Day 238: Psalms 124-127; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

One thing I appreciate about the apostle Paul is that he is a master of 'the grey areas' of life. Out of a recent conversation I was reminded that not everything is 'black and white,' as the expression goes, and that for thinking Christians who long to be Christlike, these grey areas become a place of spiritual reflection and even, at times consternation. There are times when those grey areas may depend on the moment/time in which you find yourself. A case in point is Paul writing these words: "But I (not the Lord) say to the rest..." (1 Corinthians 7:12). He says this after saying the opposite in v.10: "...not I but the Lord." He is talking about the benefits of marriage and singleness and clarifying that we do not violate God's will in marriage, and how we live in relation to an 'unsaved spouse'. Everything was complicated by Roman law and we do not always have a choice when another will is legally involved...nothing was clearcut (even this summary is too simplistic, and Paul introduces other areas of life involved). Grey areas.

To be certain, there are many clearcut calls to obedient living, and the measure of all of our living is this: "Keeping God's commandments is what matters" (v.19). What Paul keeps bringing us back to is this idea of consecration. This is where I surrender all that I am to Him and seek His will in my life above all else. Honestly, this only happens by the help of the Holy Spirit in cleansing my heart, but He does not do the work apart from my surrendered will. Then, through prayer and a deepening consecration, I begin to discern God's direction which draws me more deeply into holy living (thanks, E.M. Bounds). In life, I have found this to be true: God's Spirit through a consecrated life sets us free in the questions about those grey areas. It's not that I don't wrestle. I do! But in the end, I arrive at a settled place: "Thy will be done!" Jesus' life teaches me that. And I have many...countless...godly examples of consecrated living.

This morning, early, before I read the Scripture for today, I was reminded of one such example: Dr. David Livingston, missionary to Africa. The last entry in his journal after a life of consecrated service to God went something like this: "My Lord, my life, my all, I again dedicate myself to you!" That's where I want to, choose to live with God's help. This keeps 'first things first' and makes the grey areas fall in place.