Sun.’s Devo - Remove the Unholy From the Holy -

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2

Ezra had just gotten permission to take exiles back to Jerusalem and was given much gold and silver from the king to use to offer sacrifices to the Lord. He told the king that the Lord was good to all who seek him and would pour his wrath on all who forsake him so he was embarrassed to ask for military protection. So, he proclaimed a fast to pray that God would protect them as they traveled with all this great amount of wealth. He selected 12 of the priests and divided the gold and silver in their hands to be responsible for it till they got to Jerusalem. 

God heard their prayer and got them safely to Jerusalem. On the fourth day they took all the gold and silver to the house of God and gave it to Meredith the priest there. They weighed and counted all of it and recorded it. 

The officials of the land told Ezra that the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites had not separated themselves from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonnites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. They had married them and given their daughters and sons to marry them. They had become a mixed people. Ezra was sick with grief when he heard this. 

After mourning, Ezra fell on his knees and interceded for the people’s sin. They had married the very people the Lord had told them to kill and take possession of their land because they were so evil. God had warned them against marrying them and seeking their peace or prosperity and now they had done just that. He asked that God forgive them and not consume them since they were the only remnant left.

In Corinthians, Paul finds himself in the same predicament Ezra found himself in. Paul finds out there is terrible sin going on in the church of Corinth. Sexual immorality was being tolerated which the world wouldn’t even tolerate. A man in their congregation was having sex with his own mother-in-law while his father was alive. She was a heathen so Paul doesn’t address her, but the man claims to be a Christian. Paul is appalled that the church is allowing it and not mourning this sin. Paul calls for this person to be removed from the church. 

Paul prayed that God will judge this man and instructs the Church to turn him over to Satan so he can destroy his flesh in order for his spirit to be saved on the day of the great judgement. 

Then Paul addresses how they boast about which leader they follow and tells them that a little sin makes the whole person a sinner. They were not to have malice in their heart but have a sincere heart of truth. 

Paul tells them that there is no way not to have to associations with sexual immoral people in the world because you would have to leave this world not to do that. But, they can choose not to associate with immoral people in the church. They are not to judge the world, but they are to judge those in the church and purge the sinners out. This is one of the most misunderstood principles of God. We are to judge those who claim to know Christ. They are our brothers and sisters and discipline must happen in the family if it is to function properly. 

Lord, may we be respectful of the fact that we represent our whole family of faith. May our lives bring honor to your family of faith and to you. Give us strength to do what we need to do to keep your house holy.