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1 Corinthians 7:3-4

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Personal Challenge

In the Orthodox marriage ceremony, the bride and the groom put on crowns that are tied together with a ribbon. There is a time when the priest moves the crowns back and forth between the two. The bride and the groom or co-rulers in their marriage and household. They are the king and queen ruling side by side. As Paul elicits in this passage, they are expected to render themselves, give up their authority, to each other so that they can be unified in their marriage. Much of Western Christianity sets up a hierarchy between the husband and the wife with the husband having his dominion over their wife and family. This is not how God ordained marriage to work. Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Personal Challenge

Is it possible to be a follower of Christ and live as everyone else in the world lives? Not really. God paid a very expensive price to redeem us from the grip of death and this world. He continues to pay a price by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It is our responsibility, and our privilege, to glorify God in our body and spirit. This will always set us at odds with the world. We cannot be a true follower of Christ and a full blown citizen of this world at the same time. Only one of these will become our master. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

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.

Encouraging Words

So many people turn away from the thought of becoming a follower of Christ because they think their life will be restricted by a myriad of rules and regulations. They believe it is too high of a price to pay. However, Paul points out to us that Jesus fulfilled the Law and that we are actually free in Christ. As we grow in our relationship with Him we begin to understand that we are really free to do whatever we want in life, but we choose to do those things that glorify and edify Him. The things of this world are no longer attractive to us. We also learn that pursuing the things of this world begins to bind us to this world and get in the way of our relationship with God. As we mature in Christ we gladly give up the things of this world for the things of God. Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 6:11

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.

Encouraging Words

The preceding verses to this one calls out all of the things that we were before we became followers of Christ. We were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, and all other sorts of people that lived our lives apart from God. Anything, no matter how big or small, that separates us from God is bad and needs to be removed from our lives. As we enter into His family through baptism and chrismation, we are cleansed from these past sins and made whole before our Lord. Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Personal Challenge

There are some in the church today that believe it is their responsibility to be judges of those in the world. That is not true. Only God can be the true godly and righteous judge. We are called to be beacons of light into a dark world, shining His light to all. This is bringing His Gospel to the lost. We cannot do this and be judges at the same time. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Corinthians 4:10

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

Personal Challenge

What is the most important thing in our lives? Is it Jesus Christ? If it is not, then something of this world is. Does the world look at us and our everyday behavior, and call us a fool because we have given ourselves over to Him and live as He would live? If not, then we are living for ourselves and not God. I must search my own life and identify those areas where I have not submitted to my Lord and seek forgiveness for holding on to the things of Egypt rather than yielding to the promised land. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Personal Challenge

We so often confuse knowledge with wisdom. It is one thing to be very learned and full of a lot of information about things, even important things, but it is entirely something else to have the wisdom to know how or when to apply that knowledge. We have become a people of the information age and are experts at collecting a lot of information. But if we do not have the wisdom of God within us, and most importantly, are willing to listen to that voice of wisdom, then we are fools before God and man and deceived. It is more important to know God intimately than to know volumes of information about Him. He wants us to become fools in this world for Him so that He can make us wise in Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Encouraging Words

Just as we can never, in our finite state, know and understand the greatness of our God, we will never know until we enter into His Kingdom, the wonderful things that He has prepared for us. We do not just live our lives in the present day for the gifts that He has bestowed upon us, but we live in the hope of all that He has prepared for us into eternity. Glory be to God!