For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Cor. 10
What two motives guide all of Paul’s actions (see v. 31-33)? Live today guided by these two motives. “’I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ – but not everything is constructive.” (1 Cor. 10:23). This is the second time Paul has made this statement in this letter. The first was in chapter 6, when he was speaking toward sexual immorality. It must be important.
I have long been familiar with this statement (thanks, Dad!), but I always took it as presented in the KJV and the NASB (old), where it seems like the entire statement is Paul’s. Here in the NIV and some other translations, however, the second part of each statement is presented as Paul’s response to what the Corinthian church was saying. The Message presents the first part as more of a hypothetical statement, “you could say”. I suppose you can look at it in any of those ways because Paul never says the thought is wrong. We are indeed free from the law. He does, however, strongly indicate that it is not Christ-like thinking. As he said earlier in this letter, “Are you not acting like humans?” (1 Cor. 3:3).
God frees us, yes. But He also indwells us with His Spirit. Which means He changes us. He changes our perspectives, focus, desires, motivations – in short, everything. So to stand on the statement, “I have the right to do anything” shows a great level of immaturity in Christ. Why? Because it is centered on self. Instead of living for self, we should be living the fulfillment of God’s law, which is to love God and love others. This is what Paul is talking about when he says, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” and “do not cause anyone to stumble”. (1 Cor. 10:31b-32a).
Josh. 23-24
In Joshua’s farewell speech, what does he command the people to do? What does he warn them against? Joshua reminds them of their history and calls them to renew the covenant. Read v. 15. What is your response? Why? Funny thing about time – it erodes. I could complete that thought with any number of things. Time erodes memory, passion, urgency, commitment, certainty. It even erodes our physical and mental capacities. Time erodes.
I say this because I notice that it took a very long time for God to drive out the nations of the Promised Land before Israel. Even after God gave rest to the land, when Joshua was very old, there were still remnants of those nations that had not yet been driven out. That is why Joshua warned the people to not be swayed by the ways of those nations but to hold fast to God.
I believe the length of time involved in all of this was intentional on God’s part. I often state that without a time component faith and trust don’t really exist. As with the Israelites in Joshua 24, it is easy to be ‘on fire’ and committed in the moment. But what happens over time? That fire and that commitment fade. We forget, then begin to doubt and question our faith. Or we simply grow complacent and cease to “hold fast”. So God tests us with time. He shows us all of this through His people because we need to understand our own nature as well as God’s if we are going to trust and serve Him with a lasting faith.