Sunday's lesson came from 1 Corinthians 5:6-13. In these verses Paul gives the reason for his instructions in verses 1-5 not to allow an unrepentant sinning church member to remain in the fellowship. He compares sin to the yeast in bread dough. The characteristic of yeast is that it grows and becomes part of all the dough, even though there are just a few grains of it added to the batch. Sin is like that. It will infect everyone around it and spread.
Paul says Christians are unleavened. That is, at salvation, our sin was forgiven, covered by Jesus' blood, cast as far as the east is from the west. We need to stay that way by remaining clean and "confessed up." Sin in our midst carries the danger of getting into us, too.
He also says Jesus is our Passover. Whenever we see the word "passover" in Scripture, we should think of freedom from bondage because that's what the Passover event was all about. Jesus provided freedom from the bondage of sin when He died on the cross for us and rose again on the third day. That is what we celebrate each time we meet with other Christians at our local church
Allowing, and even boasting of, unrepentant sin in our fellowship makes a mockery of Jesus' sacrifice for us.
In contrast, Paul also says that as Church members, we ought to mingle with the lost people of our community in order to reach them for Christ. How very often do we get this principle backward, just like the Corinthians. We avoid the "heathen" in our communities like the plague while turning a blind eye to--or even worse, condoning--sin within our fellowships instead of ministering to and loving on the "heathen" while avoiding sin within our fellowships.
As I've thought over these truths, I've considered purity. For years I've sung the song Refiner's Fire: Purify my heart, make me be like gold, pure gold. Refiner's fire, my heart's one desire is to be holy, set apart for You Lord, I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master, ready to do Your will.
I've had some difficult times in my life. The years surrounding the births of my children were physically harrowing, I've lost loved ones, suffered through broken relationships within my family (parents and in-laws), and been oppressed by Satan in my spiritual life. But I really had no idea what the Refiner's Fire was all about until now.
Last week I read Exodus 23. This chapter lays out law examples. These are pictures for the people to see and follow. The teaching plainly allows for accidents, but holds willfull misconduct up for severe punishment. This is because of the need to preserve holiness in view of their Holy God. How far we have slid since then in our view of the holiness of God. I think we become numb to the sin and excess around us in our society and then get dragged down into it ourselves.
I also read Psalm 26. This psalm is a prayer for purity and redemption. This is my prayer. "Look into my heart, O God, and see what is there. All of it. Then purify all of it."
"Be merciful to me O Lord, my foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless the Lord." -v.11,12.
No matter what happens to me with this cancer, or how I feel on any given day, my foot stands in an even place. The Lord looks out for me. He sees me covered in Jesus' blood and He has redeemed me. How can I do anything but praise His name?
God is holy. He has all things under His control, and Ineed to live a pure life that He can use 100% to bring about His plans. I don't want to get in the way.
Use me Lord!
