One-Year Bible Reading Plan  : Seekers & New Believers | May 20 | 1 Corinthians Chapter 7: Abide in the Calling with God 

🦌 Opening Today’s Reading 

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, peace be with you in the Lord!

Welcome to today's reading journey! Today, we are exploring 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 together.

In our everyday lives, whether single, married, or navigating complex family dynamics, we each find ourselves in unique seasons and social roles. We often wonder: How can I honor God right where I am? How can I experience peace instead of being consumed by worldly anxieties?

Let's pause and take a quiet moment. Bringing an open heart, let's step into today's scripture to see how Paul counsels us to remain faithful to God's calling in every circumstance, serving Him with an undivided heart.

📖 Context Snapshot 

Where are we today?

1 Corinthians Chapter 7 provides Paul's comprehensive answers regarding marriage, singleness, and personal callings:

1. Principles on Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1–9): Paul addresses marriage obligations, emphasizing mutual care and affection. While singleness is a gift that allows dedicated service, marriage is honorable and good.

2. Marriage Vows and Mixed Households (1 Corinthians 7:10–16): Paul instructs believers to preserve their marriages. If a believer has an unbelieving spouse willing to stay, they should remain together, as the believing spouse can bring sanctifying grace to the home.

3. Abiding in One's Calling (1 Corinthians 7:17–24): Whether circumcised or uncircumcised, bond or free, believers are urged to remain faithful to God in whatever situation they were called, prioritizing obedience to His commandments above outward status.

4. Singleness and Undivided Devotion (1 Corinthians 7:25–40): In light of present trials, Paul highlights the freedom of singleness for undivided devotion to the Lord, while affirming that marriage is entirely free from sin.

💡 Today’s Scripture Verse  - 1 Corinthians 7

7 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

🌟Daily Heart-Check:  From "Anxious Seasons" to "Undivided Devotion" 

• Contentment in Your Current Station: God meets us where we are. Spiritual growth does not depend on changing our external social status, but on faithfully living out God's will right in our current season.

• Freedom From Worldly Anxiety: Paul reminds us that the fashion of this world passes away. We are encouraged to live with eternal priorities, freeing our hearts from unnecessary anxiety so we can serve the Lord without distraction.

🎵 Response Song :  

🙏 Closing Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father,

Thank You for speaking to us today through 1 Corinthians Chapter 7.

Thank You for placing us right where we are today. Grant us contentment and wisdom so that whether single, married, or in various life circumstances, we may faithfully abide in Your calling.

Deliver us from the anxieties and distractions of this world. Help us honor our relationships, care for our families, and keep our hearts devoted to You with singleness of purpose.

We pray for our loved ones and friends today, especially those seeking clarity in their relationships or life directions. May Your peace guard their hearts and minds.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!