This Sunday, we come to the final section of 1 Corinthians 7 When you read it, Paul’s sense of urgency is unmistakable and explains why he says what he says. “The appointed time has grown very short” (7:29) and “the present form of this world is passing away.” (7:31) Next to eternity, our earthly lives are like a mist, and the return of Christ is imminent. And as Colossians 3:4 has been reminding us, “When Christ, who is your life appears, you also will appear with him in glory.”

This should create an urgency to the Christian life. I was reminded of a plaque John Piper says he grew up looking at every day in his home that read, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

I was also reminded of our statement of faith, and what we believe about Jesus’ return.

We believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, requires constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

This should prompt me to ask myself, “How does my day to day life give evidence that I truly believe this? Are my decisions and investments and interactions with others motivated by this constant expectancy?”

And as we’ll see this Sunday, this expectancy should have an effect upon the way we understand and live out the equally good gifts of singleness and marriage.

Neal Hardin will be preaching 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 this week and Kenny Clark will be leading our time of sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And pray for all who will hear, that like Lydia in Acts 16, God would “open our hearts to pay attention” to what His word has to say to us this week?

See you Sunday, Grace. Let’s come hungry!

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Song Link of the Week

Forever with the Lord by Songs of Grace