;N;KLNJq0pppx{; t;Pq0pppx{<^N<^Npq0pppx{<^N[<^q0pppx{;^.`;ڈ.q0pppx{;餠;ܺ@Yq0pppxz;'`F;'q0pppxz;'Gz0;'Gq0pppxz; 6(@; 6(صq߻$k+k+k(u<yMRZ&d"b"b"b"b"o/l-/Q?>d?4,T0: >vyvy ;M /(} 4'\jM#f+`xTw[*HXhw/?e#e"MX/?e'e/?e|iceZ;/?e h8e1/?ej98ejEX/?ewdeQ/8?e8eˀ/5?ed1e}u/+?eXeE/ ?ehe;,<ӭɥROӭɥ;_,<ӭ?ӭu,<ӭOӭġ/,P<ӭ ӭ E,<ӭ Oӭʧ/,P<ӭ*_ӭ*/,h<ӭE}ӭD5_,+<ӭˑӭː,J<ӭˤӭˤm,N<ӭӭo,`<Ө@RpӨ@RȈ,-<!8h,.<&h"--=CÈNʘ-=MzMK-!=NxN.x-#=ল6Xল5_-S=U Ux-W=m%lb-A=y4h5/G?e\e[`/?e eAX-=5^h2h/?eMKepyh/:?e*,He08->=&H /+?5(H5{X/ ?el.euJ(/_?ee/H?eeX/?Ԕ{Ԕ{/;?Զ,Đ$(Զ,w-/ ?Եbpj8ԵbL/!?ԵbԵbh/$?Ե%xԵ>x/X?ԵLHԵx/Q?Զ%%XԶ%%^/U?Զ'$XԶ&jP/K?Զ&Զ&/B?ԶShԶS/C?ԶSRhԶSŸ/ؘl?WWMAx,ؘB<ӭUf(ӭ׻h/ؘ?\f6X\}#/ؘ?WFYXWCX/ؘ ?^tA\*,ؘN<ӭ-ӭ48/ؘb?eeh7ؘc?vE sߴ ',2* .*"x"",r#&#c,## *  X -r/2!,-2!L!!&7&q.&.'>/'{''-$l/r$$$/%Z%Z,2**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************.*jO *,,***********************************+W?j+W>ꪪ2 *,,***********************************+Wo!+Wo ꪪO *,,***********************************+Wݼ*+W>U *,,***********************************+W&:+W? ꪪn *,,***********************************+-+PjꪪT *,,***********************************+WzY*+WzꪪC *,,***********************************+xޚ+xJ-*jC *,,***********************************+d1:+d1*ꪪ! *,,***********************************+Wiz+WxB *,,***********************************+n3iJ+n*">*O **,***********************************+W>ꪪ*,,*********************************+ź+5* **,,*********************************+3Jպ+3Jw*,,*********************************+5b5+5Yu>*,,*********************************+ + 7:=*,,*********************************+Z+Αjꪪ9*,,********************************+f=+ꪪ*,,********************************+:Z+!*,,********************************+D+D>*,,********************************++<++<**,********************************+ꪪ*,,********************************+^}+^Zꪪj*,,********************************+]+~mꪪ+*,,********************************+l:+ls&**,,********************************+1x/+1?A*,,********************************+`P-+`.ꪪ"*,,********************************+ៀD(+ៀGmJꪪX*,,********************************++ѭꪪd*,,********************************++ꪪ;*,,*********************************+ C+ tꪪF*,,********************************+y+yyꪪ8*,,*********************************+ږ/+ږj$"*2*,,*********************************+* N+ٕTj*,,********************************+ៀ?Z+ៀYzP*,,********************************+I}+IsY*,,********************************+4*+ꪪoft>of the deep personal defilement of our bodies which are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Avoid and reject immorality and sin of all kinds.  As we continue today in chapter 7, we are called to live life with as
few distractions as possible.  There are no requirements that will automatically make us more acceptable to God –
except for trusting Him and doing what He says.  Turn to 1 Corinthians 7:17-24.  READ.  The word “however” in
verse 17 refers back to what Paul had said in verse 15 – if an unbelieving spouse leaves, let the person leave.  God has
called us to peace.  “However” each believer should live in the situation he was in when God called him into His family.  
This was Paul’s common message to people wherever he went.

So does this mean that believers should not go to college or should remain poor or unemployed or unmarried?  Just like
every other passage of the Bible, we have to put this in context and see how it fits with what God tells us everywhere
else.  We can see in this paragraph that Paul makes exceptions for certain situations – if you’re a slave and you can gain
your freedom, DO IT!  We have also heard from Paul that if you do not have the self-control in your sexual thoughts to
remain single, don’t remain single.  So if you can make positive improvements in your situations and they are not against
what God says in His Word, you can do them.

