Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 5:10 (New Living Translation)

10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.

Paul is writing to the Christians in the city of Corinth. Paul tells the Christians there are people with whom they should not associate. “Don’t even eat with such people,” is one thing Paul tells them.

In the middle of this, Paul reminds the readers of one caveat, “But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers.” Paul was talking about people who profess to believe in Jesus as savior and Lord, but engage in the usual list of ungodly things. Stay away from false believers.

Stay away from unbelievers? Well, to do that you would have to leave planet Earth and go somewhere else inhabited by only believers. Can’t do that.

Followers of Jesus live here on planet Earth. There are many unbelievers here on planet Earth. This is where we are and this is our situation. Live with it. Don’t imitate the unbelievers and don’t be surprised at how they live. Criticize the unbelievers daily? I don’t know about that one, but if that is what I did I wouldn’t have much time for anything else (including sleep).

This is where I live. God has blessed me with saving grace. God has blessed me with other believers and their examples of faith. Thanks be to God. The unbelievers? Yes, they are all around me. Perhaps I can show them the way of the believers. God, help me to do so.