November 9, 2011 (Job 34; 1 Corinthians 4-6)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.” 1 Corinthians 5:3 NASB
Observation: Paul was a leader in every since of the word. Even though he was not physically there he was still leading. He had passed a righteous judgement on a man who professed to know Christ and was attending church, while engaged in a sexual relationship with his stepmother! Paul told the church just what to do with such a person as this in verse 13, “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” Stern leadership, don’t you think?
Application: I guess Paul didn’t get the modern day church memo against judging sin in the church. Today, Paul would be labeled as a self righteous hypocrite that has no right to judge another. Yet I believe Paul was right on target with what God wants from His church. Sin must be eradicated from the lives of those who proclaim Christ. Such sin as this was no mistake or accident. It was a deliberate choice made to commit wickedness and then act as if it should be accepted by the church as okay. When’s the last time you’ve seen deliberate sin allowed in the church? When’s the last time you’ve seen a person removed?
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I come to You this morning with praise on my lips and thankfulness in my heart. You have protected and provided better than I could have ever hoped for or imagined. Thank You Lord, You are the awesome God of heaven that has an abundance of love and mercy for Your people. Help us Lord hear and understand the importance of what Paul was teaching in these verses of scripture. Sin allowed to go without reprimand will only breed more sin, help us have the courage to stand like Paul did, in Jesus name, Amen!