Daily Bible Readings and Devotions
1 Corinthians 7:25-40— If You are Not Married
Some consider it to be a great embarrassment. The truth is, I haven’t purchased a fishing license in the last four years. “Why” some would ask as others would want to know why anyone would ever buy a fishing license. I enjoy fishing, but in the last four years, other matters demanded my attention and a fishing license would have been a distraction. That distraction would have pulled me away from matters that demanded and deserved my devotion.
The Bible approaches a very sensitive subject in our Scripture reading for today concerning the distractions that can come in a marriage relationship. The power verse in our reading is verse 35 when it says, “…to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” I would be cut to my heart if I came to realize that my relationship with my wife was a distraction to her devotion to the Lord. Earlier this week we considered the tension in marriages over money and sexual relations. It is equally sad when couple fuss and fight over devotion to the Lord and the things of God.
I am of the belief that husbands or wives fully devoted to the Lord make the best husbands and wives. If that is the case, it would make little sense for one to be jealous of the other and in any way hinder devotion to the Lord. Of course the best case scenario for the married is that both husband and wife are fully devoted to the Lord and serving him side by side in all they do in life.
A Word to the Men. Are you hindering your wife’s devotion to the Lord? It seems to me it is more common for men to interfere with their wife’s spiritual walk than for wives to interfere with their husbands spiritual walk. From a personal testimony, I can truly say, your wife will love you more when she loves Jesus more. She will be a better wife when she loves Jesus more. She will be more trustworthy when she loves Jesus more. If you are hindering her, think about setting her free in her walk with Christ and you will be amazed at what God will do in her life an in your marriage.
Prayer Challenge
Examine your attitudes and actions seeking to see what you might be withholding from your walk with Christ. Now is a great time to make a full surrender of everything to the Lord.
Please pray for our services for this Sunday Morning. Pray for our members to have such a hunger for the Word of God and fellowship with His people that we would be faithful in attendance and attentive in spirit. Pray for your pastor and worship leader to be filled with the Spirit. Pray also for the invitation that someone would be saved and all would be obedient.
Ministry Challenge
Stop and thank God for your family asking Him to show you some special way you can minister to them today.
Mission Challenge
Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to minister to someone today in a way that would be an encouragement. Pray also that God would give you a sensitive spirit to opportunities to share Christ with those you encounter today.
Reflection
What God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?
What did I say to God?
