Welcome to a group of women who's goal is to encourage each other to put down some serious roots in the Word of God. This blog is dedicated to reading through the Bible in a year. Hopefully you will find the encouragement and accountability here that you need to push through the tough parts- or when life just gets in the way. The reading plan is located at the bottom of the blog. It contains links to the passages we are reading through biblegateway.com. You can use those links or read your own Bible, whichever you prefer.
We are all members of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia and felt the need in our own life for a little bit of the Lord's splendor. Please join us!!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Paul's Continued Encouragement

Many of the believers that Paul was talking to were having a hard time with the concept of bodily resurrection. So here in chapter five, Paul is talking about our new bodies that we will receive after the death of our earthly bodies. The Bible does not tell us everything about resurrected bodies but we do know that there will be no more pain, and no more sorrow. In our earthly bodies we will never be satisfied. We can never be without wants and desires and longings until we leave this body and enter the presence of the Lord. While we are still here on earth, in our temporal bodies, we should make the best use of it for the Lord.

Paul then warns us about being yoked with unbelievers. To be yoked with someone is to be bound to them with no choice but to continue in the same direction with that person. It refers to a relationship between two people who will act in a certain way together or in agreement. If one person really doesn’t agree then the dominant one will do most the work but the weaker one is still going along because when yoked together you can not go in different directions. The warning is to avoid relationships where sin will occur as a result. Not all relationships with unbelievers are prohibited; only those that would cause you to compromise your faith. The most common example used for this verse is marriage but it can be applied to any kind of relationship such as business, friendship, recreation, political and so on. Jesus ate with sinners but he did not participate in sin with them.

Next Paul talks about Godly sorrow. Paul praises the Corinthians for their repentance. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” My study notes explains worldly sorrow as only being sorry for the effects of sin or for being caught. Godly sorrow leads to a change in behavior.

Last but certainly not least, Paul wrote to the Corinthians about giving. What a perfect time of year to talk about giving. Christmas time is the season of giving. It is easier to relate to the attitude Paul described as we are making decisions about what to give to who. People seem to be more generous during the Christmas season and the joy is contagious. As I am typing this I am hoping that I can hold on to that cheerful giving attitude after the decorations are all put away. “…for God loves a cheerful giver.” Paul wants us to understand the importance of sharing our possessions and yielding our hearts to the Lord, to give generously. It is good to remember that the attitude in which we give is more important than the amount we give. There is spiritual reward for those who give generously to the Lord.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
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4 comments:

  1. BarbaraDecember 20, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    If we could only teach our children about being "unequally yoked" I believe it would save a lot of hurt in a lot of lives. So many times couples think they can "change" each other after they marry, only to be pulled away themselves or never have the joy of being in church together.

    Great post Amy. And I loved your picture!

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  2. NatalieDecember 21, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    Amy, I loved that you reminded us that being "yoked together" extends beyond just marriage- even though that it so incredibly important.
    I was also struck by Pauls reference to Godly sorrow verses worldly sorrow. Does my sorrow lead to a change in behavior? I hope so. We have so much to think about in these passages!

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  3. MindyDecember 21, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    I have talked to the young people I am teaching SO MANY times about NOT being unequally yoked! I figure that if I make them aware of this early on in their lives, MAYBE they will make wise decisions with their future spouses and other relationships. I have also made it clear to them that this does NOT refer to race...it refers to Christianity. God did not want the Israelites to intermarry with the other people groups around them because He did not want them to be influenced by their pagan practices (hence being unequally yoked). Unfortunately a lot of people use this concept to perpetuate their prejudices and that is very sad to me!!! GREAT post Amy!!!

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  4. TerryDecember 23, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Mindy, thank you so much for pointing out the fact that being unequally yoked is not about race. I have several precious friends of other races who are wonderful encouragements to me spiritually. It breaks my heart when people speak about "being yoked" in the context of race. The instruction is meant in a spiritual context and is intended to protect us from the frustration and hurt and as others have mentioned here, a compromise in our spiritual life and values.

    I was moved by this verse in today's reading: "let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Cor 7:1). It also reminds me of Hebrews 12:1-3. What great verses for us to claim as we start a new year!!!

    Wonderful post, Amy! Thank you.

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