Old Testament reading: Proverbs 28-29.
“Everyone has the right to pray.” Most folks believe this, but it is not so. So says the inspired writer in Proverbs 28:9: “If any man turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” It is unthinkable to most religious people that a man’s prayer would not be heard and accepted by God, much less be an abomination before Him. It was probably this verse the formerly blind man had in mind in John 9:31 when he is recorded as saying, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” We must listen to God if we want Him to listen to us. By listening to God I mean we must seek to know and obey His will. When Samuel said to God, “Speak Lord, your servant hears,” he was implying that he would listen to and obey whatever God was about to command. Finally, prayer is a spiritual blessing. And as all spiritual blessings belong to those who are in Christ (Eph 1:3), only those who are in Christ enjoy the privilege and blessing of prayer. Only faithful Christians have access to the throne of God (Heb 4:15-16) and the mediation of Jesus (1 Tim 2:6).
New Testament reading: 2 Corinthians 11-13
I love Paul’s jealousy over the church at Corinth. He was not jealous for himself, as the church did not belong to him. Rather, he was afraid the Corinthians would allow their relationship with Christ to be spoiled by the Devil. Specifically, he feared their pure minds would be corrupted by false doctrine. The word here rendered “virgin” is used in two senses in the New Testament. First, it is used in the traditional sense of a woman who has kept herself pure from sexual defilement (cf Matt 1:23). Second, it is used of those in the church who are undefiled in their relationship with Jesus (cf Rev 14:4). Note how Paul’s concern is expressed to the entire church in plural form: “I am jealous for you” (plural), and “I have betrothed you” (plural). Yet, the betrothal to one husband (Christ) was spoken in a singular sense, as “virgin” appears in the singular form. Paul’s desire was to present the entire church as a single, chaste entity. Thus, it behooves every single member to commit himself to personal purity, lest the purity of the collective become defiled.
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