I Corinthians

Today begins a series of short devotions on the Book of 1 Corinthians.  Corinthians is especially relevant today for American culture in the 21st century because of its handling of sexual immorality and divisions in the church.  The church today lives in a culture that feels no shame about sexual immorality and wishes to dispense of all sexual mores.  The church also lives in a very polarizing time. There is a huge difference between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.  Many do not understand each others' point of view.
     I Corinthians was written from Ephesus (cf. 16:8) around 55 AD.  This was about 20 years after Paul's conversion and he was an established missionary having already completed his first three missionary journeys and had written Thessalonians and Galatians.    Paul contrasts God's faithful true love with the fake and fickle love of sexual immorality.

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:1-3)

Thoughts: Paul's authority as an apostle ("sent one") was questioned by the Corinthians.  He affirms this is by "the will of God" not something he did on his own. His co-writer was Sosthenes, perhaps the synagogue ruler (Acts 18:17) who had been converted and beaten.  He writes to believers- the "saints" ("those sanctified").  This letter is meant to be read by many, ("all those who call on the name of our Lord Jesus").  He gives his typical greeting- grace and peace.  Grace teaches us forgiveness and kindness.  Peace teaches us to be patient, flexible, and wait on God.  

Still today, God asks us to listen through His sent one, Paul.  Many of us do not want to listen to any authority from old, or from God  We want to be the arbiters of truth and the determiners of our own destiny.  But truth is, we are not.  We cannot control our own deaths or our own life circumstances.  We need to hear the voice from outside- the voice of God speaking in scripture.

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear.  Give me grace and peace.