The devotional - 1033 - Foot steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

The Devotional – 1033 – Foot steps in First Corinthians, ongoing

I hardly watch anything on television these days, but that does not mean that I am ignorant of what is portrayed in over ninety percent of the commercials and seventy-five percent of the programs. Even the liberal news stations are full of crimes that are becoming more and more appealing to the young as a normal way of life, or at the least something to be expected. I am reminded of something that Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 1:15 – What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. When people are fed the nonsense of the “crooked” and the despair of the “lack” in life they will do as Solomon did. They will set their heart to enjoy and know the madness of folly. While there may be laughter and madness in this “mirth” it will not be long to also know that the accomplishment of gratifying the heart leads to self-destruction of the flesh and of those whom God has given you to love.

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 1 CORINTHIANS 5:1-8

Chloe’s letter to the apostle appears to be a very large report on the spiritual condition of the church. In fact as we move through this incident of sexual immoral conduct and the secular position of legal matters we will see the apostle address issues of sin that are a direct result of the poor practices of that churches current leadership.

Just as idolatry is pictured in Judaism as committing adultery with other gods, and bringing the judgment of God on the nation of Israel; so too is the church subjected to the judgment of God. In 1 Cor. 5:2 the apostle writing to the church leadership says… “and you are puffed up “arrogant”, even like Aaron who allowed the Jewish congregation to make a golden calf. Exodus 32:1-6.

We could spend time scolding the immoral conduct of people, but we would need to be very careful since the more we scold the more we reveal our own understanding of immoral conduct. I think this is why the passages found in 1 Cor 5:1-8 and 2 Cor 2:3-11 are so fresh looking and not all penciled and highlighted in our Bibles. After all it is so very easy to overstep a pile of manure and just occasionally make mention of it.

The problem though is when someone has stepped in it, they carry the aroma with them where ever they go even if it is to church. Thus we are commanded and it is hard to be obedient when the offender is someone who is a close brother or sister, to purge (or clean out) that which has defiled the church and return to the sincerity of TRUTH.

Of course to do this we must do it in LOVE and we will pick that up the next time we get together. In the meantime. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct (smooth or make straight) your paths – Proverbs 3:5-6.