1 Cor 1:26 Who are you when you accepted God

1 Cor 1:26 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth."

I was thinking and remembering who was I or what was I when I accepted God's message and was baptised. I was just 17 and a student. A student who was doing private study and did badly in school. No one will think highly of me or any student like myself. Yet I have more iniquities than I thought of myself at that time. I am awkward in many areas yet I try to hide it by acting and pretending. I don't want people to look down at me. I was very insecure. But God called me when I was so weak. And I'm thankful that I have this chance to know Him and that he accepted my weakness and use it to display his strength. No strength in the world is comparable with Him. Only a fool will think otherwise. Keep me humble, God, and help me to always remember what I was when you call me.

Woman's Defined by God - Book 1 - Part 1 - B

Part 2 of Chapter 1. By the way, the author Jane Chin is the full-time ministry woman leader in Hong Kong Church of Christ. You can find her on the website http://www.hongkongcoc.org

7. Scriptures on molding the thoughts

          Job 42:2

          Ps 139:2

          Pro 4:23, 21:2, 22:11

          Jer 4:14

          Isa 11:5

          Lk 6:45

          Rom 12:3

          Eph 4:17

          Rev 3:2

8. Scriptures on Controlling Emotions

Pro 16:32
Rom 6:12
Jam 3:2
2Pe 1:5-9
Jer 35:6
Dan 1:8
1 Cor 9:27

9. God Provides Our Needs

Job 38:2-41
Ps 1:3, 23:5, 31:19, 78:20
Pro 6:8
Amos 9
Mal 3:10
Mk 6:25-33, 4:20
Eph 3:20
1King 17:6
2King 4:6
Phi 4:19

10. Strong Foundation Family

Gen 2:24
Deu 4:9
Pro 18:22
SS 8:7
Col 3:19
1Tim 3:4, 5:4
Titus 2:5
Heb 13:4

11. Dedicating Our Children to God

          
          Ex 13:12

          Num 3:13

          Deu 21:17

         1Sam 1:11

          Neh 10:36

          Lk 2:22

12. Parents' Love and Wisdom

        
        Gen 18:19

        Ex 2:3

        1Sam 2:19

        1Ki 2:1-4, 3:26

Woman's Defined by God - Book 1 - Part 1 - A

I'm translating a Chinese book written by Jane Chin, titled "Woman's Defined by God". As my wife can't read much Chinese, and this book is really good for Christian women of all life stages. There is a section which is particularly focus on stage of pregnancy which is what my wife is going through now. So this is just half of chapter 1.

Part 1: Scriptures for the Pregnant Sisters

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139:13-16

1. Regarding God's Love

Deu 7:8

Jer 31:3

John 3:16, 13:1, 15:13, 16:27

Rom 5:8, 8:35

Eph 2:4-5

1John 3:1

2. Regarding Blessings of Children

Gen 33:5, 48:9

Jos 24:3

Ps 113:9, 127:3-5, 128:3

Pro 17:6

3. Regarding God's Doing During Pregnancy

Job 31:15

Ps 119:73, 139:13-16

Ecc 11:5

Isa 42:5, 43:7, 44:2-3, v21, v24, 45:11, 49:5

Zec 12:1

Acts 17:24-28

Col 1:16-17

Rev 4:11

4. Regarding Baby's Health

Deu 7:13-15, 28:1-11

Mal 4:2

5. Example of Confident and Fearless Women

Sarah – Gen 17:15, Heb 11:1, v11

Esther

Hannah – 1 Sam 1-2

6. God is Peace, Strength and Protection

Ps 28:6-8, 33:17-22, 34:18, 91:1-16

Pro 28:18

Isa 26:3, 40:31, 41:8-10, v13

John 10:10, 16:21

Phi 4:19

1 Tim 2:15

Jas 1:17

Your Labor Is Not In Vain – 1 Corinthains 15

In 1Cor 15 Apostle Paul is trying to reassure the disciples the faith in God. That God truly has resurrected Jesus, not in the form of spirit but in his real physical form. And it is because of this resurrection that we can now be cleansed of our sin. Without Jesus truly raising up, Christianity would be meaningless. Therefore, Paul urged the disciples to always hold on to the truth.

1Cor 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Paul not just want to hold on to the truth but also stand firm, let nothing move us. There are many times when our faith will be tested. People of other faith can come to question you but also, there are times when troubles and worries of all sorts can wear out our faith. I feel that I need to constantly build on my faith. I need to study the bible more and study on how I can use the bible to people's and my own real life situations. Thus I know that no matter what I can trust God using the bible to help me in all situations.

As I study out the bible, I know sharing my faith is really the mission of all real disciples. That's how Jesus' ministry started. And I know I have to do the same thing, go share my faith. If you have done it, you know it's not that easy, giving your hearts out to people. And many times, I have certain perception if people respond positively or not. As I read, the disciples kept reaching out and do not think much about the results. I thought if they have, they would be too negative to evangelise, to share God's love. Yet we know, we have to trust God for things to work out. God just need us to work with Him. Thus we know our labor in the Lord is not vain. I will keep on persevering.

Love is the most important gift - 1 Corinthians 13

In 1 Cor 12, Paul concludes by saying he will now show us the most excellent way. And the whole of next chapter is dedicate to talking about love. I'm impressed that Apostle Paul, a single man, a church persecutor turned apostle described love in such details and truth. I think this chapter has been quoted so often, we can see it everywhere.  Yet, I still think this passage on love is so well written compared to so many other description on love I have read.

I have no doubt that only God could inspire a single man to write this. God wants us to really understand love, His kind of love, the love that goes through in the church, the love that spreads outside the church, the strength, the perseverance, such patience, such kindness, such belief and trust. The faith it provides, the security which everyone wants. Such selflessness and servanthood. Love never fails! And definitely, God is love. It's truth that we have not seen anyone who loves like God except the son of God, Jesus Christ.

It's quite clear to understand that God is talking about love in the whole of chapter 13. Not about tongues of angels, it doesn't mean there's any. After talking about the spiritual gifts in chapter 12, Paul is trying to tell the christians don't focus on comparing the different gifts. We should desire greater gifts. And no matter what happens, love will always be here, even in afterlife, in heaven. I truly believes it's not always easy to love in all situations. Yet this is the challenge God wants us all to carry. To spread his love, to spread his gospels. Still I wonder has everyone in the world heard of God's love. I doubt so. Many times when I wanted to share my faith, I caught myself being distracted about my own problems or focusing on what could bring me more pleasures. And definitely sharing my faith does not come like my second nature. I need to work on this. I hope everyone will soon heard of God's love and share the love around. Everyone deserve to have a personal relationship with God.