1 Corinthians 7:17-40

God can and will use us right where we are today.  We do not need to move, change jobs, find new friends, hang out in different places to be used in a mighty way.  There are at least four bullet points to be pulled from the twenty-three verses for today.

• Keeping God's commands is what counts (verse 19)
• You were bought at a price (verse 23a)
• Do not become slaves of men (verse 23b)
• For this world in its present form is passing away (verse 31b)

Each of these one-liners is worthy of its own devotional and each one could stand alone in a study group.  For our purposes let's just dive in and see what happens.  We are called to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When we do this, we are keeping His commands.  Jesus' death on the cross was the steep price paid for our salvation.  His death and our freedom from the consequence of sin is all the reason we need to stay free of the constraints of sin and become slaves to Christ.

Life is short, at least life on this earth.  Material things are not important, but if we have been blessed with wealth we should use it to promote good and further God's Kingdom.  I am learning that all I have is not mine, but a gift from God which I am allowed to use.  Stewardship is a word we seldom use, but one on which parables have been taught by Jesus himself.  Life is short, don't get too attached to it.

"Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them." (1 Corinthians 7:17)

Read the 1 Corinthians 7:17-40 text here.  Listen to an audio reading of 1 Corinthians 7:17-40 here.