1 CORINTHIANS 8:6

 ...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

TO PONDER:

Little things can mean a lot. When it comes to reading the Bible, we often pay attention to key verbs or phrases, names and places. But we often skip right over those tiny prepositions. Maybe it is because they are so little. But...prepositions infuse the words around them with powerful meaning and we have an example of that in our reading today. So go back to the reading and read it again, focussing on the prepositions

 ...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

For Paul, in the midst of a polytheistic culture that believes in many gods, there is only one truth that Paul proclaims and believes. There is only one God, the Father, who is the source of life. There is only one God who is the goal of our existence, his glory is what we are always moving towards. There is only Lord, Jesus Christ that makes this life possible (through his death and resurrection). There is only one Lord, who empowers us to live for the Father's glory.

What a powerful confession of faith. This is like the great Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4-5ff. 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and will all your strength.' This one God, one Lord, is the source, the goal and the means of life...for us. That has incredible implications for our lives.

How will this powerful truth transform how you go about today as his resurrection people?

PRAYER:

Lord God, may the powerful truth of your resurrection infuse every small moment of my day today with certainty, meaning, purpose and life. Amen.