Gospel Reading Plan: Acts 5-6
Paul’s First Letter to
the Corinthians: DAY 10
READ 1 Corinthians
6:12-20
In your journal, write
down the things that stick out to you from today’s Bible reading. Respond to
what God shows you as you feel led.
It seems that there were a couple of common phrases used
among the people of Corinth that had been adopted by the Corinthian believers:
“all things are lawful for me”, and “food is meant for the stomach and the
stomach for food”. In other words, “I am free to do whatever I want. If I crave
something, why shouldn’t I have it?”
Paul sought to silence these cultural lies with the truth
that as followers of Christ, the Corinthian believers belonged to the Lord. It
would seem that they had been using these slogans to justify sexual immorality
from which Paul commanded them to flee. This passage reveals much about sexual
sin including:
o A
believer’s body is part of Christ’s body, so a believer who is sexually immoral
sins against Christ. (v 15)
o Sexual
activity creates a spiritual bond, so when committed outside of marriage, an
unhealthy and dangerous bond is created. (v 16)
o Sexual
sin is a sin against one’s own body. (v 18)
o The
body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, so sexual sin defiles the Temple (like
someone literally engaging in sexual sin at the altar of the Temple where holy
sacrifices are meant to be offered) (v 19)
People tend to think that God is a killjoy when it comes
to this topic, but it is to our protection and His glory that He sets the
parameters as He does.
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
1.
Our culture has much in common with
Corinthian society. There are many lies fed to us both through common
conversation and especially through media. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you
some of the lies that are prevalent in our culture. Ask Him to show you which of
these lies you live like you believe, and then ask for His truth in these
things.
2.
How have you known these truths about
sexual sin through your own experiences? How has God spared you from sexual sin
in your life?
3.
Are there areas of sexual sin in your
life (past or present) that have not been dealt with? Consider signing up for
an Encounter God Retreat or a personal prayer ministry session.
