The People I Admire Most

[Read the Scripture for the day in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.] 

Who do you admire most, and why do you admire them? Is he a musician or an athlete? Is she a business leader or an author? Do you appreciate people for their accomplishments or abilities or character? What resounds from others to the point it resonates in you?

Personally, I esteem the twelve-steppers among us and others like them—those who have looked honestly upon their innermost weaknesses and vulnerabilities and confessed their inability to overcome them in their own power. With a precious humility worthy of our aspiration, they rest completely in God for restoration, renewal, and fullness of life.

Truth is, these folks have discovered what we all need to admit, that confronting our wrongs is far more powerful than denying them, and that confessing is crucial to overcoming. With this in mind, the apostle Paul called out some various ways our inward condition surfaces through our actions, from the sexually immoral, to the greedy, to those who slander others. Then in a bold celebration of truth and grace, he reminded his readers, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Our natural inclination is to deny our wrongs or excuse them or blame others for them, but that gets us literally nowhere in the kingdom of God. Instead, our hope is found in being completely open, honest and accountable before God for our wrongs and our overall tendency toward sin, and then trusting in the boundless grace of Christ for forgiveness, salvation, and transformation.

“Coming clean” with God is our first step. When we do, He not only forgives us, He cleanses us from the inside out. What could be more worthy of our admiration?

God, reveal my heart, and give me the strength to trust you completely for forgiveness, cleansing, and the precious gift of a right standing before you in Christ Jesus, your Son. I stand in awe of you. Thank you.  

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (MSG)

When you were a child, did you ever face down authority with the words, "You're not my mother, I don't have to do what you say."?  I can recall taking that sassy and disrespectful tone with a neighbor one day and she responded, "No I am not your mother.  But I know who she is and she will hear about this!"  Ouch...I was busted big time.

Paul looked upon the Corinthians as his children, as founder of the church he had fatherly affection for them.  Paul pleaded with the defiant Corinthians to stop their immoral behavior.  He had been admonishing them to hang out with fellow believers who walked the walk.  This portion of 1 Corinthians is once again admonishing the people to remove the unrepentant from their fellowship.  He cautioned his children not to form binding relationships with unbelievers.

Paul looked upon the Corinthians somewhat like my neighbor looked upon me in my youth.  He saw them as children (in the faith) who needed guidance and correction.  They reacted to Paul in a manner similar to me with a  "Your not the boss of me," attitude. I paid the consequences for my mistaken manners that day.  Let's pray that we all grow up in the faith, that we all desire to do the right thing and we learn from our mistakes and change accordingly.  After all, God is the boss of all of us.

Read the scripture for today here, Biblegateway.