Happy Friday! I’m so glad God made this day that we call Friday. I don’t know how your week has been, but I pray that the Lord will restore, refresh and renew you today and this weekend. Join me today as we continue in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, with Paul addressing the church on divison in worship. Enjoy today’s reading and your weekend.

“⁷ A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. ⁸ For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. ⁹ And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. ¹⁰ For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.^[e]

¹¹ But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. ¹² For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.

¹³ Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? ¹⁴ Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? ¹⁵ And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches. – 1 Corinthians 11:7-16 NLT

Paul’s response to the Corinthian church addressed the cultural issues outside and inside the church. Apparently, there were issues with cultural influences on the church. Paul separated the customary tradition from the Lord’s people, which we read in verses 11-12 “¹¹ But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. ¹² For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.” The key to this is that both male and female are to live in submission to God.

I love Paul’s final response “But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.” The fact that Paul did not condone additional layers or religious practices/customs that some wanted to impose. He was clear on the matter that he wasn’t adding to it.

Sisters and brothers, the Lord is consistent in his love for us. He doesn’t love one gender more than another. He speaks to male and female. He gifts and uses both male and female. He instructs both male and female. He blesses marriages where men have submitted to His authority and where wives submit to His authority. He blesses home where women who have become widows or are single parents who submit to His authority. We can’t keep putting God in our natural box and limiting his ability to qualify both male and female, because he loves us both. Let us continue to love one another like Christ loves the church.

Question to ponder over the weekend.

• Are you ready to submit to God’s authority? _________________
• If so, what is the first thing you need to submit to him (e.g., your marriage, your children, your singleness, your relationships, your job, your studies, your thoughts and actions toward another gender, etc.)? ________________

Father God thank you for creating male and female in your image (Gen. 1:27). Lord, we thank you for the intricate details of creating us for your purposes and glory. Lord, we thank you for being trustworthy and faithful enough for us to submit our everything to you. Lord, there is nothing that we want to withhold from you. Lord, we pray for more servant leaders in the church and in the world. Lord, we pray for more godly men and men in general to submit to your authority and lead their homes with the same love, compassion and protection that you have for Your church and Your people. Lord, we pray for women to rise to their calling, to step out in faith to do what you have called them to do. Lord, strengthen the stay at home moms and equip them with your knowledge and wisdom to build up their children in the word. Lord, we pray for the working moms, that you give them a sense of peace and renewed energy as they help to support their homes and care for their families. Lord, we pray for singles, divorcees and widows and ask that your pour out your Holy Spirit upon them and lead them. Lord, be the shoulder they can cry on, encourage them and give them insight when there is no one else around. Lord, build them up and reveal to them your plan for their lives. Lord, we submit today and each day after to you. Lord, cover us and lead us in the way we should go, on our jobs, in our marriages, in the church, in our homes, and in the world. In Jesus name, amen.

Keep praying! Keep Trusting! Keep believing!

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