Here's your daily devotional!

If you wish to receive these free devotionals every weekday by E-mail, click the button below. Note: you'll have to log in or create your membership account first. Membership in the League is free. Join now!

Sign up to receive the Daily Devotional

“"Conviction or Condemnation and Slavery?"”

Thoughts for Today:

In Paul's day, according to rabbinical law, it was the right of the teacher to strike the student who wasn't listening or who openly expressed disagreement with the lesson. It would seem that some of the false teachers in Corinth were applying this same tactic. They were not only taking advantage of the Corinthians financially, but also abusing them physically and emotionally. In our passage today, Paul sarcastically implies that perhaps he had been too nice to the Corinthians. Would they have responded better to him if he had treated them poorly?

In Isaiah 42:3a, Isaiah prophesied about the nature of Jesus: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." That sounds a lot like us, doesn't it? We're a bunch of bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. We're weak. Yet, Jesus doesn't stomp on us and thereby extinguish what little faith we can muster. Instead, He uses the faintest spark of our pathetic and frail nature to fan it into a flame -- for anyone who shows the slightest inclination toward Him -- which was the polar opposite of the false teachers in Corinth.

Questions to Ponder:

My wife Sherry really likes sermons full of "fire and brimstone". Yet, many Christians take this idea of conviction several steps farther -- they only feel blessed when a pastor is screaming at them. When he lectures on how horrible they're doing, and then goes on to place unrealistic expectations and pressure upon them. Does the teaching you're hearing build you up or tear you down? Does it reflect the nature and example of Jesus?

Sign up to receive the Daily Devotional

There's nothing like God's Word to create purpose in your life that lasts the entire day and beyond. We encourage you to Read, Carry and Share the Word of God. Pocket Devotions are sent by E-mail every weekday (Monday to Friday). On weekends we encourage you to be creative and study on your own in any area of Scripture where God leads you.

You can start from Day 1 at any time. Messages are sent automatically. Subscribe now! You may unsubscribe at any time.

About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.