Reading through the Bible-Each one is of value

1 Corinthians 7:39-40, "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God."

Here is the beginning of something that became, for Paul, a very important idea. A widow may be weak and poor, but she can become strong in her relationship with God. She may be too weak to do most jobs, but there was important work for her to do in the church.

However, Paul began with instructions for married women. A married woman must remain loyal to her husband while he is alive. She should not leave him to marry another man. However, if he dies before her, she is free to marry again.

A Christian woman should marry a Christian man. The widow should choose someone who is ‘in the Lord’. In other words, her new husband should be a Christian as she is. They should both have the same kind of relationship with God. As they serve God together, they will both become stronger in their relationship with him.

Those instructions for married women are commands that God has given in the Bible. But in 1 Corinthians 7:40, Paul adds his own opinion about a widow. He believes that it would be better for her not to marry again. He says that she would be ‘happier’ without a husband. Really, he is referring back to his words in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34. He means that the widow can serve God better without a husband. If she has a husband, she must give her time and energy to him. But without a husband, she can give all her time and energy to God’s work.

We can see how this idea developed in 1 Timothy 5:3-16. The churches provided for older widows, if they had no families to look after them. And those widows gave all their time for prayer, good works, and to teach younger women.

Dear God, Thank you for Your love and value for all people despite their relationship status.  I praise Your Holy name!!

Readng through the Bible-Heart for God

1 Corinthians 7:36-38, "If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,11 if his 12 passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better."

In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul answers the question: ‘Is it good for Christians to marry?’

His reply gives several reasons why it may be better for a Christian to remain unmarried. An unmarried Christian often has better opportunities to serve God (7:32-34). When people have difficult troubles in their lives, it may be unwise to marry (7:26). Certainly, nobody should marry without proper thought about the serious responsibilities that marriage brings (7:4).

Here in 1 Corinthians 7:36, Paul explains a situation where it is right and proper to marry. This man genuinely loves a young woman and he wishes to behave in an honourable manner towards her. He is not marrying for selfish reasons. She is the right age to marry; and he wants to do the right thing.

Paul contrasts that man with another man in 1 Corinthians 7:37. Both men are behaving in a mature manner; both men have control over their own emotions. The first man chose to marry because of his love for a woman. The second man chose not to marry so that both he and the woman could serve God better (7:32-34).

Both men made decisions that were right and good. God approves of them both. However, the person who chooses to give all his time and energy to God makes the best decision.

These examples refer to the marriage customs that people used to follow in Corinth. Men were not free to choose whom they would marry. Instead, families arranged for a boy to become engaged to a girl when they were both very young. When he grew older, the boy could choose when to marry. Even where those customs are unfamiliar, we can still learn from Paul’s advice.

Dear God, I pray that my love for You and trust in You guide my marriage and not the other way around.

Reading through the Bible-One track mind

1 Corinthians 7:25-35, "Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress  it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.  This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord."

Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the state. As to afflictions; they must not indulge the sorrow of the world: even in sorrow the heart may be joyful.

As to worldly enjoyments; here is not their rest. As to worldly employment; those that prosper in trade, and increase in wealth, should hold their possessions as though they held them not. As to all worldly concerns; they must keep the world out of their hearts, that they may not abuse it when they have it in their hands. All worldly things are show; nothing solid. All will be quickly gone.

Wise concern about worldly interests is a duty; but to be full of care, to have anxious and perplexing care, is a sin. By this maxim the apostle solves the case whether it were advisable to marry. That condition of life is best for every man, which is best for his soul, and keeps him most clear of the cares and snares of the world. Let us reflect on the advantages and snares of our own condition in life; that we may improve the one, and escape as far as possible all injury from the other. And whatever cares press upon the mind, let time still be kept for the things of the Lord.

Dear God, I pray that my state of marriage never ensnares me in the cares of this world and keeps me from You!

