Read: Ezra 10:1-44; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 21:3
As Ezra showed such outward show of repentance, the people responded and wept with him. The people confessed their sin and asked Ezra to ask the Lord what they should do to make things right. Ezra had them make an oath to do what the Lord said to do and they did.
Ezra withdrew and spent the night fasting and praying. A proclamation was made for all the people to come to Jerusalem in three days. If they didn’t come their would forfeit their property.
They all came to Jerusalem on the 20th day of the 9th month. The people sat trembling in the cold rain in the open square before the house of God. Ezra explained the guilt they had brought upon their nation for marrying foreigners ad told them to confess their sin and divorce their foreign wives.
The people agreed to do it and made appointments with the priesthood to do this. It took the rest of the year to finish them all because there were so many and some of them had children.
This was a big complicated deal but they did it! I wonder if we would have the courage to call all the people in our nation to divorce all the same sex marriages in our land.
In Corinthians, Paul called them out for hiring secular lawyers to handle their problems and divorces. He told them that the church was supposed to do this because one day we will judge the world and the angels who left heaven to have sex with women on the earth. Paul says that to have a lawsuit against a believer is already a defeat for you. Then he tells them if would be better to suffer wrong or to be defrauded than to sue a brother.
Paul gives a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God and it is all the adulterers, those who practice homosexuality, thieves, drunkards, and the greedy. He reminds us that we have been washed and sanctified and justified in Christ’s name and by his Spirit.
Our bodies were not made for sexual immorality but to be instruments of God and members of Christ. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and was bought with a price.
Both of our readings have to do with sexual immorality and how to repent and live God’s way. God is holy and he calls us to be holy also. He always gives us a way to repent and get back to right standing with him, but it is not always easy. Once we take the step towards righteousness, he will help us take the next step and it will get easier and easier to finish. The end is eternal life.
Lord, help us to take the necessary steps to cleanse ourselves of any unrighteousness in us. Cleanse our minds and hearts and may we stand before you holy and righteous because of Christ. May we be ready to meet you when you return.
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