“Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that
he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know”(1 Corinthians
8:1-2).

The gift of salvation is never given
to lift us up in arrogance. Some see themselves as superior because of the gift
of salvation. This is the old Adam. Jesus comes to us humbly, having emptied
Himself of His heavenly glory to walk as an ordinary man in our midst. We are
to follow the example of Jesus and walk humbly as He did. If you know
something, simply share it with others as Christ has shared it with you.

Lord, it is hard to be humble. Let me neither walk in pride, nor seek
to walk with a false humility. Lead me to simply walk each day as You give it,
sharing where You would have me share the knowledge You have given me. As I am
free, help me see that others are free to believe what they do. Give me a
willing heart that shares, but does not insist. Teach me this humility in all
things: for Salvation is of the Lord,

Lord Jesus, I am unable to
imagine how You, so high, came so low for our sakes. Lead me, O Lord, in the
way of truth that I would become unconcerned with where You place me. I am
Yours and pray that this truth is enough – and more than enough. Remove pride
from my heart that I may simply learn to live in the love You have for all
people and share that love with all whom I meet. Amen.

“So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does
well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.  A wife is bound as long as her husband lives;
but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only
in the Lord. But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I
think that I also have the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 7:38-40).

What is the better portion for
you to do? We do have choices and sometimes they are a matter of good and
better. Seek for excellence. Do not just settle for good enough, though it be a
fine choice. You are called to come out of yourself and forward toward and into
the Lord. Toward this goal, live urgently, for each day brings you closer to
the prize. Know that He who is in You has already overcome all obstacles.

Lord, in this world, we can be tempted to settle for good enough, but
there are those few who take the extra step toward what is exceptional. Help me
to not live mechanically, but willingly, doing all I can and to the best of my
ability. Stretch me Lord in the way I can and need to be stretched that I would
live into a life that is all You know it can be, doing all You know I can do.

Lord Jesus, none of this is about
grace, for Your grace alone saves me. This is about learning to become like You
in all things. Guide me along this path that I would daily increase in Your
likeness. Help me now and always to see that only in and through You am I able
to exercise these gifts which You have given. Help me always that I may grow
and be like You and become excellent in the gifts You have given me. Amen.

“But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin
daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes,
he does not sin; let her marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, being
under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this
in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well” (1
Corinthians 7:36-37).

Again, this is a thought stream
and not a law. Think through what you are doing in the context of where you
are. Are you doing what you are doing from evil in the heart, or are you
seeking what is pleasing to the Lord? Do pay attention to what you are thinking
and why. Seek what is good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord, for He will
guide you in all of your ways that you may become like Christ.

Lord, I need to learn this amidst all of the garbage the world throws
my way. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in
the truth You have revealed once for all. Guide me, O Lord, that I may have my
heart examined by Your Spirit and be led not by what is evil in my heart, but
by Your Spirit which leads me in the way of goodness. Help me, Lord, through
Your Spirit.

Lord Jesus, You have come to
rescue us from the evil that is in our heart. You know first hand the
difficulties that reign in us. You know this world and its multitude of ideas
that pummel us each day. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go that
I may learn to follow You in all of the ways you have established. May I now
and always abide in the truth You have revealed. Amen.

“And his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the
virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in
body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the
world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your own benefit; not to
put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure
undistracted devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:34-35).

The community in Corinth was
amidst upheaval because of the impropriety of one of its members. Paul’s
direction here is not a law, but a way of thinking through these things. He is telling
us to keep our eyes upon the prize. The way to the prize is the upward call of
Jesus. Be led to become like Christ in whatever way that will take you and let
nothing get in the way.

Lord, You know all things and You know all that is needed. Grant us eyes
to see and ears to hear all that is right and true. No matter to what You call
me, help me to go there. Grant that I would see through the distractions to
focus upon all that is right and good. You have come for our benefit. You have
come that we might live into the purpose for why we exist. Be the One who
guides and let it be no one and nothing else.                                

 Lord Jesus, You know the struggles of this world. You know how hard it is to see through all of the distractions that come each day. Guide me this day, Lord Jesus, that I would see clearly as I walk each step of faith. Help me now and always to see that in You alone is the hope of all. In and through all circumstances, help me to learn how to be faithful that I would live according to the Father’s will. Amen.

“But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is
concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who
is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his
wife” (1 Corinthians 7:32-33).

We get to the heart of what Paul
has been saying. There is a principle here. We have been created to care. Where
that care is directed is important. We often find that we are driven to care
about the things of this world. When that care interferes with the direction of
our faith, this is a problem. We were created to love and the direction of our love
will guide us. Direct your life toward the Lord.

Lord, I do not know what it means to love you above all things. Lead me,
O Lord, to be guided by You in and through all things. Help me to see that only
in You will I find meaning for why I exist. Guide me to live in the right
direction that I may now and always walk according to Your purposes. Help me
see through those things that seek to direct my focus in other directions.

Lord Jesus, You continuously
pointed us upward. Lead me to see that only in You will I find completion. Guide
me according to Your goodness to know that in You alone will I be able to walk
the narrow path of salvation. Lead me out of myself to see that through You is
the only way to find what is missing that I may not wander through this life
aimlessly. Guide me, Lord Jesus. Amen.