Reading through the Bible-Our condition in Christ

1 Corinthians 7:18-25, "Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.  Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.  Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy."

The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.

Dear God, I am so grateful that my comfort and happiness is now what I am to You through my relationship with Christ...saved and perfected!  Praise to You!!

Reading through the Bible-Bloom where you are planted

1 Corinthians 7:17, "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches."

As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk: No matter what your station (married, single, divorced, widowed, remarried, whatever), God can work in your life. Instead of thinking that you can or will walk for the Lord when your station changes, walk for the Lord in the place you are at right now.

So let him walk is also a warning to beware the danger of thinking other people have it better than you, because of their different station in life. Married, single, divorced, remarried, don't matter nearly as much as an on-fire walk with Jesus right now.

Dear God, I am so grateful for the "on-fire" relationship You've given me with Jesus!!  He is the center all my other relationships and I am so grateful!

Reading through the Bible-Joy to the World!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Dear God, thank you for showing me the depth of my sin so that I could be fully forgiven, fully appreciate Christmas, and be free to fully love without fear forever!  Praise to You!!

Reading through the Bible-Glorifying God with our Lives

1 Corinthians 7:12-16, "But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?"

But to the rest indicates Paul is shifting the focus from the group previously addressed, couples where both partners were Christians. Now, he speaks to any brother who has a wife who does not believe, and the woman who has a husband who does not believe.

I, not the Lord, say: We should not think Paul is any less inspired by the Holy Spirit on this point. When he says not the Lord, he simply means that Jesus did not teach on this specific point, as He had in the previous situation inMatthew 19:3-9. So, if Jesus did not speak on this specific point, Jesus' inspired apostle will!

This is a clue that Paul may not have been conscious of the degree of inspiration he worked under as he wrote 1 Corinthians and perhaps other letters. He simply knows that though he based his remarks in1 Corinthians 7:10-11 on what Jesus taught in Matthew 19:3-9 (yet not I, but the Lord), he has no specific recorded command from Jesus in the case of a Christian married to an unbelieving spouse. He knew he was writing with God's authority to the Corinthians, but he may not have known he was speaking with authority to all the church in all ages, and being used to pen God's eternal Word. But if Paul was not fully aware of how inspired these words were, they are no less inspired because of that.

Let him not divorce her: If there were some Christian couples in the Corinthian church who thought they would be more spiritual if they divorced (addressed in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11), what about Corinthian Christians married to unbelievers? "Certainly," thought the Corinthians, "God can't be glorified if I'm married to an unbeliever; for the sake of spirituality, I should divorce them." To these, Paul says let him not divorce her.

This spiritual concern is a valid - and urgent - reason for not marrying an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). But it is not a reason for ending an existing marriage with an unbeliever.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife: Why should a Christian try to keep their marriage to a non-Christian together? Because God can be glorified in such a marriage, and do a work through the believing spouse to draw the unbelieving spouse to Jesus Christ.

Sanctified, in this context, does not mean that the unbelieving spouse is saved just by being married to a Christian. It simply means that they are set apart for a special working in their lives by the Holy Spirit, by virtue of being so close to someone who is a Christian.

Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy: Not only does the presence of a believing spouse do good for the unbelieving spouse, it also does good for the children - and great good, because it can be said now they are holy.

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart: Paul has counseled that the Christian partner should do what they can to keep the marriage together. But if the unbelieving spouse refuses to be married, then the marriage can be broken; but this isn't to be initiated or sought by the believer.

If the unbelieving spouse should depart, the Christian is not under bondage to the marriage covenant. This means they are, in fact, free to remarry because God has recognized their divorce as a valid divorce.

For how do you know: Paul ends this section with a great deal of hope, because many Christian who are married to unbelievers are discouraged. They should know that with faith and patience, they can look for God to work in their present circumstances, difficult as they might be.

