Good Morning Friends,
There is a difference between church growth and church health…community growth and community health. And the distinction comes to roost in the church and community when we make allowances for sin and the gossip about it that often exasperates the problem when it is weaponized with hate. Today’s texts focus on being mindful of the demands of everyday life and especially the storms of life, realizing that the Lord not only gives us the Sabbath, but he also invites all who are weary and burdened to both rejoice and rest in the act of rebuilding a place of worship in our lives as well as a home in our hearts. Friends, there is a gift that we are to appreciate whenever we need it, for Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. Still there are basic needs we think we must have before we allow a resolution. And so, it is that we are to experience the contributions of the church and the called-out assembly of believers for this body benefits the community of God we have experienced. It is all for our benefit, but it takes our engagement to experience the joy and be the peace Christ gifted to us. So, Are You Fully Enjoying The Gifts of God?
Scripture: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you? For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (NRSV)
On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:6-11 (NRSV)
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NRSV)
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 1:24-2:3 (NRSV)
Message: What the Corinthians needed to realize is that one is what one does. The body and the spirit are inseparable and moreover the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. What is often lacking in these situations is not the truth and sincerity but often the love to produce good fruit. Here spiritual progress may not be likely without some tough love. Yet love and the power of vicarious suffering that goes with its deepest expression are needed to do their work before extreme measures are taken when someone strays. Deep love and sound doctrine must not be separated. For the Corinthians there seems to be no obvious relationship between religious beliefs and practice and conduct during the course of daily activities. Religion was divorced from ethics and by most accounts Corinth did not stand very high where moral reputations was considered. It was a port City that played the part to satisfy sailors perceived needs. Paul’s indignation at their immorality was heightened because he saw it as risking their very existence. The point is that when we sin, we hurt ourselves, we hurt others, and we break the heart of God. The problem is that we do not truly believe that our heavenly Father knows best. We have our doubts and struggle to trust God completely. Doubt can be insidious, but it also can be the sign of intelligence. So, pompous legalism misses the mark as well. Friends, we are slaves to our desires whether it be lust or pride, but we have a choice to make. Paul recommends we run from sin. But from a practical sense in today’s world, it is hard to know in what direction when the tension of expressions is ready to snap emotions. The problem for Paul was a recognition that when moral lapses bring the whole church into disrepute, something needs to be done. Paul argues that a purging is called for. Now some may think that this is going too far. For we do not know what temptations the people in question have resisted. We do not know about the penitence of the sinner and the restoration to the fold. Discipline is needed and when persuasions fail, and people are moved perilously near to becoming lost souls perhaps. But what happens is that they typically excommunicate themselves instead of being restored into a right relationship with God. When religion loses this relationship, it fails to produce good fruit. Paul knew that and that is maybe why he claims it is all a noisy gong unless an expression of love. How we deal with sin and discipline may well show if we have bottled up love. We need to examine our hearts for signs of pride or self-interest. We need to realize that instead of loving people we see as sinners, we often use them, and prove we love ourselves most of all. Friends, love compels us to persevere through conflict and to take the harder course. This means confronting sin but with love of the person in mind. We need to share not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves in this regard.
And So, we live in a society is that is becoming increasingly intolerant of Christianity and even religious people can get confused as did the Corinthians in today’s text. What is clear is that we must be led by the Spirit with wisdom to complete the work Christ starts in us. Indeed, Christ completed the work for us, but the Holy Spirit engages us to fill the hole in the Gospel as it applies to our time and circumstances. Some think that God is removing His Spirit from the earth and perhaps this is true. Instances where God’s grace has been removed from people’s lives is evidence of the hell on earth we have when this happens. And so, even as we pray for Christ’s return, we also pray that God’s Spirit might be renewed in us all and shared for a holy purpose so others might believe and be restored in the gift of joy and love.
Pray we focus on Christ and the peace offered to us as a collective body of believers. Pray we rejoice in all things good. Pray we find the joy of the Sabbath but also the purpose of the storms in gathering us together in rebuilding places of worship in our hearts and homes. Pray we realize the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ but also our role in helping to restore that which has been lost. Pray we have the hope and comfort of being committed together for a cause. Pray we acknowledge the truth but also not allow our pride to push aside love. Pray we repent of using people for personal gain. Pray we forgive. Pray we pray hard for our leaders. Pray we realize that every Christian is susceptible to sin. Pray we are accountable for each other. Pray we realize that sometimes love must be tough. Pray we avoid sin without ruining relationships. Pray we realize that Christ’s plan for discipline is for restoration but not necessarily restoration to positions of power. Pray we break down barriers that separate people’s poor behavior from accountability. Pray we realize that there are natural consequences to arrogant immorality in the church…in the community…in the country. Pray we do not forsake Christ’s plan. Pray we come in agreement as to what God is prompting in our hearts so that the abundance of God might be shared. Pray we realize that calm weather makes for untested sailors. Pray we get better at being Christians collectively so that the gifts of God we have been given can be more fully enjoyed and shared.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 