GLORIFY GOD WITH YOUR BODY
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s 1 Corinthians 6:20
When we became born again, we took up a new identity, name and form. Our old nature was taken away; we were transferred from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom. There are many things which we were involved in before that we thought were lawful and we were at liberty to do, but our new identity won’t want us to do anymore because they don’t fit in. In Christ, we have liberty to do all things, but not all of them are good for us, and even if we are allowed to do them, we shouldn’t become slaves to them. The sin of immorality is the only sin the Bible records that is committed against the body. Our body is designed for God’s purposes and is not meant for sexual immorality. Our body belongs to God, and he cares about it; we have been joined together with God as one body. When we sin with our body, we dishonour God. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be consecrated to Him.
As children of God, we do not own ourselves because Jesus has purchased us with a price; we must therefore honour him with our bodies. Christ sets us free so we can do what God wants us to do and not what our flesh tells us. Let us glorify God in our body and our spirit because a great price has been paid for it. Do you do anything you like with your body because you have freedom to do so, or do you live deliberately, honouring God with your body?
Prayer
Help me Lord to always glorify You with my body.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 68 Leviticus 19, – Lev20; Mk 14: 43-72; Proverbs 6:30-35
DIVINE DESIGN FOR SINGLES AND MARRIED
1 Corinthians 7:1-9
And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2
God, in his wisdom, has laid down certain rules and principles to guide every believer regarding the issue of singlehood and marriage, and we are expected to abide by them. When we deviate from them and begin to implement our own standard, we fault the rule of God. Being married and being single are both gifts from God, and there is grace for both states in which the primary goal is to glorify God. Marriage is God’s ordained institution, although it is not merely for procreation but for mutual pleasure and protection. God has given husband and wife the right to sexual intimacy with each other, and neither of them has exclusive authority over their own body. They belong to each other and are expected to always render due benevolence to each other. Withholding intimacy should only be a temporary, mutual agreement for spiritual devotion, like fasting and prayers. Chastity is legitimate and good; it’s even preferable for singles, as it allows for unhindered devotion to the Lord. The gift of singleness is not given to all.
As believers, we need to be content in our current state (single or married) while seeking to please the Lord. Married couples need to serve one another selflessly and should not be consumed with selfishness; they need to recognise that marriage helps maintain purity and sanity in the body of Christ. Let us stick to God’s design regardless of our marital status.
Prayer
Cause me Lord to be able to glorify You always, regardless of my marital status.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 69 Leviticus 21, -Lev 22; Mk15:1-32; Psalm 31:19-24
DIVORCE NOT ALLOWED
1 Corinthians 7:10-16; Matt 19:3-6
“And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female” Matthew 19:4
In our present-day society, divorce has become the order of the day; couples are divorcing for the simplest reasons. Even the body of Christ is not left out. Marriage is a divine institution, and it is an engagement for life by God’s appointment. The church in Corinthians allowed the menace of divorce happening in their society at that time to enter the church. Apostle Paul, in addressing the issue, told them what is obtainable for them as believers. He warned that the wife must not separate from her husband and vice versa. And if this must happen, both of them must remain unmarried. If a believing husband or wife has an unbelieving partner, he should stay and treat him/her right; their actions towards each other are likely to lead to the salvation of the other.
God views marriage as a lifelong covenant, and that has not changed. Commitment in marriage is designed to reflect God’s steadfastness, meaning the institution of marriage itself is worthy of protection. When our marriages follow God’s template, the world will take note and come to us for direction. Don’t let the world’s view make us see divorce as an option. Marriage is good, and there are still good marriages. Are you committed to your spouse? Are there issues you have to deal with to preserve the love and essence of your marriage?
Prayer
Dear Lord, bless our homes and marriages, so we can keep living in harmony. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 70 Leviticus 23, – 2 Lev.24; Mark 15:33-47; Psalm 32
LIVE AS YOU ARE CALLED
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called 1 Corinthians 7:20
We serve a God of new beginnings; when we gave our lives to Christ, we became a new creature, and a lot of things about us changed. We have a new identity, a new family name and a new Father. The life we have lived in the past cannot be erased, but we are no longer living that past life. Regardless of who we are, our status, whether married or single, divorced, widowed, remarried, or whatever it is, God is willing to work in our lives. We cannot change the past, but we can work for the Lord with our current status. God was able to get to us where we are, and he is not asking us to undo our past concerning our relationship/dealings with others, so instead of seeking external circumstances to bring happiness, discover contentment by faithfully living the life God has assigned for you.