Christians married to unbelievers should also know what Peter says in 1 Peter 3:1-6: that your unbelieving spouse will not likely be led to Jesus by your words, but by your godly and loving conduct.

Dear Glorious God, I pray that You may be glorified by my life of faith in You!

Reading through the Bible-Divorce among Christians

1 Corinthians 7:10-11, "Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife."

Now to the married: Remember that in this chapter, Paul is answering questions written to him from the Corinthian Christians. He has already dealt with the questions about the relative merits of being married or single, and if it is more spiritual to abstain from sex in a marriage relationship. 

To the married: Here, Paul is addressing marriages where both partners are Christians. He will deal with other situations in following verses.

A wife is not to depart from her husband: The Corinthian Christians were wondering if it might be more spiritual to be single, and if they should break up existing marriages for the cause of greater holiness. Paul answers their question straight from the heart of the Lord: absolutely not!

Even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: Paul, in addressing a marriage where both partners are Christians, says that they should not - indeed, can not - break up the marriage in a misguided search for higher spirituality. In fact, if one were to depart their spouse, they must either remain unmarried or be reconciled.

If she does depart: A Christian couple may in fact split up for reasons that do not justify a Biblical divorce. It may be because of a misguided sense of spirituality, it may be because of general unhappiness, or conflict, or abuse, or misery, addiction, or poverty. These problems may - perhaps ? justify a separation (depart), but the partners are expected to honor their marriage vows even in their separation, because as far as God is concerned, they are still married - their marriage covenant has not been broken for what God considers to be Biblical reasons.

And a husband is not to divorce his wife: Paul applies the same principle to husbands as to wives, and makes the important distinction between one who might depart (separation while still honoring the marriage covenant) and one who might divorce. 

Dear God, I trust in You to guard my marriage.

Reading through the Bible-Sexual Conduct as Glory to the Lord

1 Corinthians 7:1-9, "Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.1 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."

It is good for a man — Who is master of himself.

Not to touch a women — That is, not to marry. So great and many are the advantages of a single life.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Yet, when it is needful, in order to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife. His own - For Christianity allows no polygamy.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Let not married persons fancy that there is any perfection in living with each other, as if they were unmarried.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Unless it be by consent for a time — That on those special and solemn occasions ye may entirely give yourselves up to the exercises of devotion.

Lest — If ye should long remain separate.

Satan tempt you — To unclean thoughts, if not actions too.

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

But I say this — Concerning your separating for a time and coming together again. Perhaps he refers also to 1 Corinthians 7:2.

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

For I would that all men were herein even as I — I would that all believers who are now unmarried would remain "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake" St. Paul, having tasted the sweetness of this liberty, wished others to enjoy it, as well as himself.

But every one hath his proper gift from God — According to our Lord's declaration, "All men cannot receive this saying, save they," the happy few, to whom it is given," Matthew 19:11.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

It is good for them if they remain even as I — That St. Paul was then single is certain and from Acts 7:58, compared with the following parts of the history, it seems probable that he always was so. It does not appear that this declaration, any more than 1 Corinthians 7:1, hath any reference at all to a state of persecution.

Dear God, I pray that my sexual conduct would glorify You!

