1 Corinthians 7:1-16

God wants to use us to influence others to believe.  We read over and over again of the importance of our testimony.  Our testimony isn't only the story of the big changes God has made in our lives, but it is also how we approach every day.  We live out our story day in and day out as we encounter people where they are.  A trip to the grocery store, the bank or the Department of Motor Vehicles offers us the opportunity to share our story.  Our actions speak louder than words; we have many chances to make someone's day better by our attitude or lack of attitude as the case may be.

The scripture today reveals this through a different light.  We are instructed to be equally yoked, meaning a Christian should not marry a non-believer.  But, when two non-believers marry and one of them accepts Christ into their hearts, the Word tells us this is an opportunity to witness. Our actions could bring the unbelieving spouse to accepting Christ.  The word sanctified means: holy, consecrated, blessed.

"To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband." (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)


Our witness to the world changes lives; how we act in everyday situations is important.  We must always remember that we are being watched; by God and by our neighbors.


Read the 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 text here.  Listen to an audio reading of 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 here.

1 Corinthians 7:32-40

I don't know about you, but I find these 8 verses to be confusing.  The one point I did hear, loud and clear was, it is OK not to get married.  The single life is a good life too.

Growing up in the 50's and 60's there was much pressure put on a young woman to marry.  I don't believe the same held true for the young men.  I know that during that time of my life, if you were approaching 20 and did not sport a diamond there was an unspoken belief there was something drastically wrong with you.

This thought did not change until the late 80's and into the 90's.  Now, look where we are.  Not only is there no connotation of "loser" surrounding the unmarried women of today, but almost an expectation you will not take that step until you are well into your late twenties and even thirties.  Now it is perfectly acceptable behavior to live the single life as long as you want.

I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. (1 Corinthians 7:32 MSG)

Our children are grow up in a world which believes it is alright to live together before committing to marriage. That is one of the things this verse is clear about.  "If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants." (1 Corinthians 7:36)  

I believe the lesson for us today is, marriage is a wonderful way of life, but being single is as well.  It all works as long as we are serving Jesus with a life that is a witness to His life.

Read today's text here.