Rev. Claudia & Dr. Timothy Emerick
Missionaries of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:18

How to Handle Quarrels
“An arrogant man stirs up dissension, but anyone who trusts in the Lord prospers.”— Proverbs 28:25.

I must not practice the worldly art of self defense. I must take Jesus as my example. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return but committed Himself to His Heavenly Father (1 Peter 2:23). I must not answer all of my critics.

For one thing, there are too many, and satisfying them would take all of my time. For another, my critics may unwittingly be my best friends. Like a mirror, they reveal faults and shortcomings that my blinded eyes might not otherwise see.

I will respond to critics with either thankfulness or silence—thankfulness when they are kind enough to point out areas where I may improve, and silence when the criticism is malicious or mischievous. By silence, I mean silence toward them, not silence toward God. Criticism should always drive me to prayer and to placing the critic in God’s hands. I must pray that if the criticism is fair, I will accept it; and if it is not, that God will defend me.

I must be careful not to line up support when I am under attack. It is so easy to take sides, collect allies, and allow criticism to grow into an issue where battle lines are drawn. To do so is to refuse correction and to lose the benefit criticism can bring. Worse still, it creates an endless cycle of petty charges and counter charges that only feed pride and stubbornness. There may be differences of opinion, but no quarrel is ever necessary. Whenever a rift or schism develops in the body, someone has forgotten to say, “Forgive me.”

Jesus is my perfect example of how to handle criticism, for He went to the cross with a pure conscience. Likewise, I am counseled to “keep a good conscience, so that those who slander me and revile my good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:16).

Rev. Claudia & Dr. Timothy Emerick
Missionaries of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:18

Cracked Pots and Great Purpose
“God chose things despised by the world; things counted as nothing at all and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” I Cor. 1:28; New Living Translation (NLT)

People are always comparing themselves with someone or something. We have been told by others that we are not important enough, or educated enough, or have enough money, or own a big enough house, or drive the right kind of car. We have been told that were too fat, too skinny, too short, or too tall. We have been told that we have too many hang-ups to be able to do anything significant in life. In other words, we look like trash to them, good for nothing.

But don’t you know that light shines brighter through cracked pots. Yes, we have many problems, but God is the great recycler. God takes what has been rejected by the world and called trash to do marvelous things. The Apostles were a group of poor and uneducated men. Yet in the hands of God, they became mighty witnesses of His power acting through them. God looks at people and sees their potential. When Jesus first saw Simon, he observed that he was rash, bad talkin, and a rough neck fisherman. However, in spite of all of Simon’s faults Jesus said to him, “follow me.” Jesus saw what Simon could become over time. Simon had to learn a lot, but he was willing to learn. Simon’s name meant, “a reed bending in the wind.” Simon’s emotions were up and down and got him into lots of problems. But Jesus over time renamed Simon calling him Peter, which means rock. Simon, now Peter changed into a stable and reliable person to be used by God. Subsequently, Peter strengthened the church and became a great Apostle. He didn’t start out as a great Apostle. Remember that it is not your beginning that counts but how you end up!

That which is impossible for men is not impossible for God. God can take our tired and broken-down lives and turn them around for His glory. Don’t look at your limitations but look how great God is. God see you as successful! Believe God against all odds and that you are tucked away in His promises. People may laugh at you, and you may not understand what is happening in your life but because you are in God’s hands nothing else matters. Remember, God is with you. God believes in you so why don’t you believe in Him. Look up to heaven and say God in spite of everything I believe in you and your power. Say to God this day I will see a new day dawning in my life!

Rev. Claudia & Dr. Timothy Emerick
Missionaries of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:18

Living Evangelism!
“Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

My discipleship under Jesus Christ means I witness for Him, but I must be careful to be a biblical witness. Much witnessing around us today is nothing more than egotism in spiritual dress. John the Baptist is the biblical example of a true witness. “He was sent to be a witness of that light”. (John 1:8). The ministry of witnessing for Jesus Christ is not expressed as a verb but a noun. We do not witness. We are witnesses.

Many Christians are confused by the modern emphasis on gifts. The confusion lies in the fact that every question is supposed to have gifts, and the gifts are indications of something extra special.

The only gift every Christian has is a new life from God, the life of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus himself was a witness (Revelations 1:5), witnessing will be the normal result wherever he is. Witnessing is basically a state of being rather than a function of vocalizing.

John was not occupied with seeking and finding gifts but simply pointing to Jesus Christ as a lamb of God. His ministry was to make men, Christ-dependent, not John-dependent. The preoccupation with gifts can make us little gods in our own little kingdoms, the very opposite of what a witness is supposed to be. Because John was Christ-centered his life was its own advertising campaign, encouraging others to follow Jesus.

No wonder Jesus said of him,” among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater.” (Matthew 11:11). Yet in the same breath, Jesus said the “least” of us could be as great as John. Lord, may others make notice of me for this one reason; that I have been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13).

