Kristi Burchfiel

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 9:19–For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all so that I may win more. TRUTH: What are we willing to sacrifice to see people come to know the Lord? Paul was willing to sacrifice his freedom so that others might come to Christ. What are we doing in order to be able to reach people? RESPONSE: Lord, do in me whatever needs to be done so that people may be won to You.

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 8:1–No concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. TRUTH: Paul is moving into a specific cultural issue of the day, but the principle still applies. We have knowledge to do things, but if we do not apply love to those actions, we become arrogant. Love is what builds up and encourages others. In everything we do, are we doing it out of love or just out of knowledge? RESPONSE: Lord, help me act out of love, not just out of knowledge. If I do not love, I am nothing.

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 7:35–This I say for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. TRUTH: Paul has been talking about relationships, which make up a huge part of our lives. Paul encourages us to be Godly in these and to not allow them to be distracting from our devotion to Christ. Focusing on Christ gives us freedom to live for Him in every other relationship. RESPONSE: Lord, be my purpose and let nothing and no one distract me from You.

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 6:20–For you have been brought with a price: therefore glorify God in you body. TRUTH: We are valuable & worthy to the Lord. He paid a steep price to be able to save us: the life of His Son Jesus. Knowing this, how do we thank Him? Do we seek His glory or our own? Do we even act like we’ve been set free? RESPONSE: Lord, please help me act like one who has been redeemed & not keep living like it makes no difference in my life.

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 5:6–Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? TRUTH: It doesn’t take much to get our focus off the things of God. Christ wants our attention and devotion, but if we’re boasting then our focus is on ourselves instead. Are we misplacing our focus, even a little? Even a small change can greatly affect our effectiveness for Christ. RESPONSE: Lord, keep me focused on You in every area throughout my day. Let me be effective for You in every area of my life.

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 4:16–Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. TRUTH: Paul has claimed to be the spiritual father to the Corinthians and as as such, is telling them that if they want to know how to live like Christ, imitate him. Would we be willing to invite people to imitate us in order to follow Christ? Would our life teach others what it means to imitate Christ? RESPONSE: Lord, help me live like You and be open to others so they can look at me and see You.

VERSE: 1 Corinthians 3:14–If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. TRUTH: This section of verses deal with building on Christ as the foundation. What type of materials do we build with? Are we building with precious jewels that endure, even in the hard times? The Lord tests our works, will they remain? Will we be rewarded? RESPONSE: Lord, as I go through my day, help me to choose the building materials that will last.

‎VERSE: 1 Corinthians 2:5–so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God TRUTH: -What do we put our faith and trust in? Our wisdom or abilities? The wisdom or abilities of others? Or is it in the power of the amazing God we serve? If we put our faith in anything other than Him, we will be let down. RESPONSE: -Lord, help me to place my faith for all things, big or little, in You. You alone have the power needed.

VERSE: ‎1 Corinthians 1:27–“but God has chosen the foolish things of this world to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” TRUTH: God wants to be glorified in all things and He often uses things we wouldn’t to do just that. Are we allowing Him to use us? RESPONSE: God, allow me to be weak and foolish to the world so that You may be strong and wise to them.