READ: Song of Songs 1,2; Psalms 59; 1 Corinthians 5
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 5: 6
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole
batch of dough?
7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you
really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with
malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
OBSERVATION: In 1 Corinthians
5, Paul addresses another critical problem that existed in the Corinth Church. Corinth
believers may have boasted about their spirituality and acceptance of all in
the Church. But Paul questions against their boasting. What was wrong with the
Corinth believers? They turned a blind eye to the sexual immorality of a believer.
Some Christians may think that how could we be responsible for others’
mistakes. It seems the Corinth Church was aware of the man’s sin, yet they did
not confront or forbid him to attend the Church. Taking stringent actions
against such persons is good for the health of the Church. It would provide an
opportunity for the concerned person to repent and reconcile with God. Other
believers will be warned and protected against such heinous sins. So, Paul uses
a familiar metaphor of yeast that leavens the dough to make his point clear.
Like “a little yeast leavens the
whole batch of dough,” one man’s sin could affect the whole Church if it does
not correctly handle it. The church of God should not allow a person to corrupt
other believers. Therefore, the Church should get rid of a person who lives an
immoral life. The followers of Christ need to put away their old yeast, their
former sinful practices that defiled them before they accepted Christ. Instead,
they need to acknowledge who they are in Christ. When we celebrate the
sacrifice of our Lord Jesus that sanctified us, we should do it with sincerity
and truth. We should not allow ourselves to gratify the sinful desires of our
flesh. Instead, we must crucify our old self with Christ and clothe ourselves
with the Lord Jesus.
APPLICATION: As a Christian, I
should be sensitive to the consequences of tolerating the sins within the
Church, even if others commit them. I am sanctified by faith through the
sacrifice of Christ. I should not give a foothold to the devil. The Bible says,
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and
peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim.2:22).
I live by faith and with Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you
for your sacrifice that helps us to enjoy a personal relationship with God, his
forgiveness, and love. Lord, help me be careful about the dangers of sin and
get rid of anything that traps me in sin. My God, I desire to live a life that pleases
you. Help me, Oh Lord! Amen.
- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573
Day - 241
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