QT 07/07/2024 Sun. 1Cor 7 哥林多前书7章

QT 07/07/2024 Sun. 1Cor 7
READ http://www.esvbible.org/1cor7

The Corinthians had previously written to Paul, "It is good for a man not to have sexual relationship with a woman" (1Cor 7:1). Paul preferred celibacy for them too (1Cor 7:7).

But sexual immorality was rampant in Corinth (1Cor 1-6). Temptation was real (1Cor 7:2) and so was the "lack of self-control" (1Cor 7:5). These dangers could not be lightly dismissed. Burning "with passion" (1Cor 7:9,36) points to the power behind these forces.

Paul prohibited improper behaviour (1Cor 7:36), separation (1Cor 7:10) and divorce (1Cor 7:11). In view of "the present distress", he advocated the status quo and regulated their behaviour (1Cor 7:26) to stem their slide into more pain and anxieties (1Cor 7:32).

APPLICATION: Be realistic about what marriage can or cannot do. It's a calling (1Cor 7:15,17), assignment (1Cor 7:17) and personal decision (1Cor 7:37) all rolled into one. God gives His people the freedom to choose within specific boundaries. However, do not forget the all encompassing goal: "how to please the LORD" (1Cor 7:32).

REFLECTION: Has our singlehood, dating or marriage distracted us from doing God's will for this generation? Review our lives to find the answer to this, on where we are now, and tweak towards living within the will of God.

星期日 2024年7月7日 今日读经：哥林多前书7章.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1Co/7/
听音频哥林多前书7章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/1cor.7.cnvs

哥林多人之前曾写信给保罗，“我认为男人不亲近女人倒好”(林前7:1)。保罗也希望他们独身(林前7:7)。

但在哥林多，淫乱的事很猖獗(林前1-6)。诱惑很真实(林前7:2)，“情不自禁”也是个问题(林前7:5)。这些危险都不可忽视。“欲火焚身”(林前7:9,36)是这些恶势力背后的力量。

保罗禁止不当的行为(林前7:36)、分居(林前7:10)和离婚(林前7:11)。为了“眼前的困难”，他主张保持现状并规范他们的行为(林前7:26)以免他们陷入更多的痛苦和忧虑(林前7:32)。

应用：对婚姻要清楚地知道什么是可行的、什么是不可行的。婚姻是神的呼召(林前7:15,17)、分给(林前7:17)和个人的意志(林前7:37)结合在一起。神给予祂的百姓在一定的范围内有选择的自由。然而，不要忘了那最完全的目标：“怎样去得主喜悦”(林前7:32)。

反思：我们的独身、恋爱或婚姻是否让我们无法专心地为这个世代行出神的旨意？反省我们人生的现况，寻找答案，更加活在神的旨意里。