1 Corinthians 7:1-24

Be Still: Lord, I give you this day and specifically this moment. Help me shift my attention away from the distractions of life and toward you and your presence. (Pause for a moment, close your eyes, and breathe) Come, lead me and guide me today. I invite you into the depths of my heart.

Read: 1 Corinthians 7:1-24
Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches… Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. (vv 17 & 24)

Encounter: As followers of Jesus, we increasingly live in a world filled with values, practices, and beliefs that are contrary to those of the Bible. Paul’s teaching here addresses marriage, singleness, and social status—but the principle applies widely to us today. Sometimes, we cannot change our circumstances. What matters is remaining faithful to God, no matter where we find ourselves.

Jesus teaches us that removing ourselves from situations or environments that don’t align with his teachings isn’t always possible—or even the right thing to do. Instead, we are called to be in the world but not of the world.

This is easier said than done. Maintaining Christ-likeness in a messy, complicated, or toxic situation can be incredibly challenging. It requires much self-control, sensitivity to the Spirit, and bold confidence.

And yet, it’s often in those very situations—where God can seem absent, or darkness feels pervasive—that we have the greatest opportunity to remain faithful to Jesus and allow his light to shine brightly through us.

Apply: Do you need to speak joy into a hopeless situation? Be the voice of grace amidst a barrage of complaints? Hold onto your integrity while surrounded by poor judgment? Wherever you find yourself that feels devoid of God’s values, ask Him what it looks like to remain steadfast before considering stepping away.

Devote: Jesus, thank you that you are the perfect example of remaining steadfast even when surrounded by people opposed to your beliefs. You never faltered. Help me today to be in the world but not of it. Give me opportunities to let your light and life shine through me.