Being Countercultural!
Opening Prayer
Lord, open my heart to the plans You have for me. I surrender my will to Yours.
Read 1 Corinthians 7:17–24
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you prefer change or the status quo?Ancient society generally was very suspicious of change or new things. The best thing to do was always to keep to tradition. After all, tradition and the tried-and-tested old ways had stood the test of time and had gotten them where they were. Enthusiasm for the new and negativity towards the past is of very recent vintage. Many non-Western societies today would still hold to a more conservative view.
Despite the fact that the “glorious age to come” had begun in Christ and things would never be the same again, Paul, like all New Testament writers, is always at pains to stress continuity with the past. Fulfillment of the promises doesn’t mean throwing everything overboard. A far worse thing to do would be to create complete chaos by seeking to introduce a revolution in accepted and tried-and-trusted social norms.
So, at a time not short of threats and dangers to the Christian community, Paul advises stability and a focus upon simply obeying God’s commands and seeing your current situation as God’s particular calling.
Apply
How do you respond to this idea of “staying as you are”? Read Philippians 4:10-13. Have you learned the “secret of contentment”?
Closing prayer
Sovereign Lord, teach me what true contentment means. May I be content in the midst of the routine and in the midst of change.
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