Six years ago, the world was starting to come out of the Covid lockdown. We practiced "distancing," staying at least six feet from each other. We didn't want to infect each other.

In our New Testament lesson (read 1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11 here)  God's people in Corinthian were practicing spiritual distancing, ignoring the spiritual needs of others in their congregation. For God's people to battle the power of sin and the devil's lies, we need to be involved in each other's lives.

• If we know that someone who claims to be a Christian but acting in rebellion against God's Word, it is our responsibility to speak to that person, to call them to repentance.
• If we know someone who is crushed by a knowledge of their sins, it is our calling to share the promise that our God washes away sin. 

We begin by searching our own hearts to find that yeast of malice and wickedness that lies there.

Let us confess it and then celebrate that Jesus, our Passover Lamb has been slain. He has rescued me from the death I deserve.

Now I want to serve him in love...

• Love toward those with whom I disagree. Let us seek out a wise and faithful Christian who can help us sort through those disagreements. 
• Love toward those whose sexual lives are at odds with God's Word. To make clear God's will that was revealed already in Genesis 2:24. "A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh." A man and a woman, making a lifelong commitment to each other in a public way (before father and mother... marriage), and then the couple have a safe place to enjoy the gift of intimacy. 
• Love toward those who are carrying the burden of guilt and struggling to break a sinful life pattern. Invite them to celebrate the power of God promised to them in their baptisms in 1 Corinthians 6:11: And that is what some of you were (past tense... the sins you are struggling with do not define you." But you were washed (in your baptism), you were sanctified (set apart for God's holy purpose), you were justified (declared not guilty of all of your sins) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (the life-giving Holy Spirit is at work in you. You are not struggling alone.) 

Let us "go up" together to worship

In our Old Testament reading, we finish the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134) which were likely sung by the crowds going up to Jerusalem to worship. I focused on the last half of the Psalms of Ascent this morning, seeing some progression.

• Psalm 127-128 are at the center of the psalms of ascent. They celebrate the Family Church. God designed the Christian family to be a Family Church with the father and mother as spiritual care givers. As we go up to worship week after week, let us keep at the center of our prayers our families that children are nurtured in Christian homes and that our families reflect the love of Christ to all in the household.
• Psalm 129 is a prayer that the LORD would protect his Church. Note the center verse: May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
• Psalm 130-131 are a wonderful pair. When we are in the depths of despair or guilt or confusion, we can cry out to the LORD, confident that he forgives us. We can wait patiently for the LORD's answer. We can be like a little child trusting their mother. 
• Psalm 132 is a prayer for the leaders of the LORD's church. Note the middle verse: For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one. What a blessing for us pastors to know that God's people are praying for us as they come up to worship, asking that the LORD would protect us and enable us to fulfill our gospel ministry to them. 
• Psalm 133 and 134 are another set of companion psalms. Let us pray for unity in the LORD's church and mutual love between clergy and laity.

Psalms 135 and 136 are not part of the Psalms of Ascent, but are part of our reading and are companion psalms fitting to prepare us for worship. They invite us to look back on the great saving acts of the LORD our God, offering up thanks for past salvation and giving us hope for the future. Give thanks to the LORD for he is good. His love endures forever.

Prayer: "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity" (Psalm 133:1). LORD God Almighty, what joy is ours when we hear of your forgiving love! We live in unity with you. Send your Holy Spirit so that we might live together in unity with each other. Enable us to love each other, to call each other to repentance, to comfort each other with forgiveness. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we have unity with you. Amen.