July 22
________________________________________
UNDISTRACTED DEVOTION TO THE LORD
32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
________________________________________
In the earlier verses of this letter of Paul to the Corinthians, he had been advising the Corinthian believers to stay unmarried or be where they are when they are called by the Lord. In this part of his letter, he warns them from being distracted by many concerns in the world. He presented a comparison of the married versus the unmarried in terms of their distractions and priorities. Paul says in verse 32 that he wishes them all to be free from many concerns. In verses 33-34, he illustrates the ways that marriage can bring some distractions in the believer’s life. He points out that the married wife or husband’s interests are divided. The unmarried man or woman is concerned with the things of the Lord and can give their full attention to serving the Lord, whereas the married man or woman have to fulfill their duties to their spouses which may bring a conflict in interest. It can compete with one’s priority and attention that should be wholeheartedly given to the Lord. There are less responsibilities and duties to a single person rather than those with spouses and children.
I can attest to the distraction that marriage can bring to one’s walk with the Lord. It is very easy for us to please the one we married and make them first than the Lord. Of course, Paul wasn’t prohibiting marriage, but merely pointing out how easily we can make our spouses and children idols that may compete with making the Lord first in everything. Before I was truly saved, my life was focused on serving my husband rather than making the Lord first. I am thankful to the Lord that He has corrected this. Now, my husband knows that my Lord comes first in my life. He knows I love him but my love for my Master can never compare with my love for anyone else. It took a while before he understood what that meant. We must seek to secure undistracted devotion to our Lord and Savior.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can married people avoid making idols of their spouses?
Monthly Archives: August 2021
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE UNMARRIED ILMA’S VLOG
July 21
________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE UNMARRIED
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think, then, that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the present form of this world is passing away. – 1 Corinthians 7:25-31
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul addresses the unmarried. He uses the word virgin both for men and women who haven’t been committed to someone in a covenant. Paul wrote this letter approximately in the year 53-54 AD according to some bible introductions to this book. Persecutions of believers started and Stephen had been martyred. Roman Emperor Nero began his cruel persecutions of Christians. During these times, it was completely illegal to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. To declare that you are a follower of Jesus was considered a capital crime against the state of Rome. It was during these “distressed” times that Paul wrote this letter. Eusebius, a Christian who wrote a history of the early church in around 300 AD wrote a description of the unthinkable torture and executions of early believers. Husbands, wives, children, the elderly, pastors or anyone who admitted that they were a follower of Christ, would be denied disowned by their own families because of the impact it would have on their own lives. They were almost considered criminals against the Roman Empire.
It is in this context that Paul instructs the single men and women of the body of believers. He says that the Lord has not commanded this, but because of such circumstances they are experiencing. He is advising the unmarried to stay single and to stay put whatever situation they are at that moment. Being a follower of Jesus has presented many challenges because of the Roman oppression of faith in Jesus. Paul isn’t discouraging marriage, but presents the advantages of remaining single in the time of distress.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Is Paul’s advice to the unmarried still applicable in our current times now? How?
REMAIN WITH GOD IN THE CONDITION YOU WERE CALLED ilma’s vlog
REMAIN WITH GOD IN THE CONDITION YOU WERE CALLED
17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And so, I direct in all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each person is to remain in that state in which he was called. 21 Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is the Lord’s freed person; likewise, the one who was called as free, is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24 Brothers and sisters, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
________________________________________
In this part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he explains the importance of remaining with God whatever condition you were experiencing when you were called. If you were called when you were single or married, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, slave or free, you need to stay with the Lord and continue to serve him and be used by him for his kingdom purpose. Paul mentions circumcision and uncircumcision as an example here. He knows that the Jews place so much emphasis on the importance of circumcision before they can be accepted. Paul is not discounting their adherence to their Mosaic laws as long as they don’t impose their laws as a requirement to be called in God’s kingdom. Paul’s ministry focused on bringing the gospel to the Gentiles as well. Circumcision and slavery is not the topic in this part of his letter. He was actually reminding those who are called to serve Christ to remain in the place they are holding when they were first called. In other words, we do not have to wait for things to change before we serve the Lord. Verse 20 clearly tells us that we are to stay put where we are.
Sadly, many of us have a different view of what it is to be a Christian. We place so much conditions before we actually wear the new nature in Christ. Our fallen nature discourages us to accept the invitation of Jesus without adding our contribution to the salvific act of Christ. We think we can add something from our own effort to change our conditions when God called us first. We need to obey and let the grace and mercy of God transform our lives instead of doing it ourselves. Only God can transform and save us.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think God asks us to remain where we are when he called us?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNEQUALLY YOKED MARRIAGES ILMA’S VLOG
July 19
________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNEQUALLY YOKED MARRIAGES
12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15 Yet if the unbelieving one is leaving, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? – 1 Corinthians 7:12-16
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul gives clear instructions to those who are in unequally yoked marriages. In Genesis 2:24, the institution of marriage was made, where a man leaves his mother and father and cleaves to his wife and the two becomes one. In Amos 3:3, the prophet asks “Can two walk together unless they have agreed to meet? Clearly Paul honors the sanctity of the covenant of marriage. But in this part of his letter to the Corinthian church, he wants to address those who became believers after they have been already married.
