Daily Devotions

Today’s Bible reading is I Corinthians chapter 5

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

God wants His church to bear His likeness. As His people we must strive to be holy as God is holy. The church at Corinth thought it was being spiritual by being tolerant of sin, but Paul warned them of this danger. Allowing the practice of sin causes sin to increase. When it comes to sin God’s people cannot be neutral. We must make a decisive stand. To protect His church God gave us the practice of church discipline. Church discipline is a forgotten doctrine in many churches today, but God intended it to be implemented. God’s purpose in discipline is restorative. According to Matthew there are three stages. First, go to the offender. Second, if there is no restoration then go to the offender with two or three witnesses. If the offender doesn’t repent then the final step involves the entire church. Paul said, “Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (I Corinthians 5:5) He says again, “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (I Corinthians 5:13b) Sin is like a cancer, if it is allowed to grow it will destroy.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, help us to be intolerant of sin especially in our own lives, use us to restore our brothers and sisters in Christ, and may we be motivated by love, in Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron