QT/Daily Devotion for 1/28/2021

 S: When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worship idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

    It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside, but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

 

O: Here Paul warns the Corinthians to not tolerate church-goers who actively participate in sin. He is not referring to people who do not attend church regularly, but those who are known amongst the congregation. It is interesting how he flat-out refers to them as “evil”. There seems to be a lot of venom towards them; probably because they CLAIM to follow Jesus, but defiantly do not obey God’s commands. It saddens me to see how relevant this is today. Just yesterday, I finally realized why I left my last church recently. Part of the problem was how tolerant it was of the congregation’s sin. As long as they attend regularly, tithe faithfully, and do not cause any problems with other people then whatever they do is acceptable.

 

A: My entire adult life, I could not understand why my fellow church-goers were still immature in their faith. I did not think it was unreasonable to assume that if they grew up going to church then by the time they graduate high school their faith should be at a higher level. Yet it remained at a very shallow level, and they do not appear any differently from non-believers. In fact, some of them have worse character than non-church-goers. It bothered me for years, and it is just now why I realize it is the case. The church leaders were far too tolerate of their congregation’s sin. They should have been more disciplined and strict. Love does not equal tolerance. Love sometimes means rebuking people so they can do better.

 

P: Almighty God of Love,

            Show Your children Your glory once again. Let us not be complacent, and take Your name in vain! Show us the error of our ways so we can repent, and worship You as only You deserve. May the church leaders lovingly rebuke those who openly sin, and truly disciple the congregation. May we be known as carriers of Your glory, and not our own.


Amen.

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