Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I mean that sincerely. You are my brothers and sisters. You have prayed for me and others when we've needed it. You have lifted me up. You have reminded me that I am not alone in this journey on Earth. Just your presence has given me strength. I can't say enough about how much I appreciate having Christian family. Thank you for being here.
I'm sorry I couldn't be here for the last couple of weeks. Life has been so full of difficult situations for me and those close to me. I told you that my step-mom has cancer. She's going in for a biopsy on Monday, and surgery a week from Monday. We'll see what's after that, soon. But her faith is strong. She knows she is in the hands of our Lord. And she's not letting this diagnosis interfere with using her time left here. She went hiking just the other day. She's 80 and still enjoys hiking! She is continuing with her volunteer work, both at the hospital and at the homeless shelter. She is fighting the good fight, and will, every moment until God calls her home.
I have two other situations, involving people very close to me, that I would appreciate prayer for, as well. One, someone very close to me with alcohol dependency. Alcoholism and alcohol dependency is such a tragic disease. It doesn't get better on its own, but only gets worse. And the one with the disease often doesn't even see how it's affecting them and their loved ones. So they don't seek treatment, until they hit rock-bottom. I am praying for God to work in this person's heart, so they don't have to hit rock-bottom in order to want help.
The other situation is actually improving, but has been a constant worry for a couple of years. I have not disclosed this situation publicly, as I felt this one still needed privacy in recovery. One of my daughters has been struggling with an eating disorder for about 2 years. The good news is God has led us to very good care with this, relieving me of the burden of being her sole help as she struggles to see herself the way God sees her. She has regained most of the weight that she lost, and her body is now beginning to function as it should. She gets her blood test results back today, and we'll find out if she's anemic and needs additional nutritional support. If you're concerned, she is seeing a counselor, dietician and nurse practitioner. She still has a long way to go in how she sees herself. And that's where your prayers come in.
No one is immune to the difficulties in this world. Disease was never planned by our God. A life of health and vigor was His plan for us. Disease is a result of sin entering the world. And we are all vulnerable to its effects. But knowing that has not made these past months any easier for me. I have really struggled emotionally and spiritually. I feel like I have become everyone's counselor and confidant. And if just one more person comes to me to reveal a private struggle, I feel like the camel who has a full load already. But I'm doing okay. I am coming out on the other side. The more I rely on the Lord, the more insight I seem to draw, in dealing with all of the tough things going on in my midst.
So, that's where my mind has been. Let's move forward, and begin in the Word again. I had been trying to decide where to study next. There was a part of me that wanted to start in Acts, but something kept whispering to read the letters to the Corinthians. I think these letters will help me examine my heart and God's will in some of my family's difficult situations. I hope you will find meaning as we read these letters, as well.
I really like Matthew Henry's commentaries. He is easy to read, and I will continue with him. It should be noted that Matthew Henry died before completing his commentaries on the New Testament. He had written lengthy manuscripts and notes on all the books of the Bible. But only completed commentaries through the book of Acts. What follows in the MH's Concise Commentary was put together, using these manuscripts and notes, by like-minded authors/ministers. They used Henry's thoughts, insights, and writing. In some ways, these like-minded authors were merely editors, cobbling together what was already written. I mention this, as it's possible for there to be spots in the commentary that read perhaps less eloquently, than Henry's commentary on the Psalms. This happens when an author leaves a manuscript unfinished, and someone else steps in to complete it.
Here we go. I'll start this study of the Corinthians with Matthew Henry's introduction.
Introduction to 1 Corinthians
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)
"The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct of the other. The peace of this church was disturbed by false teachers, who undermined the influence of the apostle. Two parties were the result; one contending earnestly for the Jewish ceremonies, the other indulging in excesses contrary to the gospel, to which they were especially led by the luxury and the sins which prevailed around them. This epistle was written to rebuke some disorderly conduct, of which the apostle had been apprized, and to give advice as to some points whereon his judgment was requested by the Corinthians. Thus the scope was twofold. 1. To apply suitable remedies to the disorders and abuses which prevailed among them. 2. To give satisfactory answers on all the points upon which his advice had been desired. The address, and Christian mildness, yet firmness, with which the apostle writes, and goes on from general truths directly to oppose the errors and evil conduct of the Corinthians, is very remarkable. He states the truth and the will of God, as to various matters, with great force of argument and animation of style."
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