Verse: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESV
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.””
Devotion
Here, Paul is clarifying what he meant when he originally wrote the letter to the Corinthians. In verse 11, Paul clarifies specifically what he meant when he instructed the Corinthians to not associate with anyone who is engaging in those sins listed. Initially when reading the verses it seems like it is contradicting to instruct them to not even eat with those who sin. Thankfully Paul did clarify in verse 11– the key difference is “anyone who bears the name of brother” (anyone who proclaims that they are a follower of Jesus) and they actively practice the listed sins.
This isn’t saying that you cannot spend time with this person, and try to work through whatever may have a grip on their life. Instead, I think it is telling us that we should not allow someone to continue in a leadership role that is actively living in unrepentant sin. Additionally this passage is not saying that leadership has to be completely perfect— but it is saying that someone in leadership should not continue if they are sinning and not repenting.
Furthermore this is not saying that we have to cut people off who are experiencing this struggle. Instead, we need to continue to love on these people while telling the truth in love, we need to pray fervently for them, and continue to be the salt in a dark season in their life.
As we read this passage this morning, is there anyone in our lives who is going through a dark season that we can be a loving support to?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the abundant grace you show us daily. Please help us to keep each other accountable through our lives, and to help keep each other focused on you. While dark seasons of life may happen, we know from your word that it does not have to end there. Please help us to seek you out daily, and please give us the wisdom to make necessary adjustments in our lives as necessary. In your heavenly name I pray,
Amen.
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