1 Corinthians 5-11

Tonight’s blog covers two days of readings and contains many instructions from Paul to the Corinthians…and to us.  Underlying all of his exhortations is the belief that we need to consider others before we consider ourselves…to put others first.  Our freedom in Christ (which I have yet to fully comprehend!) does not give us license to act in any old heathen way.  Rather, we are to use our freedom to better others.

If something that we do causes someone else to stumble and sin, then we shouldn’t do it.  That’s why it is a good idea to not serve alcohol at a dinner party if one of your guests is a recovering alcoholic.  Paul tells us to live in peace with each other.  This doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to a fellow believer’s sin.  It means we hold each other accountable, and we fit ourselves to meet the needs of others.

³³ I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

And yet…in Ephesians we are told to not be menpleasers…but to work to please God.  How can these two statements be reconciled?  How can we try to please everyone in everything we do and still only work to please God?  The key, I think, is that here Paul is speaking in the context of working so that others may be saved.  So when we are setting out, like Paul, to deliberately share the gospel, it is good to frame our words and our actions in such a way that we are not offensive.

That’s where the power of the Holy Spirit comes in, too.  When we give it over to Him, He will guide our words and give us what we need to reach the people he has placed in our paths.

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Fibromyalgia Update

This evening before I did my acupuncture/electrical treatment, I had a raging backache and was beginning to experience my chest pain.  (I can definitely tie my pain level to my stress level.  Today was our CC day!)  But now I am feeling sleepy, and my pain has definitely diminished.

THANK YOU, Lord, for leading me to try this avenue of healing that does not use drugs!  Perhaps through this journey, the Lord will use me to give hope to others.