Week 31, Day 5
August 5, 2022 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?” (1 Corinthians 5:1–2) “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are sexually immoral or greedy, idolaters or slanderers, drunkards or swindlers. With such persons do not even eat.” (1 Corinthians 5:9–11) Freedom is something that we all cherish. We love the freedom our vehicles give us. They permit us to travel wherever time and budget allow. We could go all the way to Alaska if we felt like it. With newfound freedom in Christ, there is an exploration of that freedom and Paul is reeling it in. There is sexual immorality of the sort that not even pagans would partake in, which is saying something! A man is having sexual relationship with his mother, or stepmother. Either way, this is not the sort of thing that Christians, or anyone shouldn’t be engaging in. Paul addresses sexual immorality in the church, not so much in the world. He is speaking to the church, calling it to a higher standard of morality. He knows the church is called to be a beacon of light on this. To avoid immorality in the world, well, you would have to leave the world. We feel that deeply in our current culture, we would have to leave the earth altogether to avoid sexual deviancy and greed. But the serious tone of Paul is turned towards the church. How can we have any moral footing when we have this type of sin lurking about in the family of believers? How do we call people to a life of holiness when this is happening within the church? This passage, as gross as it is, should turn our attention inwardly. To ourselves personally, and towards the church. Make this our genuine prayer, “God root out the sexual immorality within me, root it out of our church family. Care for us and draw us near to you. Purify our hearts and our ways. Bring us to relationships and commitments that honor you and glorify you." We can continue to blast the culture around us as the church has become increasingly known. But that’s not at all the recommendation from Paul. Rather, it is to examine our hearts and lives within the church. Let’s continue to submit to God and his ways for our relationships, our life and our ways.
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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