Rev. Claudia & Dr. Timothy Emerick
Missionaries of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:18

Don’t settle for less!
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and Sarai his daughter-in-law (his son Abram’s wife) and set out with them from Ur of the Chaldees for the land of Canaan. But when they got as far as Haran, they settled down there. Terah lived 200 years. He died in Haran. The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. Gen. 11:31-32 & Gen 12: 1-2,

This is the tale of two men. This is a story of how the son followed God, and his father chooses not to. Both received from God a call to leave their country and go to the land of Canaan but one obeyed and the other did not. Canaan represents the blessing of God. A land of fruitfulness. A place of plenty and peace. A place where one can fulfill one’s dreams. A place where your very presence will be a blessing to others.

Why did Terah (Abraham’s father) travel towards Canaan but settled halfway? Why does a person not reach out for the very best God has to offer? Why do some find it easier to complain about their circumstances and wallow in self-pity? We all know people who will continually have a pity party for themselves. They are always complaining about something however others blossom no matter where God calls them to be. Why is this? I believe that it has to do with the attitude of our heart. We all have been knocked around by life. We have all had many hardships and trials. Why do some settle for mediocrity and others for total victory? Terah gave up when it got difficult. He settled in and died in the land of mediocrity. He never experienced God’s best. Anything that is worth anything takes a lot of persistence and hard work. But Tereh did not have it within him to continue. Why? Maybe because he was a crybaby? Don’t ever give up. That is easy. Don’t have a pity party when things get tough.

God has great plans for each one of us. He wants to bless us and fulfill our dreams. He wants to take you further than you have ever dreamed. But He needs your complete trust. He needs you to look to Him and believe that all things are possible for those who trust Him.
Don’t be a quitter! Be steadfast in God and in His power and you will eventually overcome all obstacles.

Redeem The Time!
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
Eph. 5: 15-16.

We live in a world that has its priorities very wrong. We can see that what God considers good and wholesome the world sees as evil. We turn to the news and see that only evil is glorified. We see that the things that God see as good and holy are mocked and discredited. The entire world, as it states in 2 Cor. 4:4, is in the hands of the evil one. The need to walk in wisdom and integrity is paramount to be able to withstand the onslaught of Satanic activity. We need to use all our resources, including time wisely.
What does that mean, “to redeem the time?” Well, let me ask you another question. If I were to ask you, “What is the thing in your life that you find hardest to manage? What is the thing that you so often find yourself short of, that you don’t have enough of?” What would you answer?

You might perhaps think money, but in my experience there’s one thing that’s much harder to manage than money, something that I’m much shorter of that money is time. I believe time is the hardest thing to manage properly in our lives. I believe that the stewardship of time is perhaps the supreme test of our discipline and our real Christianity. And so, I pray like the Apostle Paul, to redeem our time and use it to promote the Kingdom of God.

You see, your priorities of time really indicate the values of your life. Things that have low priority probably will drop off the bottom of the list. If you don’t give high priority to the things that really matter, your life will be out of order. So, you, like me, need to echo that prayer, teach me to walk wisely making the most of the time you have given Father.

Put Your Faith to Work!
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 12:24-25.

We must remember that faith is like a muscle, we must make use of it and there must be an occasion for faith and a provocation to use it. My natural inclination is to try to escape the use of my faith. But I must put on the right kind of glasses or vision to see what God wants to do. There are called “eternal eyes” we see things that are not and call them as they should be. (I Corinthians 1:28).

Miracles occur when there is a tremendous voltage between need and supply. It’s like positive and negative particles that cause a thunderstorm. If I am to see God work dramatically, I must bring an acute need face to face with His supercharged supply. The need is always there as long as sin and men exist, but the missing element is the intensified power of supply. That is where God needs a conductor, a person of faith, like Moses, Elijah, or the Lord Jesus. Wherever they went they were the ‘natural lightning rods” that drew the power from God.

I must remember that faith decays from the lack of use. Quite often a person has little faith because they truly don’t believe in a miracle working God. Faith grows by being challenged. If our lives are so-so and average, faith does not come by praying. Faith comes by hearing and acting on the Word of God. I must have the courage to believe in God and confront challenges. This means exposing myself to the pains, hurts and headaches of this world.

A person without faith shows that he does not care for this world or the will of God to intervene with power. We demonstrate our faith by going about doing good and healing all those who are oppressed by the devil. (Acts 10:38). God wants believers not doubters. We should be like Abraham who was strong in faith giving glory to God (Romans 4:20). Calling those things that are not in the physical realm as though they are in the spiritual realm. Eternal eyes, do you have them?

Believing, Confessing and Living the Word of God!

Overcoming the World!
No weapon formed against you shall prosper. And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17.
I am reminded, Lord, that Your Word has much to say about overcoming. It is one thing to be a Christian, it is another thing to be an overcoming Christian. To be an Overcomer is vitally important, since Jesus mentions the need to overcome in each letter to the Asian churches (Revelations, 2- 3).

To be an overcomer means that I have been in conflict. It is a military term. In fact, the word, overcomer is translated “him who is victorious” quotation marks in the New English Bible, and the Amplified Bible. It is applied to the Christian who has emerged from battle heat and stress undiscouraged and his faith and undeterred in his determination to live obediently to his God.

