Devotion 1: Expectation

We had just finished dinner as a family, and I asked my two oldest sons to begin to clean the kitchen table, take everyone's plates to the sink, rinse the food off, and load the dishwasher. I asked my youngest to simply take the condiments back to the refrigerator. My two oldest asked, “How is this even fair?” I informed them that, “I have a different expectation for you, because you are both older and you know better. A four-year-old cannot load a dishwasher, nor can they even see over the sink.” Even though they did not like that they had a different expectation, they understood. Likewise, as those who are followers of Christ, we have a different expectation than the world.

In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addresses immoral living within the church. He draws very distinct lines when it comes to associating with the world and associating with those who claim to be a part of the church, but are living in sin. In verse 11, God’s Word reads, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” While there is still grace, forgiveness, and restoration for a brother or sister in Christ who falls into sin, God’s Word is very clear; do not keep close company with a person who claims to be a believer but is living in a manner unfitting for a Christ follower. The expectation for a believer is that one does not go back to the lifestyle of sin that Jesus has saved them from. The expectation for a believer is to not associate with one who claims to be set free from sin, but is clearly still tangled in the world.

In verses 9 and 10, God’s Word reads, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.” This passage of Scripture instructs a very important truth. We, as Jesus’ Church, should not expect godly behavior from ungodly people. Additionally, God’s Word does not warn followers of Christ to disassociate with the lost because of their sinfulness. Wisdom should be taken when it comes to allowing the world to have influence over ourselves, and we should not be friends with the world or condone anything unbiblical or contrary to Christ. Paul states that in order to disassociate from unsaved sinners in a sinful world would mean we would need to go out of this world, which is impossible and not what we are to do as believers. While we are still on this side of eternity, there will be sinful people. Paul’s view is that the expectation of a person who is spiritually lost is to act like a lost person. The only thing that can change that is the person who is lost coming to a place where they repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a world where many are lost. As Jesus’ church, our expectation should be to be less of a holy huddle trying to seclude ourselves from their immorality. We should see their sin and be broken and moved to preach the Gospel to them!

Sadly, much of the church approaches holiness and Christian living through avoidance—trying to distance itself from the world as much as possible. God’s expectation has never changed. The sick are sick, and we are the ones who understand the cure because the cure has saved us. 

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’” Luke 5:31-32