What's important?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:19  “For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised.  The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.”

 

Observation:  Paul’s comments in this passage are his instructions to some very practical questions that the Corinthians seem to have been struggling with……”once I have become a Christian, what do I change in my life to reflect this?”  Paul basically says – nothing in your situation.  Your situation is not what determines your Christianity.  Your lifestyle is.  A lifestyle that is governed by God’s commandments – the commandments of Jesus to love God first &, out of that commandment, to love each other.  A lifestyle that puts relationships ahead of position in society.  A lifestyle that speaks of freedom bought at a high price – the life of the Son of God.  A freedom from sin, guilt, shame & death.  A life worth living because it has been given worth and purpose by Christ’s sacrifice.  You can be a Christian whether slave or free, married or unmarried, circumcised or uncircumcised.  But, he says, live with your heart turned towards God, in gratitude choosing to honour Him in every situation you find yourself in.

 

Application:  How often in this world, where the importance of a person is measured more by the size of their bank account or the prestige of their title or position in their employment, do I look to those things rather than the important thing – a heart prepared to “keep God’s commandments”.  Am I “dazzled’ more by the former than I am by the latter?  Do I attain to the former without seeing the latter as the higher attainment in God’ eyes?  For, as Paul says, the keeping of God’s commandments is what is important.   The following of His ways is the only real external indication that I am, indeed, a Christian.  That my life is somehow “different” from the lives of most in this world.  It is the only way others will see that Christ does make a difference, and that He is truly worthy to be followed.  As the Lord said when Samuel was trying to determine which of Jesse’s sons he was to anoint as the future King of Israel, it wasn’t the external looks, but God looked upon the heart - and so David, the youngest, the shepherd boy,  & the “least” in his family, was the one God had chosen.   Because David had a heart to follow God, he did attain the highest position in the land – but by God’s appointment, not his own manipulations.  That’s the thing – there is nothing wrong with title or position or prestige – God appoints his people to such positions – but “the important thing is to keep God’s commandments”

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou again for the importance You placed on my life by sending your Son to redeem it on the cross!  Lord, may my first priority in response always be to keep your commandments, and to treat others according to Your ways, without favouritism, and never according to just their worldly positions or titles.

 

In Jesus’ name  Amen.

 

Sue Otto