Posts

Showing posts from October, 2017

Pendulum

1 Corinthians 7:1-6 1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. One of the clichés upon which I was raised was “all thing in moderation” which was first e

Freedom to Flee

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 12  “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13  “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14  And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18  Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy

I Remember Your Name in the Night

Image
Psalm 119:49-56 49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. 51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. 52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. 53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. 54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. 55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law. 56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. One of the difficulties that beset us as we age can be sleepless nights. I had heard that idea several years ago and hoped that it wasn’t something I was going to have to face. Well, whoever told me that was right. The nights can be long and sleepless sometimes. But what I am also learning is that those hours of darkness can provide times of quiet reflection and conversation w

The Problem of Consistent Sin

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11  And such were some of you. 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. These words from Paul come down with harsh judgment for those who would flaunt their sin and rich grace for those who would trust in Jesus as their Savior. Three short verses bring the Law and Gospel into sharp view. But let me just say – it’s a bummer to write about because the current climate in our culture tolerates none of this conversation. Let’s be honest; we all have our pet sins. We all hope God looks the other way as we indulge the flesh in ways that are inconsistent with a l