A Life Worthy

“Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both (1 Corinthians 6:13a).

The Corinthians were just full of pithy little sayings like this.

First it was, “Everything is permissible for me.” Paul agreed, but pointed out that not every habit is helpful, and some are downright dangerous.

“Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food” was a way of saying that just as food comes and goes (no need to picture that) without affecting my spiritual self–my true self–so anything else I do with my body is unrelated to my spiritual life. Again, Paul conceded the point with regards to food, but then reminds the Corinthians that God is ultimately in charge of food and stomach and everything else. 

See, here’s the thing: the Corinthians aren’t really talking about food. They’re talking–prepare yourself, Beloved–they’re talking about sex. Yep, they’re trying to make the case that, just like food, sexy time happens in the flesh but does not affect the spirit. Tune in Monday, and we’ll see what Paul has to say about that.

But I’m guessing you already have an idea.

Happy Friday, Beloved

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11b).

Stop

Take a moment

Breathe

Consider this verse. Realize that, if you are Christ’s, it applies to you.

You are clean.

You are set apart for God.

You are declared righteous before Him.

All the sin that was woven into the fabric of you has been carted off and dumped in the sea.

Jesus has done this for you.

You 

Of course you don’t deserve it–that’s the whole point.

Now, go and live your day like you believe this.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?  (1 Corinthians 6:9a).

The kingdom of God.

Jesus talked about it.

So did the Apostles.

It’s a present reality and a future promise for God’s people.

And it’s not for the wicked.

Now, Paul is about to launch into a list of the kinds of people who will not be in the kingdom, but before we start our checklist, let’s fix our eyes on the main point:

Jesus.

It’s pretty much always Jesus.

You see, without Jesus, we all fall into the “wicked” box, even if we manage to tiptoe our way through Paul’s checklist of sins. We all belong firmly to the “There is no one who is righteous; no, not one” category.  

With Jesus, and by God’s grace, we are forgiven–even if we tick every box on the list.

So, last week Paul was talking about lawsuits among believers, and how it would be better to allow yourself to be cheated than to take a brother to court and spoil our witness to the world. Better to humbly accept being wronged than to fight as the world fights. He then laments that Christians would do things to others that merit lawsuits, that brothers would wrong each other instead of demonstrating the love of Christ.

And then this verse.

It’s a reminder that we have been separated from the world and its ways. We have been cleaned up and set on a new path. If we want to behave as the world behaves, we are walking a path that is no longer meant for us, and that will not take us where we want to go.

So, take the reminder, Beloved. 

Walk the path God has laid out for you this week.

Happy Monday

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? (1 Corinthians 6:7).

If you’re taking a brother to court 

over stuff,

then

the stuff

is more important to you

than the brother.

If

the stuff

is more important to you

than the brother,

then 

you 

have missed 

the whole 

point.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

Jesus said that those who follow him will sit on, “Twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt 19:28). Revelation 20 speaks of these thrones, and those who had been given authority to judge. Peter and Jude and Paul all speak of the judgment that even angels of God will face.

Are we to be those judges?

Seriously?

I have a hard enough time deciding where to stop for lunch.

Yet here is Paul, assuming that we know all this. Taking it for granted.

Look, I get Paul’s point here. If we’re going to be part of the great judgment at the end of all things, surely we can handle the petty disputes that happen here and now.

I’m totally on board with the second part…if I can just get my brain around the first part. 

Which I can’t.

Yet

But I trust God, and I trust that his Word is inspired, and I trust that even things as improbable as this are well within his power.

So I’ll work through the part I get, and let the rest sit on the shelf until the time is right. The approach has served me well thus far.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved