Your Identity in Christ
• As a disciple of Christ, I am willing to be held to the standard of God’s Word by my brothers and sisters in Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
…But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
~ Apostle Paul,
Yesterday we were reminded that Christians are expected to be in assocation with people “of this world” as Jesus was (and is!) -- without a judgmental or condemnatory approach.
But as we read in the verses above, Paul (and God who inspired his words) does speak of a group of people that we are supposed to judge, condemning their sinful actions. Who are they? They are the ones who categorize themselves as followers of Jesus yet persist in lives identified by God as sexually immoral, greedy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards and/or swindlers.
Here we are told specifically to judge (and expel) this wicked-but-claiming-to-be-a-disciple-of-Jesus type.
Prayer
Father God, I am Your disciple. By Your Spirit, let me rise to the calling to live a holy life. You say this is possible because You have given me the faith to do so (2 Peter 1:3).
When I fall, pick me up through my brothers or sisters. And when my brothers or sisters fall, use me to help pick them up.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation Scripture
Psalm 103:1-6
- Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. - Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits— - who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases, - who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, - who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. - The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
Micro-Meditation
Teaching or Command of God
2 Timothy 2:8-9
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
James 5:15
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Micro-Meditation Pondering Point
List the sins that God has forgiven you – then write thanks for each one being forgiven in Jesus.