Reflect on these questions as you dwell in 1 Corinthians 7:1-24:

1. How does Paul emphasize the significance of one's current circumstances, such as family, vocation, or marital status, in relation to their calling from God? What does it mean to live "as you were called" in these various aspects of life?

2. Paul highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual obedience and keeping God's commandments over external factors like circumcision or social status. How does this perspective challenge worldly notions of value and success? How can believers apply this principle in their own lives?

3. In the passage, Paul encourages individuals to remain in the situations where they were called by God, yet he also acknowledges the potential for change if the opportunity arises. How can believers discern God's leading when it comes to potential shifts in their circumstances, and how should they approach such changes with a desire to serve God's purposes?

Transcript:

 Well, this is another packed section. There's a lot to see here and there's some interesting stuff to look at. There's a lot to be looked at there with marriage and the conditions of marriage and all of that. But there's more detail that we can get into in devotional thoughts, right? It's so dense.

It's so thick. There's no way I could explain it properly in this format. So maybe we'll get to First Corinthians sometime in the future for Sunday mornings. And we can get into some of those details. But right now, we're looking for big pictures. We're looking for things that we can have devotional thoughts on So these videos don't end up being 30 minutes each because I don't know how many people watch them to begin with But if they were 30 minutes each There wouldn't be that many people watching them, right?

The idea is we're is we're quick and to the point here and so all this stuff about marriage is sort of driving to the point of that this next part That we see here this section where you can see the uninspired heading there live as you're called It's driving to that point that  The circumstances that God has placed you in in your family  In your vocation live as you're called He's placed you there for a reason only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him The idea is that God has led you to a place in your family in your marriage in your vocation all these things God has led you there And God has called you to that.

And so, Paul says this is the rule for all the churches. You need to take a look at where you are.  And understand that God has given you this blessing, and it isn't just these things. Notice what it says in verse 19. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Paul is saying, Hey, if you're circumcised, you're circumcised. If you're uncircumcised,  you're uncircumcised. Don't change your circumstances. God has brought you to himself. He's brought you to this place. And so, none of that. The stuff that you, that you think is valuable, um, the stuff that is, uh, the stuff of the world or the stuff that you think you need to have.

Or the things that you need to do isn't what counts for anything. Instead, keeping the commandments of God. Desire to do what God has called you to do in the place that he has planted you. That is the idea that is being driven home here. And you see here, Paul talks about, you know, if you're a bondservant, stay there.

Now, if you have the opportunity to become free, do that. Avail yourself to that opportunity. But if you are a bondservant with someone, Hey! Stay there. That's where God has planted you to serve him. And so...  Paul is saying that that God has placed you someplace and what really matters is the spiritual things It's following his commands and doing the work that he's called you to do for his glory This is a really big deal this idea that all that we do no matter where we are We're working to God's glory and this was an important part of the Reformation, you know Martin Luther always said, you know that Something to the effect of, I don't have to quote exactly, but he, he said that, you know, the, the milkmaids were doing a holy work because they were serving God's people.

They were, they were doing just as much a holy work as the priests. And that's the idea that we kind of see coming through here. Wherever God has planted you, he has done so for a purpose. He's done it to do his will through you. And notice what verse 23 says here as it closes out. It says you were bought with a price.

Do not become bondservants of men. You know, don't worry about what men want you to do. Do what God has planted you to do. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. So, whether that is the family that you're in, the marriage that you're in, the job that you're in, whether you're circumcised or uncircumcised, remain where God has planted you because he has something for you to do there.

Now that doesn't mean that, you know, we don't look for a different job if, if the opportunity, you know, as it says, the opportunity avails. I'll use the language that the ESV translate Paul's words here to.  Doesn't mean we don't do that, but we look for those opportunities to serve God in the vocations that we have, in the families that we have.

And that's an important thing. We often think that, oh, if I really wanted to serve God, I'd become a pastor or I would do missionary work, and those things are good. But ultimately, the mission that God gives you is where he has planted you. That's the big point of this passage. And so, may we be looking for those opportunities that we have.

They're going to come up every day. Because the work that we do...  Helps, uh, helps the world. It helps the world, uh, function. It helps God's will to be done in the world. So may we realize that whatever it is that we do, whether that is being a father, a grandparent, uh, whether we're a laborer or a truck driver, whatever it is that we are, or a pastor, uh, whatever it is that we are, look for the opportunities that God has given us to serve him and may we live in the joy that we're able to help him accomplish his will in the earth.

May we step out into the world today rejoicing in that truth. May we decide that whatever condition God calls us to, there may we remain with God. What a blessed opportunity that we have to serve in whatever it is that we do each and every day.