Your life situation – Jewish or Gentile, slave or free – make no difference in your ability to be involved with God as He
builds His Kingdom and uses you.  We have seen the truth of this often in the jail ministry – people who get serious with
the Lord while in jail and determine to be useful and available to God for His eternal purposes behind bars.  No matter
what, you can follow and be obedient to the Lord.  It’s not about you, your appearance, your job, your heritage – life is
about Jesus Christ and Him crucified (2:2) and Him living His life in you for His glory.

Verses 17, 20 and 24 say the same thing – whatever circumstance you were in when called by God are the
circumstances you should stay in.  Notice though that verse 21 (and later in verse 28) exceptions are made.  The issue
Paul is addressing here must relate to the motivations for changing life circumstances.  

If I was called into the family of God as a slave and I want to be free and that’s all I think about, then I am missing the
point of life.  Am I missing the point that God can use a slave to build His Kingdom?  If I miss that and I’m waiting for
“real life” to begin, I am missing real life.  Some of us may feel this way right now.  If only I was better off financially, if
only I had this kind of car or house or clothing, if only I was better looking or had this kind of job, God could use me.  
God is not restricted in how He can use you by your job, your appearance, your heritage or your abilities.  He knew
what He was getting into when He called you – and He wasn’t afraid.

Let’s go on – in the next section of chapter 7 we get a little insight into Paul’s personality again.  He has so much he
wants to share – and God has inspired Him to write these things, so God wants us to know them, too – that Paul kind
of gets off topic sometimes.  In verse 25 he brings up another question that the Corinthians must have had in their letter
to him – a question about virgins and marriage and what is proper.  Paul’s answer takes a trip through several issues.  
We may not even really get to the issue the people asked about today.  We’ll take his answer in sections.  1 Corinthians
7:25-31.  READ.

Paul says again in verse 26 what he has said several times in the previous paragraph – it is good to stay in the condition
you were when you were called to be a believer.  Now, though, Paul is relating this directly to marriage.  He says in 26,
“Because of the present distress” that it is good to remain as you were when you were called.  The present distress is
specifically related the issue of sexual immorality that Paul has been reminding them of.  Since sexual immorality is such
a pervasive problem and personally offensive to the Spirit who lives in us, it is best to remain as you are.

Paul says in verse 25 that he has “no command from the Lord.”  Again, the Lord Jesus did not speak specifically about
the issue or issues the Corinthians asked Paul about, but Paul comments on the issues knowing God’s Word and
knowing God’s work in and through him.  Paul sees himself accurately – this is not pride or false humility.  Paul often
emphasizes his connection with the Lord when he speaks of his apostolic “authority” (verse 25 and even later in verse
40 with some sarcasm).

Now the question was obviously about what to do regarding unmarried women – virgins – in the church and in life.  
Paul is getting to it, but takes a detour.  If you were married when you became a believer, stay married.  If you were
divorced or single when you became a believer, stay single.  

This passage is used in many churches to discourage believers who are divorced and remarried.  Divorce is definitely a
serious and damaging thing.  It rips apart what God has joined together – and He specifically commands us to not
separate it.  But God knows, Jesus knew, Paul knew divorce would happen.  AND God knows, Jesus knew and Paul
knew that divorced people would likely remarry.

I some churches to be divorced and remarried is an automatic disqualification from ministry involvement.  We are not
one of those churches.  Being followers of Jesus is a “present tense” kind of life.  We read a few weeks ago in chapter
6, “…such were some of you, BUT you were washed, you were sanctified (set apart for God’s purposes), and you
were justified (made by God to be just as if you had never sinned).  Those who ARE living for Jesus – fully devoted to
Him as best they know how – are eligible for use by God to build and expand His Kingdom.

In some churches the divorced and remarried are less eligible than those who have committed violent crimes – as if God
forgives a murderer or a rapist more than a divorced and remarried person.  The key is “what is the character of a
person’s life right now?”  ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – there is none righteous without the work
of Jesus Christ.

Verse 28 of 1 Corinthians 7 makes it clear that divorce and remarriage is not the killer of a person’s involvement in
ministry.  Paul is obviously speaking to people mentioned in verse 27 – those who are married, those who are divorced
and those who have never been married.  In verse 28 then, he says to those who have BEEN married and are not now
that if they DO get married, they have not sinned.  And if an unmarried person gets married, that person has not sinned.  
Paul’s concern is about their ability to be fully devoted to the Lord – he says, “I am trying to spare you from trouble.”

Paul gets a bad wrap about marriage – lots of people think Paul is against it.  Clearly Paul is not married and can handle
not BEING married, but he is not against it.  He can’t be – God created marriage.  Paul’s concern and God’s concern
is that we who are followers of Jesus be as fully devoted to HIS call and HIS plans as we can be.  Those who are
married MUST concern themselves with non-Kingdom related things.  Does that mean they are sinning?  No.  It means
that their attention will be divided – something Paul actually says in verse 34 coming up.