God calls individuals to Himself in their current state, and the goal is to transform them to become all He wants them to be. What matters to God is our service and not trying to change our identity or past life. Serve God in the condition He finds you in and trust Him to take you, transform you, and use you for His glory. Remain in the call God has called you to.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for calling me in my state based on Your mercy. I trust you to make me all You have ordained me to be. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 71 Leviticus 25; – Lev 26:1-13; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 33:1-11
DEVOTION TO GOD
1 Corinthians 7:25-35
You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
Our primary focus as children of God is to serve the Lord with all that he has given to us – our time, talent, skill, gifts and resources. We are called to care for the things of the Lord, whether as single or married. As individuals, we have concerns about certain things, but God wants us to serve without those concerns. Apostle Paul in our text shows us the level of individuals’ devotion to God; he emphasises the attitude of the singles and married towards the things of God. The unmarried people have an advantage in that they care about the things of the Lord without complication, with an undivided mind, and all their focus is on God, whereas the married ones have divided attention; they’re carried away by their family needs, and this takes away most of their time and may shift their concentration away from God’s service.
God expects us to care for His things without divided minds. Managing ourselves and our time well is of benefit to us; it helps us live in the right way, focusing on God without restrictions. God demands total devotion from us, and we must do all it takes to balance our affairs so they don’t impede our fellowship and service to Him. We have to see beyond everything and focus on offering acceptable services unto the Lord. How committed are you to your service unto the Lord?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to be continuously devoted to You. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 72 Leviticus 26:14-46 Lev 27; Luke 1:1-25; Proverbs 7;1-5
LET LOVE LEAD 1
1 Corinthians 8:1-9
Now concerning things offered to idols we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies 1 Corinthians 8:1
We often neglect true knowledge about something and just work on the surface. It is important that we know about the basic things of life and the environment we live in. When we are clueless about what the Lord expects us to know, we become open to the devil, and he takes advantage of our ignorance and begins to deal with us. Knowledge is power, and it is very important in our dealings as children of God. Understand that knowledge and love are key. Apostle Paul argues that if someone thinks they know everything, then they truly don’t know as they ought to know. A true understanding of God brings about love and humility, not arrogance. He made them know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and the only God that exists in heaven and on earth is the God from whom all things proceed, who lives forever.
The main issue was not even the food offered to idols. Paul’s major concern was fellow believers living as though others don’t matter. No regard for how their actions or inactions could derail the faith of others. It is great to be knowledgeable and understand the things of God, but this must be within the ambit of God’s love. Love considers the sensibilities of weaker Christians who still have some growing up to do. Knowledge without love will always produce pride and animosity. Today, decide to grow in knowledge and love. This is how you protect the weak among the sheep until they come of age. Your superior knowledge must not be a stumbling block to others.
Prayer:
Lord, cause me to grow in love and knowledge. May my knowledge never be a stumbling block to weak or young believers.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 73 Numbers 1, -Num 2:1-9; Luke 1:26-38; Psalm 33:12-22
LET LOVE LEAD 2
1 Corinthians 8:7-13
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble’ 1 Corinthians 8:13
Our actions and reactions as believers should be guided by love. God uses love to settle everything because he will always say, ‘I say to you, love.’ When we love and show love to our fellow believers, we display/showcase God’s nature. Love is not arrogant, and it is patient; it is in our nature to show love. When we have certain rights and privileges, we shouldn’t use them to undo people; rather, we should use them to show other examples of the nature of God in us. The exercise of our actions shouldn’t become a stumbling block to others. Our text reviews how Paul admonished that everything we do should be love-based. He made them understand that there was nothing wrong with eating the food sacrificed to idols, but if that was going to make the next brother/sister fall into sin, we should avoid it.
Not everyone possesses the knowledge to know that there is nothing like food sacrifice to an idol, but for the fact that their conscience is weak, we do not need to eat around them because the food doesn’t bring us close to God. Christ died for all, so we shouldn’t let our actions make the weak fall; we need to be mindful of what we do around the weak brethren. Let us consider one another before taking any action as believers. Do your actions cause any believer to sin or fall out of faith? Watch it.
Prayer:
Heavenly father help me to love like you.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
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