He gives instructions to those who became believers if their spouse are unbelievers. He says that if a man has an unbelieving wife and she agrees to still live with him, he must not divorce her. If on the other hand a wife has an unbelieving husband and he still agrees to live with her, she must not leave or divorce him. Paul presents the sanctification of God in the life of a believer. Because he or she have committed to serve the Lord, God is taking care of the unbelieving spouse. It is not in the place of the believer to convince their spouse to believe, but it is the work of the Spirit to do so. It is a great opportunity for these believers with unbelieving partners to shine the light of the gospel to their spouses.
In this instruction, Paul also gives a way out to those whose unbelieving spouses decide to leave them. They are free and can live in peace. You may ask “Why stay when it is a very difficult situation to have very contrasting views of God and the world?” In Verse 16, Paul gives us the reason why it is important to hold on to those whose unbelieving spouse still wants to stay in the marriage, there is hope for them to hear the gospel and see the work that Christ has done in the life of the believing partner.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can the believing partner maintain peace in unequally yoked marriages?
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SINGLE AND THE MARRIED ILMA’S VLOG
July 18
________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SINGLE AND THE MARRIED
7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife. – 1 Corinthians 7:7-11
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul advises both single and married people. He reminds them that his wishes is for them to be like him, single and serving the Lord. He recognizes the fact that each one had been given different gifts to use to do kingdom work. In verse 8, he addresses the single and the widows. He wants them to remain unmarried. Why? I think that Paul presents the upside of being single. When one is single, they can focus on serving the Lord with undivided attention. When one is married, there comes many distractions to making God our focus. There will be responsibilities that one needs to take care of and it can sometimes impede in your priorities. There is also a lot of challenges that come with relationships, but God created us for it. The only way we can have healthy relationships with others is when we have a healthy and deep understanding of our relationship with God. Otherwise, we will fail in our foremost role of being a servant of Christ.
Even though Paul warns them of the troubles they will face when married, in verse 8, he gives them a solution to their passion. He recommends to marry and have their own husband or wife. In verse 10, he gives them the consequence of their choice to marry. It is a permanent covenant where they will remain together forever. We still see the wisdom of this teaching because even though the wife decides to leave when they were disallowed to do so, she cannot re-marry. She can be reconciled again to her husband. The husband is instructed never to divorce his wife.
But what do you do when things do not work as you thought it would when you get married? This teaching is clearly for believers. It reiterates the marriage covenant’s permanency and foundation. Since it is God who allowed them to marry each other, no one can break that promise, not even their own selves. God gives a way out for those who didn’t enter this covenant agreement in God’s perspective.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it better to be single when you are a Christian?
DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES TOWARDS EACH OTHER ILMA’S VLOG
July 17
________________________________________
DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES TOWARDS EACH OTHER
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife also to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise, the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of command. – 1 Corinthians 7:1-6
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul addresses the teaching on marriage. He talks about how a man shouldn’t touch a woman. Because of the existing issues about sexual immorality in the church at Corinth, he advises the men to marry and have his own wife, and likewise the women to have her own husband. He then explains the duties of husbands and wives once they commit to be with each other in verses 3-5. They both have a duty to fulfill to each other. In verse 4, he reminds the wife that since she became one with her husband, she now does not have authority or ownership to her own body and vice-versa with the husband. It is interesting how the world twists the concept of marriage. When a man and a woman marry one another, they still think that they can do what they want with their own bodies or that they have authority over it. Many worldly couples please their own selves and there is no covenant to keep each other holy and fulfilled with one another. In verse 5, Paul advises them to ensure that they do not deprive one another of their own bodies if they are married. The only thing that should stop them from indulging in pleasuring each other is when they have to come together to pray. In other words, Paul is explaining that God still comes first in their relationship if they have committed to Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just like a man and woman becomes one flesh when they get married, believers and Jesus Christ becomes one as well. We need to submit to each other as husbands and wives and submit to Christ as our head in our spiritual lives.
Sadly, many worldly people operate individually even when they get married. They do what they want when they were still single and never submitted to each other. When they do this, they give Satan the power to destroy their relationship
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why would the world not understand the concept of submission to each other?
THE BODY BELONGS TO THE LORD ILMA’S VLOG
July 16
________________________________________
THE BODY BELONGS TO THE LORD
12 All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, however God will do away with both of them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? Far from it! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that 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 Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore, glorify God in your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul reminds the believers that although all things are allowed, it doesn’t mean that everything is beneficial. He explains the importance of not being consumed by anything. In verse 13, he sets the boundaries for believers to remember: that food is for the stomach but the body isn’t for sexual immorality. Paul tells them that their bodies belong to Christ and since it does, they need to keep it pure and holy. In verse 15, he replicates again to them that if they belong to Christ, then their bodies are parts of Him.
Peter warns the believers that they must never ever join themselves with prostitutes. Since Christ is their husband and believers as the wife. In verse 16, Paul reiterates to them the sanctity of marriage in Genesis 2:24 says Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Just like a man and a woman becomes one, the believer is one with Christ’s spirit.
In verse 18, Paul reproves the believers to run away from any sexual immorality. He says that a sexually immoral person is committing a sin against his own body. As a servant of God, He owns us and so our bodies are not ours. We need to keep it sanctified for the Lord. ________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important for Christians to keep their bodies pure and holy?