MONDAY, JUNE 25
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Perhaps there is no issue that demands a balancing of being a Priest and a King more than the issue of sexual sin. When we look in Scripture, we see the greatest king who ever lived, King David, had this failure. And yet, the Lord was quick to restore him when he repented. And he went on to great judicial feats and victories as a man of God. But the sword never departed from his house. One of the greatest, encouraging verses in the New Testament is 1 Corinthians 6:11 when it says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Nothing exists that cannot be overcome if we are willing to say yes to the Holy Spirit and take a stand for righteousness, denying the desires that war against our very soul and spirit. For every person who is willing to embrace the righteous standard of God, the fullness of God’s Kingdom is available. Unfortunately what we face today are people who demand that we accept a lifestyle that God condemns and judges worthy of death. That means the church, if it is going to obey Christ, cannot sign off on a lifestyle that God ultimately condemns. And there is probably no greater condemnation in Scripture than what comes on homosexuality. That means the church has to walk a very unique tightrope between the Priestly and the Kingly. How do we walk that line in today’s world and still obey the Living Christ? Obeying Jesus on this issue carries jail-time in some nations!