First Baptist Church of Diana, Texas

1 Corinthians 7:10-16—If You are Married

After waiting an especially long time for our lunch to be served in a usually prompt restaurant, the inexperience of our waiter became very evident. I had specifically asked for the guacamole to be served on the side and the sour cream to remain in the kitchen. But there they were, sitting in the middle of my crisp lettuce and grilled chicken. I had a decision to make. Should I refuse the lunch and send it back to the kitchen? Should I simply scoop the sour cream away and be content with the meal?

My actions were tempered by my conversations with my waiter. It was clear he had no relationship with Christ. His stepfather kicked him out of the house when he was 16 and he, now 21, had just moved 1,100 miles because a friend promised he could get work in Longview.  He walked to work each day because he had no car and shared an apartment with 3 other males. My reaction was to accept his apology and tolerate his incompetence. It was a choice I could make.

In this passage the same principle is applied to the marriage relationship. There is an acknowledgement of the stress on a marriage relationship due to differing beliefs about the Lord. Even so, the choice is up to the believer. As long as they remain together the believer, whether the husband or the wife, has a godly influence over the other as well as the children.

So many outcomes of our lives come down to a choice. We can choose to be angry. We can choose to be vengeful. We can choose to be forgiving. We can choose to be patient. We can choose to be kind. We can choose to be Godly. What choices will you make today?

Prayer Challenge
Stop and think about 5 specific members of your Life Group and pray for them to maintain a pure heart before the Lord. Every member of your Life Group will face some kind of temptation today. Your prayers of intercession will make a difference in their lives.

Ministry Challenge
Think about someone in the church not in your Life Group that you make contact with for encouragement. You might want to plan a special deed to serve them. 

Mission Challenge
First Baptist Church will be hosting a VBS Kick-off party this Saturday morning. Would you pray for those who are helping and think about an unchurched family you could invite to attend?

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or  prayer time?

What did I say to God?