“Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.  Were you called while a slave?  Do not worry about it; but if you are able
also to become free, rather do that” (1 Corinthians 7:20-21).

Lord, I want to have all things
rather than realize that You who made all things have placed all things in
their course, including me.  You have
made each of us to be where we are and as we are.  Though the world cries out, “injustice,” over
circumstances, You have placed all things for the sake of those who will turn
to You.  Let this reality be known
amongst those who are being saved.

There is this conflict that rages in our soul.  On the one hand we know what is right and
wrong, yet we do the wrong and expect the right.  In the battle of this age, make clear to me
the path upon which I have been placed that I may walk humbly according to Your
will Lord.  Let me see through the noise
of this age to be lifted up by Your purpose and will, which is all in all for
my salvation.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead
the way.  You did not come in majesty,
but humbly that none of us have any true complaint.  Regardless the circumstances in which I find
myself, guide me according to the Father’s will this day that I might willingly
accept all things knowing that they fulfil His purpose.  Grant me a heart that sees justice through
Your eyes and patience according to Your knowing guidance.  Amen.

“Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to
become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be
circumcised.   Circumcision is nothing,
and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the
commandments of God” (1 Corinthians 7:18-19).

What we do in the flesh is
nothing when compared to what Christ has done for us.  What shall we say of our works?  They are nothing.  The Lord has called us into His order of
things and seeking to live in harmony with the Lord’s will in the heart that
Christ has given is the place where we need to start.  When you have perfected that, then move on to
other things.

Lord, help me see that only in Christ am I able to become what You desire me to be.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is hope.  Guide me in Your law that I would strive to do good, yet know that all goodness is possible only because of You.  Lead me in Your goodness in all humility that I may now and always abide in the truth of Your love and live according to Your will. 

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has lived the perfect human life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in You and You in me.  Teach me the things I need to know.  Make me a diligent student of the Word You have given.  In and through all things, help me to become what You are making of me.  You alone are the author of my faith and in You alone is completeness.  Amen

“For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or
how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?  Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one,
as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the
churches” (1 Corinthians 7:16-17).

How do you know what you think
you know?  Too often, we have an insight
and think it is the full revelation. 
Trust instead in the Lord who saves. 
Know that He will lead you in the way of everlasting life.  Life according to His promises and be guided
by the Holy Spirit that you may be whom the Lord calls you to be.  Walk humbly with the One who made you and all
things.

Lord, I want more.  Teach me to
be content with whom You have made me to be. 
Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is the hope for all
people.  Help me to humbly do my part and
know that You know all things.  You will
work all things together knowing how all things will unfold.  Keep me close to You that I would now and
always humbly abide in Your leading.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, in the way
of everlasting life.  Guide me according
to Your goodness and the Father’s will to not try to figure all things out, but
humbly walk by Your direction.  Grant me
peace this day to know that all things will be as You know they must be that I
may be content in the sufficiency of Your grace.  May I walk humbly with You, my Savior, now
and always.  Amen.

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the
unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise
your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one
leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases,
but God has called us to peace” (1 Corinthians 7:14-15).

One never knows the influences
the Lord uses between those who believe and those who do not believe.  In our sinful humanity, we often try to
figure things out like a three year old telling the world how things are, but we
are too limited in understanding.  Faith
trusts the Lord and we are called to trust. 
Trust the Lord above all things and know that He is always working to
bring about salvation to those who will be with Him forever.

Lord, take away from me the desire to figure all things out.  Guide me instead to see that in You is the
hope for all people.  You have brought
salvation that all who turn to You will be saved.  You know who they are and the circumstances
in which they live.  Help me to trust
that all things are in Your hands, for You will work all things together for
good for those who love you.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we
may have life.  You are the author and
finisher of our faith.  Guide me, O Lord,
in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in You.  Keep me from the pride that thinks I can
figure these things out.  Lead in the way
of humility that I may now and always trust that You are at work always; through,
in and around me accomplishing the Father’s will.  Amen.

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine
upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Father, thank you for Jesus and his teaching! We are challenged,
humbled, and empowered by his Beatitudes. Give us a double portion of your Holy
Spirit, so that by your grace, we may begin to live out those Beatitudes, to
your glory and for the blessing and benefit of others.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant that your Church should be so filled with, and led by, your Holy
Spirit, that it constantly loves justice, does mercy, and walks humbly before
you, its Lord and God. Fill the Church with the splendor of Jesus’ glory, the
beauty of his holiness, and the sweetness of his love.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make each member of this congregation into disciples of
Jesus, so that we may be a sign of your goodness and mercy to our friends,
families, neighbors, and community.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Raise up pastors, theologians, professors, deacons, and other Christian
leaders who earnestly and patiently seek your will, and who teach others, by
word and by example, to do the same.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Be the light in dark places, the sword and shield
victorious, for our military and first responders, and for all who risk their
life on behalf of others. Give them integrity, courage, and wisdom as they
strive to bring justice and safety in dangerous places. Heal all wounds to body, mind, and soul. Strengthen
their loved ones. Help us to honor their sacrifice and benefit from their
labors.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray for our earthly rulers, whether we like them,
agree with them, or voted for them. Conform their minds, hearts, and actions to
your holy will. Help them to strengthen the bonds of affection, trust, and
concord within families and communities.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless, heal, and strengthen everyone who is burdened by
suffering, especially those we name now before you: {List}. We also pray for
women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, especially those whose
health is imperiled; for women who have had an abortion or miscarriage; for
newborn infants, especially those at risk of illness or injury; for all
fathers; and for everyone who cares for and rejoices in the gift of new life.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

As today also commemorates the Presentation of our Lord,
let our constant prayer be that of Simeon as he entrusted his life into God’s
keeping: Now, Lord, you let your servants go in peace; your Word has been
fulfilled. Our own eyes have seen the salvation that you have prepared in the
sight of every people. A light to reveal you to the nations, and the glory of
your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in
the beginning, is now, and will be forever, Amen.

