Insight and Encouragement: November 2023

Friday, November 17, 2023

Nov 17 – Each Different – 1 Cor 15:41

41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

In Paul’s day astronomy was obviously not as advance as today but the ancient Greeks had mapped out the sky and placed it in different pictures of Greek mythology. This would have been well known among the audience. Paul explains that the sun, moon and starts all differ. In fact, each star according to Paul each star differed. It is quite possible Paul was an amateur star gazer. With out the aid of telescopes and modern devices the ancient world did a remarkable job of charting and understanding the stars. Paul of course subscribed to the thought of a master designer who created the heavens and the earth as the book of Genesis outlines. Paul was using this analogy to relate how our heavenly bodies will differ from our earthly bodies. The genius of God is that he has created billions upon billions of things and each one is different and unique.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR NOV 16, 2023

Nov 16 – Heavenly and Earthly Bodies – 1 Cor 15:40

40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.

Paul encourages his audience to look at the sky and see the sun, moon ad stars. Creation is the silent witness for God. Creation is the external manifestation of a master designer. There is earthly body in man and woman. There is a splendor, beauty, and magnificence in how God created and designed us. David writes that we are marvellously and wonderfully created. No one has your eye and finger prints. No one thinks, speaks, and acts like you. You have a splendor of your own. All creation has different designs and function within this world structure, but all have a part to play for the glory and splendor of God. Paul is explaining God’s part in creation and not some mythical suggestion by uninformed people.

The world was not created by a Greek pantheon of demigods but by a God of intelligence and spiritual dimension beyond human understanding.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR NOV 15, 2023

Nov 15 – Master Craftsman – 1 Cor 15:39

39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.

Paul continues his biology lesson. Not all flesh is the same. People have one kind of flesh. We are arms. legs/ hands, feet, and head. We have internal organs that have functions. Animals have another type of body. They are some 8 million known species of animals on the planet. No one is the exact same. No two creatures completely alike. Birds came fly whereas wolves cannot. Fish came breathe in the water, but an elephant cannot. Insects can climb up a wall, but a dog cannot. Some as prey others are predators. Certain part of creation eliminate waste while other parts of it create it. Paul is laying out the autonomy and sovereignty of God on His creation. Each has their part to play in the grand scheme of creation design by the master craftsman.