Week beginning Monday 9th November

1 Corinthians 7 & 8

Am I really focused on God?

This seems to be the crux of Paul’s writings in these two chapters. There is so much in life that can distract us from God…even our closest relationships. Paul seems to be checking our life practices against the freedom we have in Christ against the need to consider others and God ahead of ourselves.

I like Paul’s honesty in these chapters as he acknowledges that he is not offering wisdom directly from Jesus but from his own understandings – this can still be truth for us as we discern where the Spirit is guiding and counselling us. This also shows there is flexibility in scripture to wrestle with some things ourselves – always in the light of the gospel and the life of Christ.

I recently read a line somehwhere that says “we would be surprised to know how hard it is to get God angry” and I think this applies to what Paul is saying here about our relationships and practices. The defining and challenging truth is to ask the question “Am I really focused on God and loving others?” Answer this and we will know the path to follow. [Prayer - Lord you are first in all things help me make it so. AMEN]

Week beginning Monday 2nd Nov

1 Corinthians 5 & 6

How much do you really love?

In these chapters Paul is confronting behaviours that are in conflict with a loving community. He highlights practices that demean people and demean a covenant relationship with God. These passages have been used to abuse people who are different and give justification to judgementalism. But we need to read these in the context of God’s love. It is actually Paul’s deep and abiding love for these people that he directs such confronting action such as expelling a person from the faith community for inappropriate behaviours. A check on our motivations are always necessary – the first question needs to be “Do I love these people?” And I believe we need to stay with this question for a long time to really test our hearts. This is not about being right…this is about being loving. Once love is real then confrontation will be the consequence.

Like all scripture the first place to reflect on its truth is in the mirror. What behaviours of mine conflict with a covenantal relationship with God and demean others? Confrontation is always to be coupled with humilty, love, power and a sound mind. It is as the power of Jesus (i.e. love) is present that confronting love is real.