Reading through the Bible-Glorifying God with our bodies

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

1. This is a body conscious world.
   1. Many products to clean up, paint up, and fix up.
      1. Great concern about physical shape.
         1. Diets abound: low fat this, low fat that. Diet pills.
         2. Exercise clubs, exercise machines, etc.
   2. Great concern about physical health.
      1. Watch that cholesterol, reduce that salt, eat more roughage.
      2. The Christian adds another dimension to concern for the body.
         1. The day you became a Christian, something happened to your body.  Another dimension was added to your being.
2. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
   1. "Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?"
   2. This reminds us of the temple in the O.T.
      1. What great care was given to its design.
      2. What immense wealth was placed into its construction.
         1. "Then King David said to the whole assembly: My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. ²With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God--gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble--all of these in large quantities. ³Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: ⁴three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, ⁵for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?" (1 Chr. 29:1-5)
      3. The people were to know that God dwelt there. That is why it was furnished with such greatness because it was to be the house of God.
   3. Note the day of dedication of Solomon's temple (2 Chron. 7:1-3 and 12-15).
      1. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."
   4. But there is no such place in the age of grace.
      1. This building we are in is not God's temple.
         1. This building is not even a church--just the place the church meets.
   5. The eternal covenant, God's desire to fellowship with His creation, the walk in the garden, Exodus 25:8, John 1:14, 1 Cor. 1:9.
      1. THE CROSS
      2. "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him," (John 14:23).
      3. Your body is the temple of God.
         1. Be careful where it goes.
         2. Be careful what it does.
         3. Be careful what it ponders.
         4. Be careful how it reacts.
3. The Holy Spirit lives within you.
   1. "Who is in you"
      1. A person is in you.
   2. How can that be?
      1. We are not sure. It is a mystery.
   3. See how clearly the Bible bears this truth.
      1. Jesus makes the promise (John 14:15-26).
         1. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you," (John 14:15-17).
      2. The Book of Acts describes it (Acts 2:1-4, 4:31).
         1. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly," (Acts 4:31).
      3. The epistles explain it (Rom. 8:6-17, Gal. 3:1-5, Eph. 5:18-25).
         1. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you," (Romans 8:11).
   4. The result: The Holy Spirit is with you whereever you go and whatever you do.
      1. His power is available when you need it. The Scriptures are full of references to the Spirit and power.
         1. Judges 14:19, "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power . . . "
         2. 1 Samuel 10:6, "The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person."
         3. Micah 3:8, "But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin."
         4. Luke 4:14, "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside."
         5. Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
         6. Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
         7. Ephesians 3:16, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being."
   5. With the Spirit indwelling you, every word, every thought, and every deed is in His view.
      1. The Holy Spirit knows you. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses.
      2. He knows your sinful acts and your holy deeds.
      3. He knows you better than you do.
4. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to build you up in the body of Christ to the glory of God.
   1. He regenerates (John 3:3-5).
   2. He indwells (Rom. 8:11).
   3. He anoints (1 John 2:27).
   4. He baptizes (Acts 2:17-41).
   5. He empowers (Micah 3:8).
   6. He sanctifies (Rom. 15:16).
   7. He comforts (John 14:16-26).
   8. He gives joy (Rom. 14:17).
   9. He gives discernment (1 Cor. 2:10-16).
   10. He bears fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).
   11. He gives gifts 1 Cor. 12:3-11).

Dear God, I surrender my body to You and I glorify You in my daily life.

Simeon Sunday

Luke chapter 2

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was wrighteous and xdevout, ywaiting for zthe consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not asee death before he had seen bthe Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when cthe parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and dblessed God and said,

Lord, now you are letting your servant4 depart ein peace,

faccording to your word;

 for gmy eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Dear God,  thank you for the story of Simeon which gives us evidence that you keep your promises.  It breaks my heart that the story also tells us that Jesus will divide many, but I will always choose Him.  You are my everything!!

Reading through the Bible-Fleeing Sexual Immorality

1 Corinthians 6:18, "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."

Flee: Paul doesn't tell us to be brave and resist the lustful passion of sexual immorality, but to flee from its very presence. Many fall because they underestimate the power of lustful passion, or think they will "test" themselves and see how much they can "take."

Flee sexual immorality: Paul does not say that Christians should flee sex, only sexual immorality. God gave sex as a precious gift to mankind, and uses it powerfully to bond husband and wife together in a true one-flesh relationship. So as Hebrews 13:4 says, the marriage bed is undefiled - the sexual relationship between husband and wife is pure, holy, and good before God.

Sins against his own body: Paul isn't saying sexual immorality is worse than any other sin, but he does teach that sexual sin has a unique effect on the body. The effect is physical, but it is also moral and spiritual.

