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1 Corinthians 7:27-28 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. (28) But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. (KJV)
Williams New Testament Translation for 1Corinthians 7:27-28 27. Are you married? Stop trying to get a divorce. Are you unmarried? Stop looking for a wife. 28. But if you do get married, you have not sinned in doing so. And if a girl gets married, she has not sinned in doing so. But those who do will have trouble in their earthly life, and I am trying to spare you this. One of the common mistakes being made among Christian believers is the illusion that marriage will make their life complete, even if it means marrying someone who is an unbeliever. Paul not only spoke of this, but as we see in verse 28 he was bringing a warning to the people so that they could avoid the trouble they would encounter for their actions; which let’s face it, is based more on a carnal desire than on a spiritual one. Rather than seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness many try to fill a spiritual void with a physical solution, or so they think, and then wonder why they end up crashing. Like with a roller coaster ride it may go up slowly but once it peaks it will go downhill fast. Another common occurrence that takes place is the believer marrying someone for their potential; that someday they will change into a Christian just because you decided so, rather than making sure ahead of time it was so. Rather than holding your ground and not caving into your own desires you bought into the highlight reel the devil was showing you of all the things you were missing out on, how complete and fulfilled your life will be with this person. So a life that you said was the Lord’s and you were dedicating to Him is now replaced with another influence, something you claim you just can’t live without in order to serve Him. Getting involved with people because of what you perceive as potential, someone you think you can mold and shape into something Christian or Christ like is flirting with disaster. A common occurrence I see taking place in the Church. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (KJV) How can two walk together and continue to stay together, like minded and in agreement unless they are of one mind and one heart? The fact that you decided to enter a relationship on iffy ground, or a foundation built on sand, tells me that the compromise has already taken place; and rather than hold your ground you are caving in. You think you can handle the situation, no problem, ‘what’s the big deal? He or she is a nice person’. Well let me give three names just for starters, and you can go back and see the common denominator in what they allowed into their walk with the Lord, and how much good it did them; Samson, David, as well as his son Solomon. Isn’t there enough to deal with in our walk with the Lord without inviting another distraction into it? You think you’re strong in the Lord and can handle the situation, but the truth be known just the fact you engaged in these relationships in the first place says a lot about where you truly stand with the Lord and how quickly you were willing to compromise your beliefs. Matthew 7:17-18 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (KJV) You know, you get into the middle of these situations and then wonder why it doesn’t work out the way you thought it would? If you plant a weed, should you expect potatoes or apples to spring up? If someone isn’t rooted and grounded in the truth then they are not going to bear the fruit of the Spirit. It’s just that simple; and that is why we see the warnings in the Bible. Know this also, the euphoric ride you have been on will come back down to earth in the form of reality, and then you will have to deal with the long term effects of your decisions. It’s interesting that if one was walking toward a busy street they would take their time and look both ways before crossing, yet when it comes to our spiritual life many are quick to run forward without looking both ways; in other words, not just looking at the highlight reel of our decisions but the consequences also. You may violate man’s laws at times and not get penalized but be assured when one violates the law of faith there are definite consequences, not only in this life but in the one to follow also. 1 Corinthians 7:29-35 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; (30) And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; (31) And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (32) But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: (33) But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. (34) There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (35) And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. (KJV) When things are written in the Bible they are written for your benefit, whether you believe it or not. God is not trying to rob you of a blessing or holding back from you as the enemy would like you to think by getting you to buy into the lie that everyone else you know has that special someone in their life and now it’s my turn. If two are walking together in the things of the Lord they will be agreed, not only with themselves but with the Lord. However if you are in a relationship that is not truly based on the Lord then you will find it is a distraction; something that takes away and pulls you down rather than building you up. Before you engage or decide to become engaged with someone, for your own sake make sure your motives are for the right reason and make sure it is based on reality and not potential (someone you hope to mold and shape into a godly person). I have seen too many well intentioned believers fall for the illusion that the person they decide to hook up with will become a good husband or parent, only to find out that when their reality check comes in it ends up bouncing for lack of truth. So don’t be fooled and don’t think that the enemy isn’t aware of this weakness, and like a wolf will prey on those who didn’t take the time to pray on this matter truthfully and act accordingly as well. Mark 10:4-9 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. (5) And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. (6) But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. (7) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; (8) And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. (9) What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (KJV) The hardness of the heart that is being spoken about is the fact that the children of Israel married outside of the people God had commanded them to, and then ended up worshipping the false gods of these foreign nations. Sound familiar. You know that thing about evil communications corrupting good morals; well it has been going on for a long time, and like a virus continues to spread even today. There is big difference between what God joins together and what our lower fallen natures become attached to. While God’s intention is for two to become one and walk together in the realm of the Spirit, the enemy would like nothing better than to see the believer unequally yoked with the nonbeliever and end up with a big distraction. So before you put on your rose colored glasses and allow your imagination to run wild in some fairy tale land, make sure you look both ways before saying I do, because the devil will only show you the highlights while the Lord will give you the truth as far as consequences. Many a good intentioned Christian have been taken down and blindsided because they chose to flirt with disaster rather than deal with the reality of their decisions, which are based more on a carnal desire than a spiritual one. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. How small and insignificant can distractions seem to be? Little distractions are like a little leaven that can leaven the whole lump; which is why the devil likes to use the little things that slowly keep pulling your attention away from the Lord; you know, like a nat, and before you know it you are focusing more on the nat than the task at hand. Same is true with the Lord; if we allow things of this life (distractions) to enter in they can choke the life in Christ out of us. All those little distractions add up and the next thing you know you are focusing more on them instead of the Lord, which can come to a dangerous conclusion if not dealt with.
What does distraction mean anyway? Distraction is a diversion; a drawing of the mind in different directions; confusion; derangement (disorder; insanity). Wow, what a meaning and what a consequence if we allow that to be a part of our lives. Taking thought of those things of this life and allowing ourselves to be entangled in the affairs of this life are distractions that can have eternal consequences, because the mind is being divided between the things of God and the things of this life. And remember what the Lord said, a house divided cannot stand. As well as, the carnal mind is enmity against God, and a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. If you are distracted you cannot know or receive the things of God that He has prepared for you; you cannot stand firm because the waves of confusion or distraction keep moving you to and fro. It is only as we remain operating with the mind of Christ that we can remain in unity with God, in singleness of heart and mind where there is no confusion, but peace. Which is why we are to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ so that we can remain focused on the new life that we have been blessed with in Him and allow the old things to pass away, not giving them any thought which could lead to confusion and getting caught up in the old traditions of our mind which will distract and impede us from moving forward in our walk with the Lord. Today is the day of salvation; right now, at this moment, each of us should be holding our mind towards the most important task at hand, our salvation; we should protect it with the armour of God that we have been blessed with in Christ, and put away childish things which will only continue to distract us from reaching the goal of eternal life. So I encourage you brethren, to give attendance continually upon the Lord without distraction, and know that in doing this you shall overcome the evil one and remain steadfast and unmovable in Christ our Lord. God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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