Just because it’s lawful to smoke cigarettes doesn’t mean it helpful for us. It doesn’t seem that God looks to us to do the minimum we can, but wants to give us life to the full. We should want to sacrifice all to have a full relationship with Christ. Just like we want the best for our kids, God wants the best for us. Please pray that we and our friends to seek the best God has planned for us today. Please pray for the CLC Prayer and fundraising breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.10.12-13.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape”. Temptation is a tricky thing. None of us would be tempted if we thought it wouldn’t lead to a good result. The issue with temptation is it “gives” you a result by going down a path that you know to be bad. God is smarter than Satan, but Satan is smarter than us. If Satan can get us to doubt God, he will outwit us every time. However, if our hope is maintained on God, who knows the future, He will give us what we truly need. Please pray that we and our friends keep our hope in Christ today and not “something”. Please pray for the CLC Prayer and Fundraising breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.9.16-17.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” My current CLC group is about to finish and we are discussing where our passion lies to serve Christ. I love how Paul HAD to preach the Gospel. It consumed him and he wouldn’t be at peace if he didn’t. We all have a place in the kingdom that God has uniquely created us and we are not at peace until we are in that purpose. Please pray that we and our friends prioritize our day around that purpose and live in the peace and joy that God wants for us. Please pray for the CLC Prayer and Fundraising breakfast on 2/18 with Bill Curry. 

“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.7.17-19.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him……but keeping the commandments of God.” I love the fine line here that so often occurs in the Bible and is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. How do you lead a life assigned to you and keep the commandments? It’s seems easier to live by one or the other, but difficult to hold both in tension. Only the exchanged life enables life to be lived on this fine line and produce abundant joy. Please pray that we and our friends lead the life assigned to us today while keeping the commandments. 

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.6.9-11.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” It doesn’t matter what sin we have committed, we are JUSTIFIED BY CHRIST. It’s very liberating to know that I am not identified by past failures or sin. I get to abide in Christ today because Christ died for me. Please pray that we and our friends are grateful for Christ sanctifying us. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.5.1-2.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn?” There is obvious sin going on in the Corinthian church and its seems as if the congregation is ok with the sin instead of mourning that a brother has fallen to a sinful lifestyle. If we trust Christ to redeem us, why would we question His wisdom? Please pray that we and our friends worship the God in the Bible and be weary of creating our own gods to worship. Please pray for the CLC Prayer and Fundraising breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:2-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.4.2-4.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” What does it mean to be found “faithful”. I hear all the time how someone’s “faith” got them through something. It’s almost like faith is a thing of its own. We as Christians put our faith in Christ. I’m sure the people who say, “faith got them through something” mean faith in Christ, but I do wish they would say it because our hope is in Christ. To be found faithful means to be about God’s will and that comes from a relationship with Christ. Please pray that we and our friends are found faithful today. Please pray for the CLC Prayer and fundraising breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.””‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.3.18-20.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” My son and I were talking about wisdom and he repeated a favorite saying of mine, “I know enough to know that there is much I do not know”. Do we get wise in our own eyes? Probably. Does God convict us? I’m sure. God gives us thoughts to carry out His purpose not ours. Please pray that we and our friends seek the wisdom of God and thank Him for it. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.2.1-5.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” What does the power of God look like? A member in our CLC meeting this morning asked a simple question of the group. He asked if we had prayed over a big challenge we were talking about. We all had opinions as to what to do in our on power, but we acknowledged we hadn’t prayed. We agreed with his wisdom because we know God has the power and wisdom to cure the challenge. Please pray that we and our friends remember the God we worship today and know Who has the power. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭16:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.16.5.esv
All,
This stands out because it seems so daunting to have a “first convert to Christ in Asia.” As Paul set out to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he had to start somewhere. We know how he relied on the power of the Holy Spirit constantly. Please pray that we and our friends start this New Year doing God’s purpose for our lives and relying on His Spirit to empower us. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18.