“Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7

Jesus is our final and forever Passover lamb. Everything the annual Passover festival points to has been fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The first Passover celebrated God’s wrath “passing over” the homes of the Israelites when they were in slavery in Egypt. Each family sacrificed a perfect lamb and smeared some of its blood on their door frame. God’s killing angel passed over every home covered by the blood of a lamb.

Jesus was born to be the ultimate Passover lamb. He was born in the town where those lambs were bred for slaughter. He lived a perfect life without sin so He could pay the penalty for our sins. He went to the cross and shed His blood so that everyone who believes in Him is covered by that blood and God’s just wrath passes over us. The first Passover led Israel to freedom from slavery in Egypt but the Passover of Jesus leads all His people to freedom from slavery to sin and death.

However, Paul reminds us that there should be an appropriate response in our lives to this extraordinary, saving grace given to us through faith in Jesus. Just as the Passover meal must be eaten with matzah bread that has absolutely no yeast in it (yeast is a symbol of sin), we must live our lives without sin. We are to be a fresh “lump” of dough without any yeast at all – a new creation in Christ without ongoing sin. Our sins have been forgiven and now we must strive to live holy lives that reject and resist all of sin’s ongoing temptations.

In Jesus Christ, your sins have been forgiven. You are holy in God’s eyes. Are you living like that? Are you committed to living a life without the stain of sin? Are you battling in the power of the Holy Spirit to crucify those sins that still tempt you? Are you using the ways God provides to escape temptation rather than indulge in sin? If you aren’t, confess that to God right now. Repent of it and ask God for His help in living a holy life going forward. God is always gracious and faithful to forgive when we ask (1 John 1:9). But we must truly repent and #FollowJesus

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” – 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

If only we all lived with the freedom and humility of Paul! We would accomplish extraordinary things for God’s Kingdom with that mindset. Paul wasn’t concerned about what any person thought about him. Not Christians. Not pagans. Not friends. Not enemies. Not government officials. Although he regularly examined himself, he also wasn’t satisfied with his own opinion of himself. He knew that while he touched many lives, he truly served just One. He was concerned for the opinion and evaluation of the Lord Jesus and no one else. There is so much power for God’s Kingdom when we live that way!

Many Christians limit themselves and their Kingdom efforts out of concern for what others will think, say, or do. Will we seem weird or fanatical? Will we offend? Will we lose friends, family, or employment? Will we get in trouble? We’re often more concerned about the worldly consequences of sharing Christ, correcting believers, and defying ungodly rules and laws than about the approval or disapproval of King Jesus. It is appropriate to respect employers, government officials, and family members. However, their opinion of us should never, ever limit our faithfulness to the call of Jesus!

Likewise, Christians can sometimes become so righteous and awesome in their own eyes that they lack the humility to admit that they may still be missing the mark. We can plunge ahead with what we stubbornly believe to be right without stopping often to listen for the Lord’s voice. We must be determined not to limit ourselves because of other people but must also make sure we’re absolutely and always submitted to Jesus.

Jesus will be our final judge. He will review everything we’ve done and failed to do. Everything we’ve said and failed to say. His judgment will be just and it will be gracious. We need not fear it but should live prepared for it. So examine yourselves today and often. Consider what you know Jesus to have commanded you in Scripture. Consider what Jesus has called you to through gifting and the Holy Spirit. Are you doing His will and work wholeheartedly and without fear of other people? Are you doing it humbly and in ongoing submission to His will? #FollowJesus

“If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” – 1 Corinthians 3:14-15

The work that we each do for the Lord will be tested by our Lord. He will judge it with perfect knowledge and wisdom. This is true for EVERY Christian. Have we made disciples like Jesus commanded? Have we taught them well and accurately from Scripture? Have we built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and the Word of God revealed to the Apostles and Prophets? Great reward awaits those who do. Great loss awaits those who don’t.

This isn’t about salvation. Paul is very clear about that. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is truly and eternally saved. If Jesus is truly your Lord, you don’t need to fear for your soul. This is about the rewards you will (or won’t) enjoy in Heaven. Regardless of what disciple-making looks like for you, if you have built well on that everlasting foundation, you will be rewarded. If you haven’t built well or you haven’t built at all, then there are wonderful rewards you will miss out on. Heaven will still be eternally and completely satisfying but you will have missed an amazing opportunity!

Faithfully make disciples of Jesus Christ. Understand what that looks like for you. Understand what God has called you to do to make disciples for His kingdom (that could include evangelizing, engaging with missions, teaching Christians of various ages or stages, mentoring, counseling, serving, etc.). Do whatever God has called you to do. Don’t hold back. Do the work and do it faithfully, building on the truth of God’s Word as written in the Bible and revealed in Jesus Christ. Work for the pleasure of God and the joy of the rewards that are waiting for you in Heaven. Don’t arrive in Heaven smelling like smoke! #FollowJesus

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14

If you’re a Christian, you’ve received the Holy Spirit and He lives within you. The Spirit does many things but one of the most critical is help you understand God’s Word. Because the Bible is spiritual in nature, we need God’s Spirit to really understand it. A person without the Spirit can know many things about the Scripture, but will never truly understand it. Why? Because truly understanding Scripture demands a response – worship, obedience, faithfulness. Head knowledge about the Bible that doesn’t provoke that response indicates a lack of genuine understanding.

What’s far more important is the other side of this reality… If you have the Holy Spirit in you, then you have the most important thing you need in order to read and understand Scripture for yourself. You don’t need to be a great scholar to understand, respond to, and be changed by the Bible. You just need the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit unlocks Scripture for us. Study, learning, and practice can certainly help but if Jesus is your Lord, then Scripture is for you and you CAN understand it. Don’t let anyone (including yourself) convince you otherwise!!!

If you’ve always believed that you can’t read or understand the Bible for yourself, trust God’s Spirit and start reading. Make sure you have a good translation you can understand. Get a reading plan to systematically read a little Scripture every single day. Pray for God’s help to understand before you read. Ask for God’s help to understand after you have read. Start reading every day and spend a few minutes thinking about, asking questions about, and reflecting on what you’ve read. If you’re diligent, the Spirit will help you begin to understand what you’re reading more and more. The Bible will begin to change you more and more. Why? Because God’s Spirit opens your mind to understand the Scriptures He’s given you for your blessing, benefit, and transformation. #FollowJesus

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” – Romans 16:17

You will encounter Christians who seem to regularly drive a wedge between you and other believers, even your oldest and dearest friends in Christ. These individuals may be smart, well-educated, and charismatic. They may sound very wise and compelling. However, if they’re regularly giving you reasons to separate from fellow believers in your church, avoid them! If they’re complicating your faith with additional rules or requirements beyond what the Bible teaches, avoid them!

Such people may be theologically persuasive, particularly if you aren’t a deep Bible scholar yourself. However, if they’re routinely criticizing your brothers and sisters in Christ, they should be avoided. No Christian is perfect – it’s easy to find fault with every believer. Those who habitually do so with the purpose of diminishing your love and respect for fellow church members must be avoided. The unity of the local church is unimaginably precious to Jesus, the Lord of the church. Unity in the church is infinitely more important than you think! That is why Jesus prayed for our unity before He was arrested. That is why Scripture repeatedly commands us to be united in the church.

Recognize those who create division in the church. See them for what they are. Warn them and try to reason with them from Scripture. However, if their negativity, critical spirit, and efforts to divide won’t stop, avoid them and embrace your brothers and sisters in the church. Our love for each other is supposed to be our sign to the unbelieving world, not our division! #FollowJesus