Good morning. It’s Tuesday, March 21, 2023. I never saw this side of Paul the Apostle. Today he gets a bit cynical and uses wry humor with a twist of lemon juice to press home a point: the Church’s internal system is clogged! Read on …
Today's Reading:
Joshua 9,10,11; 1 Corinthians 6
Scripture
"Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, why appoint as judges men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?" (1 Corinthians 6:4-5)
Observation
Paul uses a bit of sarcasm! One translation says, "Why do you use outsiders to judge Christians?" Paul continues: "Shame on you!" His point is that God expects us to resolve disputes within the Church with wisdom, maturity, and biblical expediency. If we in the Church cannot do this among ourselves, we've clogged our system with excess flesh such as pride and greed. If we amputate or marginalize other Christians who disagree with us, why should non-believers join our ranks? If we tolerate schisms, splits, and slanders, why do we preach that others should become like us "Christians?"
I wish it weren't so, but it happens!
Application
When we tolerate relational distances between believers, we make ourselves unusable to God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:2 - "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it … For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?"
How mature are we? Really? Not "how many years have we been Christians," but how mature are we? For example, do we still tolerate unresolved strife? Are we yet jealous when others do it better? These determinants will mark the true level of our maturity.
Prayer
Father, start with me. Help me to dwell in Your Word to such an extent that I can resolve disputes or disagreements in a way that pleases You! And along the way, coach me on how to toss anything that hinders me from receiving from You! I cannot allow any clog in my spiritual plumbing, so if I need a divine rotor rooter, please start with me.
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