Today the Apostle Paul is dealing with the difficult topics of singleness, marriage and divorce.

I suggest reading all of 1 Corinthians 7 today even though our appointed reading is only  1 Corinthians 7:10-28, Reading the entire chapter several times today and tomorrow will help us apply these lessons to our own homes and prepare us to help our friends and family apply these lessons to their homes. 

Are you married? Paul reminds us that when we marry, we are no longer our own. We are giving ourselves to our spouses. We have a responsibility to care for their needs... emotionally and sexually.

Are you single? Recognize this as a situation in life that allows you more freedom in your service to the Lord. It is a good, godly state to be in. 

Are you thinking about getting a divorce? Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. Paul references the teachings of the Lord Jesus where he instructs us that we are not to break the marriage bond. Read again Matthew 19:1-12. What God has joined together in marriage, we are not to separate. 

Are you married to an unbeliever? In 1 Corinthians 7:12-14, the apostle is dealing with a situation that Jesus never dealt with. The Israelites among whom Jesus served during his earthly ministry had the command to marry a fellow believing Israelite. They were not to have mixed marriages.

Paul is out in the mission field. A wife might become a believer and her husband not. A husband might become a believer and his wife not.

Are they to remain in that mixed marriage? Paul's answer is simply, "Yes." By staying in the marriage, the believer may have the sanctifying influence on children and spouse. The unbelieving family members may become believers through the believing spouse/parent. 

What about if the unbeliever abandons the marriage? (1 Corinthians 7:15-16) When the unbeliever leaves a marriage, he or she is the one who has broken the marriage vow. Since the unbeliever has broken the marriage vow by his/her desertion of the marriage, the believer is not bound by their marriage vow any longer. He/she can remarry. 

Today we call this "malicious desertion." Sadly, people who have once professed their faith in Christ can rebel against God's will and act like an unbeliever. If a person deserts the marriage... either physically leaving or by becoming physically or emotionally abusive so that the other must leave the home... by that physical or emotional desertion of the marriage, the individual reveals a lack of faith. 

In all these situations, it can be easy to feel distant from the LORD. 

Our Old Testament reading (Psalm 143-150) speaks to those who may not feel "close to the LORD's heart," 

Psalm 143 is the last of the "penitential psalms." (The other psalms of repentance are 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130.)  None of us are guiltless before the LORD. Even a wife or husband who has been abused and forced to leave the marriage will look back and see things they could have done differently. And so we confess our sins and ask the LORD that every morning he give us news of his unfailing love (v. 8).

Psalm 144 is the warrior psalm, asking for help in the battle. Today I think especially of my many brothers and sisters in faith who are battling Satan's attacks dealing with some of the issues raised in 1 Corinthians 7. I pray that through our daily reading of His Word the LORD would train us for this daily spiritual battle.

Psalm 145 is an acrostic psalm. Each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In spite of the battles we face in this world, we have so many reasons to praise the LORD.

The Psalms end with five Hallelujah or "Praise the LORD" psalms (Psalms 146-150). This morning I enjoyed listening to someone else read these songs of praise to me. Listen to them here. 

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love" (Psalm 143:8) summarizes my goal as I invite you to join me in this daily Bible reading plan (attached). Every day let us kneel in spirit before the Lord's altar, confessing our sin. Every day let us see again the Savior's unfailing love. Let us every day claim this promise: We are "people close to the LORD's heart." Amen.