Focus
Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.
Read
1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (NRSV)
Let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.
Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters. In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.
Reflect
You may never have heard a sermon based on today’s scripture reading, and you may be inclined to skip over it when studying 1 Corinthians. But read Paul’s words again. The essential message concerns neither circumcision nor slavery. It is the freedom that Christians have in Christ.
Paul often argued against the law of circumcision. It was a frequent issue between uncircumcised Gentiles and circumcised Jews. Paul declared all believers to be entirely free of the law, free to obey God, free to be circumcised or not.
Again, many early believers were slaves, and others were free people, some even slave owners. Yet Paul insisted that neither being a slave nor being a free person was significant when compared to the freedom guaranteed by Christ: “Whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person… just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ” (verse 22).
Perhaps this is a good time to take stock of our freedom in Christ. Are we not still inclined to make ourselves slaves of the law, of our habits, even of one another? Paul would say, “Break free! Be a slave of Christ!”
Pray
O God, giver of both the law and freedom from the law, help us to receive the freedom you have given in Jesus Christ. Make us your slaves forever. Amen.
Go with God.
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