December 1: You Are Who You Hang With!

Suggested reading: 1 Cor. 5:1-11:16

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

English Standard Version (ESV)

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.

We are who we hang with. 
If Scott and I started spending time with a group of friends who were not above cheating on their spouses, for instance, we would start to feel comfortable with this type of behavior. What if this group actaully attended our church? We could easily fool ourselves into believing we were "helping them", or befriending them in order to draw them to a closer relationship with Christ. According to this passage, this is not a good idea at all. We could easily get sucked into their twisted, immoral thinking. And this is only one example. There are other sins listed in this passage as well. 
"...greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one." 
We must steer clear from these people! Lest we fall into the same type of sin!
The friendship choices we make affect the rest of our lives. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Amplified Bible (AMP)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,

10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

I like verse 11. We were ALL these evil people at one time or another in our lives! But we were washed, consecrated and justified by Jesus Christ! We don't have to feel any shame about the mistakes of the past! Jesus bore our sins on the cross of Calvary. The work of atonement is done! We are completely free from guilt!
Do you feel guilt and regret about choices you made years ago? About sin you committed in the past? Well, just give it to Jesus. Say, "Jesus, I know You forgave me and others forgave me, but I can't forgive myself. Please take the guilt and regret off of me. In Your precious name." And He will! Pray this prayer over and over, as many times as it takes to be rid of the guilt. It's not His will for you to carry the guilt. You made a mistake or a wrong choice because you are human. He loves You very much and is urging you right now to simply let go. He will restore and renew you. I promise.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.

13 Food [is intended] for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will finally end [the functions of] both and bring them to nothing. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but [is intended] for the Lord, and the Lord [is intended] for the body [to save, sanctify, and raise it again].

14 And God both raised the Lord to life and will also raise us up by His power.

15 Do you not see and know that your bodies are members (bodily parts) of Christ (the Messiah)? Am I therefore to take the parts of Christ and make [them] parts of a prostitute? Never! Never!

16 Or do you not know and realize that when a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? The two, it is written, shall become one flesh.

17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.

18 Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,

20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

"Dear God, thanks for Your amazing word. I am loving these scriptures. How much clearer can You make it? When we are united to You, we BECOME ONE with You. Wow. And when we are one with You, we think Your thoughts. We become wise with Your wisdom. We can accomplish any task that is set before us. Because You created the universe and everything in it. I want to be one with You, Jesus. I want to follow Your heart. I want Your thoughts to be my thoughts. You are awesome and I praise You! I will worship You forever! In Your precious name, Jesus, I pray these things. AMEN."