Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 6:3–4
As we learned in yesterday’s devotion, God wanted the believers in Corinth to handle their civil disputes within the church and not within the local court system. God had Paul also write this in 1 Corinthians 6:3–4, “Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?” So, not only will God use all believers to judge the world, but He’ll also use believers to judge angels. God had Paul point out that since God gives His power and authority to all believers to judge through His Holy Spirit in us, then all believers ought to be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life among themselves. God also had Paul ask the believers another question, “If they had legal disputes among themselves, why were they going to judges in the lost world whom the church did not even respect?” As followers of Christ, we should be able to work through civil disputes without filing a lawsuit against another believer. God desires us to fulfill Philippians 2:14–15, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” We should handle civil disputes in such a godly manner that this lost world sees the difference.
Challenge & Application
Who has God given us so that we can handle civil disputes in a manner that honors Him?
How should we appear to a lost world when handling disputes between Christians, and why is this important?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!