Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Acts 18 - In this church, at Corinth, which Paul founded, many problems arose, and if it had not been for these problems we would not have had the letters of I and II Corinthians.
There was immorality in the congregation - incest among the members - drunkenness at the Table - divisions in the fellowship modelled on their favourite preachers. Yes, even after 18 months of teaching the Word of God, all this arose.
There was misuse and abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and Paul went on to teach these believers to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit properly and responsibly. And, there was an absence of love. As a result we have 1 Corinthians 13. Problems can be turned into opportunities. Paul took each of these major problems and sought to resolve them and deal with them.
Paul had come from the city of culture and education, to the centre of commerce. Corinth was the place of ships and sailors and immorality. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is for all classes cultures and races - for Jew and Gentile - for all who have one thing in common - ALL ARE SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOUR. The learned and the immoral - the so-called cultured and those who have never been to college - each is a sinner in need of a Saviour - and Paul preached that that Saviour is Jesus Christ.
Now, he has someplace to stay - a base - and he has a job he can do.
Every Sabbath, Paul goes into the synagogue, and there he sought to persuade Jews and Greeks, that Jesus Christ was the Messiah - the Saviour. Within a very short while the usual trouble erupts and repeats itself. The religious people were violently opposed to what Paul was saying. They even swore and blasphemed - (that is in the word translated abused - 'to speak injuriously'). Isn't it amazing how some people react to the preaching of the Word of God, and how similar these reactions are? We have seen this, to some degree, everywhere Paul preached.
Our reaction will be very similar. We will either be saying - "God spoke to me, in some way - or - I didn't like what was being said." There is always some type of reaction to the proclamation and preaching of the Word of God.
How do you react when the Word of God challenges you? How do you respond when you become aware of people reacting? Do you understand what might be happening - help - explain - encourage - or pray and leave it to God to deal with that individual? This is where we need mature discernment as to how to handle particular situations.
"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from
Choking can be Hazardous to Your Eternal Health
Read Article »Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.