Dear God, I praise You for the precious gift of sex and I pray that your love for me will keep from from seeking it outside of my marriage.

Reading through the Bible-God is my All

1 Corinthians 6:15-17, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him."

Do you not know: Apparently, many of the Corinthian Christians did not know, and thought their sexual conduct with prostitutes had no connection to their relationship with Jesus.

Your bodies are members of Christ: When an individual Christian commits sexual immorality, it disgraces the entire body of Christ, linking the body of Christ to immorality.

He who is joined to a harlot is one body with her . . . one flesh: In their sexual relationship, a husband and wife become "one flesh" in a way that is under God's blessing. In sex outside of marriage, the partners become "one flesh" in a way that is under God's curse.

He who is joined to the Lord: In the heat of lustful passion, spiritual things may seem far away. Yet, at the root of most lustful passion is the desire for love, acceptance, and adventure - all of which is far better, and more completely, satisfied in a one-spirit relationship with the Lord instead of with sexual immorality.

Dear God, I thank you for the perfect relationship with You!  I am satisfied in all that You are and all other relationships are simply additional gifts that you offer.  Praise be to You!!

Reading through the Bible-Soul care

1 Corinthians 6:13-14, "Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power."

Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods: The Corinthian Christians made a big deal about foods, but God does not care about it.

Because of our lustful sexual appetites, it may seem that God did make our bodies for sexual immorality. But God did not make our bodies that way; sinful Adam did. 

Dear God, Thank you for caring about our souls rather than our bodies!

Reading through the Bible-Freedom from the law

1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

All things are lawful for me: This was probably a phrase Paul had used in teaching the Corinthian Christians about Christian liberty. We can almost hear Paul telling the Corinthians exactly what he told the Colossians in Colossians 2:16-17: "When it comes to what we eat or drink or on what day we worship the Lord, all things are lawful for me. I am at liberty, and I should not let anyone put me under bondage, as legalists are prone to do."

But all things are not helpful: The Corinthian Christians took the idea all things are lawful and applied it to areas Paul, or the Lord, never intended. 

I will not be brought under the power of any: In this phrase, Paul uses a verb he uses again only in 1 Corinthians 7:4, in the context of a husband and wife having "authority" over each other's bodies. Paul may be saying I will not be brought under the power of anybody (as in the body of a prostitute).

Dear God, I thank you for the freedom from the law that my new life in Christ has given to me.  I pray that you will keep me close to You and free from returning to bondage to anything!

Reading through the Bible-Becoming sinless through Jesus

1 Corinthians 6:8-11, "No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

You yourselves do wrong and cheat: There is no place for dishonest dealing by Christians; how much less place is there for dishonest dealing among Christians! Many have rejected the things of God and the fellowship of the saints because of dishonesty and cheating among Christians.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Paul speaks strongly to the brother who did the wrong. "Don't you realize how serious your sin is? The only thing you may 'gain' from cheating your brother is eternity with the unrighteous!"

Paul was not, categorically, denying the man's salvation (Paul says he is among the brethren); however, Paul will not allow a "religious faith" that is separate from our actions. If a Christian can cheat and defraud his brothers without conscience, it may be fairly asked if he is a Christian at all.

Nor homosexuals: Since this is such a clear condemnation of homosexuality, those who would like to justify the practice say Paul speaks of homosexual prostitution, not a "loving, caring homosexual relationship." But taken in context, there is no doubt God is speaking of homosexual acts of all kinds with the words malakoi (homosexuals, which literally refers to male prostitutes) and arsenokoitai (sodomites, a generic term for all homosexual practice).

Paul did not write in or of a "homophobic" culture. Homosexuality was rampant in the ancient world; 14 out of the first 15 Roman emperors were bisexual or homosexual. At the very time Paul wrote, Nero was emperor. Nero castrated a boy named Sporus and then married him (with a full ceremony), brought him to the palace with a great procession, and made the boy his "wife." Later, the emperor lived with another man, and Nero was declared to be the other man's "wife."