Jesus is the first great Overcomer. “In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). To overcome the world means to refuse to be seduced by his popularity, and to refuse to be intimidated by the threats of the cross. The world always follows the same pattern, first controlling, and then, if that does not work, crucifying. The world’s desire is always to squeeze me into its own mold. (Romans12:2). The world will, and God’s will are direct opposites. If I insist on following Jesus that I must follow Him to the battle against the world’s, passionate desire to thwart my path to live a godly life in this present age. (Titus 2:12).

Lord, the Bible reminds me of many who went into battle for you, but did not overcome – Lot, Saul, Gehazi, Demas and others. That is enough to make me realize that victory is not guaranteed – unless I cling to Him who wonderfully overcame it for my sake. And the Lord himself will fight for me as “He fought in the day of the battle” (Zachariah 14:3).

Set the Standard!
“Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever.” Psalms 112: 1-3; New Living Translation

In the scripture today we can see the benefit of people who are godly. But what does the word godly mean? According to Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament Words one definition of the word godly means to be honest, just or to act right. Vines Dictionary states that it is a just or godly person who sets the standard for doing right. This standard is not set my men but by God. The godly person is a person who stands by their word. It is a person who does right to other people.

We live in a world where most people want to take short cuts to get ahead. If they need to lie a little to get ahead that’s OK. If they need to cheat a little to get ahead that’s OK. If they need to cheat on their taxes that’s OK. If they want to make money quickly by using false advertising, it’s OK. If they have a business and they offer inferior quality to make money, that’s OK. If they have to lie and say falsehoods to get ahead, that’s OK. It is OK to the world but not to God.

My father told me many times when I was growing up that all a person has is their word. If you can’t trust the word of a person, you can’t trust the person. He also stated that a person who lies to you will eventually steal from you. Our word is all we have to offer to demonstrate who and what we are made of.

Can people trust in your word? Are you a person of your word? When you say you will do something will you do it at the time you state you would do it? Do you lie or cheat to get ahead? Remember the blessings of being a godly person is not only for you but for generations to come in your family. What you do today echoes throughout eternity. By what standard do you live by? Remember what you sow is what you will reap!

The Bible is a Fire and a Hammer!
Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. Psalms 119:127-128.

I must understand that the Bible is not only my source of comfort, but also my source of bruising due to our disobedience. The Lord says, “Is not my word like fire? Declares the Lord and like a hammer with shatters a rock? Jeremiah 23:29. If I’ve never felt the scorching of the Bible ‘s heat or the shattering of the Bibles blow, I’m not making much progress as a disciple. The Bible is a sharp instrument; it pierces, divides, discerns, and reaches into the depths of my personality, down to the thoughts and motives of my nature Hebrews 4:12.

I must beware the man who preaches a sugar-coated faith. Faith in God is not an Aladdin’s lamp that grants my every wish. I must avoid as I would, the plague, the man who preaches peace, peace, peace, continually. There are times when the Bible will not give me peace; times when to comfort and assure me would be absolutely damaging to me. How can I sin and not feel the burning fire of the Word?

The false prophet is easily discovered. He is a man who offers nothing but honey, peace, joy, security, and tranquility. He does that, of course, because it is what the natural man craves; it provides him a ready audience, a guarantee of success. A counselor who offers me a rosy goal, but never mentions the painful, torturous road to it is not my friend. Jesus Christ is my true friend. He offers me a rewarding future, but with persecution. Mark 10:29-30. He wants to deliver me safe, sound, and complete. That is why His Word must sometimes make me ache with soreness and weep with bitterness. He knows where it all is leading; to manhood and womanhood changed with glory. I respond with Mary sincere humility, “Behold the bond slave of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word” for “my soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God, my Savior. Luke 1:38,46.

Developing Hardness!
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:4.

If I am going to be an example of what a disciple of Jesus Christ I must learn to develop a hardness. Jesus Himself was a mixture of both tenderness and hardness. And unless I develop the same mixture I will drift off into sentimentality or else become very rigid.
Jesus never became hard to His Father’s will, but always towards the people who tried to prevent Him from doing that will. He set His face like stone to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). If I decide to follow Jesus I will be pulled in many directions, all supposedly for good to save me from myself. The disciple who does not deliberately develop a hardness will find himself too weak to resist the warnings from family and friends that he is too fanatical.

Jesus developed a hardness toward people even His closet friends, whenever they appeared to block His path in doing God’s will. Jesus made statements like “Get behind me Satan” (Matthew 16:23); “What is it to you?” (John 21:22). “Women, what do I have to do with you?” (John 9:24). If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me”. (John 13:8).

I must always be tender toward human need but incorrigibly hard against human short-sightedness. The person who is shortsighted will always want to take shortcuts around the will of the Father. I must walk both in love but with wisdom being on the lookout for those who would want me to become soft and self-indulgent. My strength comes from me setting my face like stone to accomplish the Father’s will. “Our sufficiency is of God,” Paul said (2 Corinthians 3:5). That is the sufficiency from God and the stubbornness of a person who will not be sidetracked from accomplishing the will of God. Paul stated when he encountered obstacles “I am ready not only to be jailed…but also die for the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 21:13).