Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Corinthians+005
CHAPTER 5 (ESV)
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
REFLECTION:
- The Word of God is relentless. It insists that we face up to our sin. Whether that sin is indolence, idolatry, or immorality, we must face it squarely and deal with it decisively. For if that diseased part of the body is not dealt with, not only is the individual member of the body at risk of dying, but it also puts the entire body at risk. Paul urged them to sever all relationships with those sinning people. His purpose is for the protection of the church lest they be led into the same sinful trap.
- When I wanted to point out inappropriate behaviours of someone in the church or cell group, Lord God, please remind me to examine my own behaviour and thought first. Then, give me a deep mourning for them and their sins.
- What will happen to my attitude when I mourn for them and others? How would this affect the prevention of sin’s “yeast effect”?
PRAYER:
Be still before God, attentively listen to His voice; may God deepen my understanding of His holiness. May God establish my heart and give me the strength to live a holy life. With honesty and love, I pray for the church’s behaviors that lack holiness, asking God to have mercy on our weaker brothers and sisters.
HYMN:
Refiners Fire – youtu.be/SQclw7Ptxwc
