Bible Reading Plan | January 15, 2025

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

We sometimes imagine that all the New Testament churches in the Bible were holy, consistent, and faithful. But the church in the city of Corinth was struggling. It was plagued by the immorality and excess -- influences of the corrupt culture of the Roman Empire. The members of this church were characterized by disunity and factionalism. They allowed scandalous sins to be committed. False teachings were rampant. And ugly spiritual pride drove unbelievers even farther away from Christ.

First Corinthians is a letter from the Apostle Paul to shake this church from their sin and complacency. In our scripture for today, Paul diagnoses all of these problems as indicators of the need for spiritual revival. The Corinthians’ foundational issue was that they were not “spiritual” or controlled by the Spirit of God. They were spiritually immature “babes in Christ.” They had only a shallow interest in God’s word. And they were “worldly” and followed their own fleshly desires instead of yielding to the Lord.

It makes sense, then, that they were still acting like lost humanity. What were they (and we) to do? The answer is clear: “Be filled with the Spirit” of Christ. Be under His influence. Put Him on the throne of your life and “dethrone” your sinful and selfish attitudes. And, when you put the Lord Jesus first, He orders and revives your life! Praise the Lord!

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“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)