“And those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who
rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did
not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use
of it; for the form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:30-31).

The point continues that your
momentary circumstances will change. 
What you have will eventually pass from you to another.  What you do not have remains to be seen.  Who you are in the Lord is eternal and the
hope toward which we are called.  This
age will pass away, but you are called by the grace of the One who is
eternal.  For what will you live and to
what will you strive?

Lord, there are many ideas in the world.  People are constantly vying to persuade me
this way or that.  Help me I pray to see
through the lies and delusions to see clearly what it true.  In truth, lift me up to become as one who
seeks Your face and follows in Your example. 
Teach me how to walk in this world of confused and mixed messages to be
one who walks with You in the words of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, lead
me in truth that I may be guided by Your clear and ever-present word.  Help me in moments of confusion to see and
hear clearly.  Help me to learn what it
means to abide in You.  Help me to never
reject the promise of Your abiding in me. 
Through all things, keep me on the narrow path that I may walk humbly
before the Father and do what is pleasing in His sight.  Amen.

“But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she
has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to
spare you.  But this I say, brethren, the
time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as
though they had none;” (1 Corinthians 7:28-29)

Looking at life and its meaning, our view is often of the day and the circumstance. Paul is calling for us to look at the age and its reality. Recognize that each path will carry with it burdens and these should not be taken on lightly.  Walk therefor with intentionality and seek to see things from the perspective of eternity.

Lord open my eyes to see beyond the immediate.  I am in this moment and I should not leave
it, but help me to live in this moment knowing what You have promised and how
things shall be after this age.  Holding
these two things together, teach me how to walk in the way of salvation.  Guide me to make choices that will enable me
to walk boldly in faith.  Teach me
faithfulness.

Come Holy Spirit and amidst the
confusion of this age show me a clear path that You would have me walk.  Guide me moment by moment and teach me about
the eternal perspective.  Let my heart be
free in You, but guarded from the wiles of this world.  In all things, teach me to live wholly in the
grace I have been given knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Lead me always!  Amen.

“I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that
it is good for a man to remain as he is. 
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released
from a wife? Do not seek a wife” (1 Corinthians 7:26-27).

The question behind this answer
is not one necessarily of human circumstance, but of priorities.  Yes, marriage is good, for it is ordained by
God, but what is your ultimate destination. 
In every circumstance the Lord will lead you and teach you, but take
care not to be waylaid.  Be led by the
Lord who will lead you in the way of everlasting life.  What do you seek?  Is it the world, or the Lord?

Lord, I do make laws of everything and want to stop short of seeing the
whole thing.  Yes, You call many through
the gift of marriage.  It is good, for
You have created it.  But help me to see
that only in the goodness of Your grace will I find the wholeness that You
offer in salvation.  Lead me beyond
temporal circumstances to see the greater portion that You offer that I may continue
the upward call You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save
each one of us.  Help me to not settle
for the lesser when You call me to the greater. 
Help me to see that this does not mean I have to enter into a certain
lifestyle, but to press ever forward toward the prize which You hold before
me.  Guide me in Your grace in every
circumstance to see Your goodness and the mercy of the Father and live as You
direct.  Amen.

“Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he
was called.  Now concerning virgins I
have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of
the Lord is trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 7:24-25).

Remain in the condition in which
you find yourself.  This is not a
fatalism, but a call to look up and realize that any temporary circumstance is
just that, temporary.  The Lord knows all
that is needed and we ought not be carried away by the moment.  Yes, be diligent, but do not sin.  Work hard, but do not fight against where the
Lord has placed you.  Trust in the Lord
above all things.

Lord, help me to see where I should struggle and work hard and where I
should be content.  Grant wisdom that I
may walk in Your presence always knowing that You will work all things together
for good because You love me.  Guide me
in Your wisdom to act according to Your leading that I may grow in becoming
like You.  Help me learn how to be
content.

Lord Jesus, You know all
things.  You know all that is
needed.  You have led me thus far and You
have given me the words of eternal life. 
Help me to be thankful for all that You have given me knowing that any
affliction is a temporary thing.  In You
alone can I find the hope that will lead me through good times and bad.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may now and always
follow You.  Amen.

“For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s
freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.  You were bought with a price; do not become
slaves of men” (1 Corinthians 7:22-23).

We live in a world with skewed
understanding of reality.  While
screaming for freedom in the crowd, they lament the limitations upon their
desires.  True freedom is found only in
Christ and it is a freedom that transcends circumstance.  It does not seek its own, but understands
that all things belong to the One who made them.  Live in the freedom of Christ and know His
goodness that can never be taken away.

Lord, I spend so much time trying to figure things out that I am mixed
up inside.  Bring me to the place where I
live by faith and not by my ability to figure these things out.  Lead me in Your goodness that I may now and
always abide humbly in Your grace.  Let
me not seek the world, but You and know that in You alone is all the freedom,
goodness, and mercy I could ever hope for.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister
to my heart.  Guide me according to Your
goodness that I would now and always see things through Your eyes.  Help me know the freedom I have in You and
the slavery which is mine in Christ.  In
both of these things, help me to always be content in and through whatever this
world brings.  Lead me Lord in the way of
everlasting life with peace and freedom in my soul.  Amen.