Sep 2nd

1 Samuel 26     Ezekiel 5     1 Corinthians 7     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In today’s reading Paul takes us through the topics of sex, marriage, divorce, immorality, status, circumcision, slavery and possession. Where to start?

This passage is Paul under the guidance of God, speaking into specific life situations. It can be easy to read Paul as a very hard line definitive answer on many hot topics of the day; instead Paul himself offers much of what he writes from experience. This doesn’t null and void the passage but adds the weight that he himself is living out what he offers.

The exciting and challenging thread that Paul weaves amongst all of his talk of sex, marriage, circumcision and status is one of being free to follow Christ. He talks into specifics to help us align our lives and our priorities. He tells us in verse 17 that each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has put them in, instead of debating differences in lifestyle he seems more interested in how we live out our faith in the situation we are in. It can be so easy to question why our life looks a certain way, choices may have played out differently from how we expected. Perhaps other people’s choices have had a knock on for our lives. The challenge Paul lays down is to not spend all our time and energy, worrying, challenging, fighting and trying to change our life, but instead to find ways to honour, worship and follow Jesus in the life we lead. God is there to share in our joys and pain of life and will always be so.

Perhaps today we could look for where we see God at work in and around our daily routine and join him in it. Honouring, worshipping and living out our faith in the little things.

(lay member of staff)

Sep 1st

1 Samuel 25     Ezekiel 4     1 Corinthians 6     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Actions can speak louder than words.

Or a picture conveys a 1000 words….

Look at Abigail’s actions in 1 Samuel 25. She was certainly discerning and intelligent, v 3. Hospitality is a very important obligation in the Middle East and by turning down David’s request, Nabal, her husband invited judgment on himself and his whole household. Abigail’s actions are quick and effective; she rode on ahead with donkeys loaded with provisions, 200 loaves, 2 skins of wine, not forgetting 5 roast sheep and all the rest. She was able to turn aside David’s anger by her thoughtful actions.

In Ezekiel 4 the prophet Ezekiel engages in street theatre of the most extreme kind. This is an oracle about the downfall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Ezekiel’s dramatic actions conveyed a divine message. He was tied up and lived on rationed food and drink, all signs of the coming siege of Jerusalem.

Finally in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 there is a long list of sinful actions –all leading to judgment. We are reminded that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The strongest action or verb comes in v 18, flee, “flee from sexual immorality”. Flee – run away – escape – get out quick. Sometimes the best way of avoiding temptation is to run away from it, literally, get out of the situation fast , and leave it far behind.

We are reminded at the end, in v 19, that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit no less.

Make sure your actions portray that today. Remember your actions speak louder than words.

(member of the PCC)