All these things, and whatever else you see that
we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.

“But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife
who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce
her.  And a woman who has an unbelieving
husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away”
(1 Corinthians 7:12-13).

Paul gives his opinion.  The Lord has already spoken about making two
one flesh.  But what is the purpose of
this?  Is it not for building one up to
become like Christ?  We often make laws
of what is meant as something to individually drive the sinner into repentance.  Do not be driven by any law (other than to
die to sin), but be driven by the upward call of the Lord into your eternal
purpose.

Lord, help me to not be reactionary. 
It is You who calls me to what You call me.  Lead me in the way You call that I may follow
according to the Father’s will.  Let me
not be tossed about by human opinions – even good ones – but stand firm in the
peace You give to those who believe.  If
in hardship, then with joy, if in plenty, then with thanksgiving; In all
things, lead me to be in You.

Lord Jesus, You alone are able to save us.  Sometimes it is tempting to think that I can do the right thing to gain merit.  But it is grace, not  the merit I truly seek.  Let me be content with whatever You would have me do.  Guide me according to Your goodness to seek what is the better part for my life, not as I see it, but as You know it must be.  Lead me Lord in the way of salvation.  Amen.

“But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better
to marry than to burn with passion.  But
to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should
not  leave her husband (but if she does
leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and
that the husband should not divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:9-11).

This is not a law or even
instruction against marriage as has been interpreted from time to time.  This is an instruction about asking where
your priorities are and whether or not you are working on self-control.  This is speaking to one of the fruits of the
Spirit which Paul speaks of in Galatians. 
Become one who is self-controlled in all circumstances knowing that this
is from the Lord.

Lord, I live in an age with little self-control.  Help me to reflect Christ and not the world
in my self-control.  Guide me to see that
only in You is there hope for the eternal life that comes through You.  Guide me to become one who is self-controlled
and not tossed about by the winds that blow around me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I
may now and always be guided by You.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the
grace You give.  Lead me this day that I
may see those places where I am tossed about by the chances of life.  Guide me in the ways You know I need to go
that I may be guided by Your goodness. 
Teach me what I need to know and remind me where I am acting like the
old Adam and not like You.  You are the
One who saves, but teach me to do my part in sanctification.  Amen.

“Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man
has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.  But I say to the unmarried and to widows that
it is good for them if they remain even as I” (1 Corinthians 7:7-8).

What are your priorities?  Are they what the Lord would have of
you?  Look to the Lord and allow Him to
lead your life in the direction it needs to go. 
Be guided in His knowledge of all things and be as He would have you
be.  Live in the grace which is yours and
know that the Lord is leading you where you need to be.  Be content in all circumstances and know that
the Lord has plans for you.

Lord, reveal to me the truth that You know all that is needed.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see
that only in You is there hope for the ages. 
May I have a passion for walking in Your ways and leave behind all
earthly passions that move me away from You. 
Be the One who leads, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is
needed and Your grace is sufficient. 
Guide me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go that I would now and
always walk humbly in the way of Your leading. 
Teach me that all things are lawful, but not all are profitable that I
may live in the freedom You give.  No
matter the relationships in my life, lead me to live in a godly way to the
Father’s pleasure.  Amen.

“Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that
you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will
not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.  But this I say by way of concession, not of
command” (1 Corinthians 7:5-6).

Listen carefully.  It is by way of concession.  These things are elemental principles that
are to lead us to a place where we see how we are influenced by things
internally that move us to be sinners. 
Equally, we can be motivated by those things which cause us to be
saints.  Be led not by the ways of the
world, but by the way of eternal salvation. 
Know that in the Lord alone is there life.

Lord, help me to get over myself that I would be open to the eternal
principles You have put into place from the beginning.  There is no sin so great that it is not
common to all.  Help me to see clearly
that You will lead me out of the sin within that I may become like Christ who
is our Savior.  Guide me in this path
that I may now and always follow You.

Lord Jesus, You know my turmoil
within.  You know where the storms of my
inner life lie.  Guide me, O Lord, in the
way of truth that I may walk knowing You are alongside, leading me where I need
to go.  Guide me in the way only You can
that I would follow You where You know I need to go.  Let me not live a life of concession, but one
that is obedient to Your direction. 
Amen.

“The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the
wife to her husband.  The wife does not
have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the
husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does” (1
Corinthians 7:3-4).

These are elemental things.  This again is not a law.  Look carefully and you will see that we are
not made for ourselves, but for the other. 
Do not live in a self-seeking way, but in the way for which You have
been created.  Know that we are in a
struggle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powerful forces.  Be led by the Lord, and not by anyone else’s
ideas, and know life.

Lord, open my mind and heart that I might live for the truths You have
revealed once for all.  Guide me in Your
goodness that I may now and always abide in the way of life.  Help me to see what is needed and then help
me head in that direction.  Lord, You
alone must lead me in the way I need to go. 
Guide me by Your goodness in the way of salvation.

Lord Jesus, time and again You
demonstrated doing what was needed for the other.  You lived grace and gave to those in
need.  Help me to learn from Your example
that I would not weigh things according to what I can gain, but in terms of how
it would help me to learn to be faithful. 
Guide me, Lord Jesus, this day in the way I should go that I may now and
always live into the will of the Father. 
Amen.