Hopeful Hearts: Daily Devotions for Renewed Faith

MONDAY, 29 APRIL 2024

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

1. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

2. Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3. Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

4. If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

5. I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?

6. But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7. Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

8. No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

9. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10. nor thieves, not covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

(New King James Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: LAWSUITS AMONG BELIEVERS

There is a popular saying that believers shouldn't take one another to civil courts in which unbelievers are judges.

It was from this Jewish/Roman background that Paul remarked that, in seeking redress on issues of litigation, believers should rather "appoint as judges even men of little account in the church." He asked, "is it possible that there's nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?"

In fact, why not allow yourself to be wronged or cheated than launch a lawsuit against your fellow Christian? After all, members of the Corinthian church were sinners against Christ in the past before they were washed, sanctified and justified.

Therefore, Paul called their attention to that grace they found in Christ and challenged them to extend same to others. Christian principles of resolving disputes are still valid for believers today, knowing fully that we all belong to the same body of Christ.

QUESTION: Can you accept to be cheated or wronged by a fellow believer instead of taking your case to a law court before an unbelieving judge?

PRAYER: O Lord, grant me the grace to run away from issues that can lead me into instituting lawsuits against anyone, especially members of the Church of Christ, in Jesus name. Amen.