Let’s read the next section since Paul continues.  1 Corinthians 7:32-35.  READ.  Back in verse 29, Paul said that time
is limited, so here’s how to live – if you’re married, live as if you aren’t.  If you’re weeping, live as if you weren’t.  If
you’re joyful, live as if you weren’t.  If you bought something, live as if you didn’t have it.  And in verse 31 he explains –
the things of this world are not going to last – and the time is limited, so let’s be about the business of God’s Kingdom
and our part in His work.

Paul is not endorsing ignoring your spouse or pretending like you’re not grieving.  His point is to keep your focus on the
main thing – God’s Kingdom and what God has called you to do.

Then, in the section we just read, the basic message is, God desires our full devotion.  Those who have connections to
this world – even if they are GOOD connections like marriage – will not be able to devote themselves as fully to God’s
purposes as those who are not so connected to the world.  Are those who are more connected with God?  It depends
on their walk with God.  Notice that Paul brought up weeping and rejoicing and buying stuff – single people can be
distracted away from God, too.

But Paul says it here – all of this talk about marriage, about the world and its stuff, is to help us realize and deal with
distractions to our devotion to the Lord.  If we’re married, we will have some worldly distractions, but that does NOT
mean we are ineffective for the Lord.  I would guess that most people who are or have been or will be believers are
married.  Paul’s personal conviction was to be unmarried, but remember that he said in 7:9 that if you are unable to
control your sexual desires, get married.

Let’s get to some application principles.  How many distractions besides the natural ones of marriage, life, family do we
allow in our lives?  Are there things you can free yourself from?  Are there things you should be free of and you have
been unwilling?  We’re not talking about people – the eternal existence of people with or apart from Jesus is the vital
thing.  We’re talking about activities and interests and literally idols we worship.  Is God in favor of us living distracted
lives?  Does He want our attention on stuff other than Him?  When our attention is more on stuff than on Him, what are
we?  We are idol worshipers.

We have used a term for years about how we are to live – fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 7 is
where we get the term.  A distracted life – devoted to things other than the Lord and His purposes – is ineffective and
less that the life God has in mind for those who believe.  There are enough distractions in life without adding more.  
Keep your life as distraction-free as possible.  Devote as much attention as possible to your calling and to the purposes
God has put you here for.

Think about something for a minute.  Imagine all the trouble the Lord Jesus went to to save you – to wash you, to
sanctify you, and to justify you – to get you plugged in to His purposes and to rescue you from eternity without Him:
- He left heaven
- He laid aside His abilities as God temporarily
- He was born as a baby
- He endured the passage of time
- He was and is rejected by most human beings
- He was falsely convicted
- He was brutally beaten, mercilessly ridiculed, purposely humiliated when He could have easily at any moment have
vaporized every person on the face of the earth
- He was literally nailed to a cross – not with something sterile or small – big, huge, rusty, filthy spikes
- He was mocked, rejected by the Father, deserted by His closest friends
- He died – the Maker of life – and descended into the place of the dead – the One who is LIFE

Considering what He went through for you, do you think it’s OK with Him to have your devotion to Him divided more
than it already is?

How can we avoid distractions?  We avoid distractions by knowing Jesus – trusting Him and doing what He says.  We
avoid distractions by keeping our attention on the main thing – the Gospel.  Romans 1:16,17 tells us what the Gospel is
– what the main thing is.  READ.  The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to those who believe – getting saved.  
AND IN the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed – God’s righteousness is seen in those who believe.

So as we are bombarded with opportunities and activities – possible distractions – run them through the filter of
knowing Jesus and preaching the Gospel.  Does this expand the Kingdom of God or does it distract me from Kingdom
of God things?  Does this glorify the Lord Jesus or does this cause the attention to be taken away from Him?

Note that we do not run these opportunities or activities through the filter of:
- will this make me money?                - will this make me look good?
- will this be fun?                        - will this make me comfortable/happy/                                                 
important/significant?

If we approach life seeking the wrong things, we’ll GET the wrong things.  We who are followers of Jesus are to do
Matthew 6:33 – seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other stuff of life will be taken care of.  
Apply this to marriage and home, job, career, car, clothes, education, possessions, appearance.  Where is our
devotion?

God desires that each of us, in whatever our life situations, are to be fully engaged and effective for His purposes as we
can be.  A married person may have to focus attention on his/her marriage, but even in that, God’s plan is for the
person to be as effective as possible for His Kingdom.  The question for each of us is are we being distracted from
things God wants us to be involved in by the things of this life?  Even good things like marriage?  How can we adjust
our lives to be as fully devoted followers as we can be?

Straighten up and fly right – know Jesus and proclaim the Gospel – salvation in Christ and righteousness from God.  
Keep those things in the forefront – first and foremost – and we will avoid many distractions.
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