I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
This is going to hurt me more than you. I never did believe that but this principle from Paul is true. Harsh punishments and strong admonition are for our benefit in the long run. Paul had just finished 6 chapters of harsh admonition and then turned to a letter sent from the church in Corinth to him. He answered all their questions on marriage and instructed them on many issues surrounding it. He then qualified it by saying that these instructions were not to burden them with rules but to help them promote good order so they would be well regarded and in good standing. If they followed their instincts and engaged in sexual immorality without marriage, their witness would have suffered and the name of Christ would be mocked.
The answer to the various questions they had and we have can be summarized in verse 35. If we have undivided devotion to the Lord and undivided attention to his word, we will not need to ask as many questions because the Lord will speak to us from his word and the world will not have a say in our decisions. In other words, we will not divide our interests between the Lord and the world the way so many in the world do, worshiping on Sunday and sinning on Monday. Today, let the undivided devotion to the Lord govern your actions and words.
Dear Lord, thank you that you have shown us the way in your word, the Bible. Help us to have this devotion so the world may know you are Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church