'common good' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.” vs. 19 Matthew 25:14-19 Most of us have at least a passing familiarity with what is known as the Parable of the Talents. It’s the story of a rich man going on a journey who entrusts his property to his slaves. One gets five talents, another two, and the third receives just one. When the master returned, he summoned his slaves and settled accounts with…
Daily Devotions
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” vs. 17 Matthew 22:15-17 Taxes have always been controversial. American colonists hated it when the English levied taxes on them, particularly since they had no representation in the parliament. In fact, when the English put a tax on the tea that was to be unloaded in the Boston Harbor, the Sons of Liberty, in the dead of night and in front of hundreds…
Daily Devotions
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit … To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” vss. 4, 7 1 Corinthians 12:3-10 We don’t hear much talk of the “common good” in this competitive and acquisitive culture that now dominates our country. Rather than working for the benefit of the community, politicians and influencers alike have become fixated on those things which bring prosperity to their particular parties, especially when their efforts…
Daily Devotions
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” vs. 7 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 Paul believed that within each congregation there were a variety of gifts, services, and activities that were sparked by the presence of the Spirit. Moreover, since no one individual could do everything, each person had been equipped with particular gifts. In his words, “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” In a healthy congregation everyone would…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 22:1-7 … “But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.” vss. 5-6 This parable obviously packed a punch for Pharisees when they heard it. They immediately ratcheted up their plans to eliminate Jesus–for them he was nothing but a troublemaker. For us it’s interesting, but not easily relatable–we don’t live in a time of regional kings and royal wedding…
Daily Devotions: July 4, 2020
July 4, 2020 Matthew 11:16-19 … “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’” vss. 16-17 Jesus marveled at the fickleness of the crowds that he encountered. They were never satisfied and always critical in their assessments of those God had sent to them. They called John demonic and…
Daily Devotions: May 28, 2020
May 28, 2020 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-8 … “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” vs. 7 It had become obvious to the Corinthians that there were differences among them, and as is the custom among sinners, they believed that those differences marked a kind of hierarchy. Some of them had greater gifts, ones that were of more value, and they would, of course, hold dominant positions in the community. In others gifts were…