In this list of sins, homosexuality (not some "special" version of homosexuality) is described, but it is described right along with other sins. Some who so strongly denounce homosexuals are guilty of other sins on this list. Can fornicators or adulterers or the covetous or drunkards rightly condemn homosexuals? Of course not.

Christians err when they excuse homosexuality, and deny that it is sin, but they also err just as badly when they single it out as a sin God is uniquely angry with.

At the same time, the point is plain for the Corinthian Christians and for us: And such were some of you. Paul clearly puts it in the past tense. These things should never mark the life of a Christian, and if they do, they must be immediately repented of and forsaken.

You were washed: We are washed clean from sin by the mercy of God (Titus 3:5). We can have our sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). We are washed by the work of Jesus on the cross for us (Revelation 1:5) and by the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).

You were sanctified: We are set apart, away from the world and unto God, by the work of Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 10:10), by God's Word (John 17:19), by faith in Jesus (Acts 26:18), and by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16).

You were justified: We are declared "just" before the court of God, not merely "not guilty," but declared as "just" before Him. We are justified by God's grace through the work of Jesus on the cross (Romans 3:24), by faith and not by our own deeds (Romans 3:28).

God can take the kind of people described in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 10 and make them into the kind of people described in 1 Corinthians 6:11! How great is the work of God!

Dear God, I thank you each day for washing me of my sins, sanctifying me from the world and justifying me as not guilty before Your Throne!

Reading through the Bible-Justice through God

1 Corinthians 6:7, "Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. 1 Corinthians 6:7? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?"

The Corinthians were just like modern Americans: addicted to their own "rights." But in clinging to their rights so fiercely, they had already shown utter failure. Just by going to court against your brother, you already lose.

It would be better to accept wrong. It would be better to let yourselves be cheated than to defend your "rights" at the expense of God's glory and the higher good of His kingdom.

Paul called this man to do something hard: to give up what he deserved for the higher good of God and His kingdom. But the man who was wronged should not think Paul was asking him to take a loss. No one who accepts wrong for the sake of God's glory will be a loser.

Ideally, the church should have settled the dispute. But if the church failed to do so, Paul asked the man to trust in God, not in secular judges and lawsuits and courts.

Paul didn't say, "Why not suffer wrong instead of confronting the problem?" Instead, he said, "Why not suffer wrong instead of bringing your dispute before unbelievers?"

Dear God, I pray that I may accept wrongs against me because of my knowledge of your justice.

Reading through the Bible-Finding peace with fellow believers

1 Corinthians 6:2-6, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!"

The saints will judge the world . . . we shall judge angels: Christians should be fully able to judge their own matters because of our destiny. As we reign with Jesus Christ, we will (in some sense or another) judge the world, and even judge angels.

The idea of Christians judging angels is fascinating. It does not mean we will sit in judgment of faithful angels, as if we could penalize them for letting us down or not being there, but we will have a part in judging evil angels.

If Christians are being prepared right now for such a glorious destiny, why do the Corinthian Christians allow those least esteemed by the church (that is, the secular judges) to decide disputes among Christians?

Is there not a wise man among you: The Corinthian Christians were proud of what they thought was their "wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:18-31), but their actions showed that there was not a wise man among them.

Brother goes to law against brother: By his actions, Paul showed he was not against all legal action. In Acts 22:25 and 25:10-11, he appealed to Roman courts for his rights. However, Paul knew it was wrong when brother goes to law against brother.

It is important for Christians to settle disputes among themselves according to God's principles. This can be done either through the church, or through Christian arbitration. But today, even as in Paul's day, there is no reason for Christians to sue one another.

Dear God, I pray that I will seek solutions to my conflicts with brothers and sisters in Christ through Your Word and other believers.