“But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you,
because you come together not for the better but for the worse.  For, in the first place, when you come
together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I
believe it” (1 Corinthians 11:17-18).

Many folk
gather together for their own reasons. 
We are called together by the One Lord for one reason and that is to
praise and worship the One God.  Sadly,
the instructions of Paul get lost and folk do what they have always done and
divisions arise.  Live into the unity the
Lord desires.  Come into His presence and
worship Him.  If your fellowship is not
this way, then live as if it were.

Lord, help me to get it right and grant that Your Holy
Spirit will do the rest.  Help me to live
my life in a simple manner as if I were the one to be the example in the midst
of those where I find myself.  Rather
than seeking for control, help me to be a catalyst.  Guide me Lord in the way You would have me go
and let my life be one that praises and thanks You in all circumstances and in
all places.

Lord Jesus,
You have come and told us that the objective is to make us one even as You and
the Father are One.  Help me to live
giving myself up as You gave Yourself up for the sake of the Father.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go that
I would surrender my will and live for what You have already declared.  By Your grace alone, help me to do what You
would have me do.  Amen.

“But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her
hair is given to her for a covering.  But
if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the
churches of God” (1 Corinthians 11:15-16).

If one is
inclined to be contentious . . . we live in a time where there are so many who
are contentious.  Do not foster the
contention, either in yourself or in others. 
We can find controversy, but leave such things behind.  Knowing what is good and right, press on
toward the goal of becoming like Christ. 
Do not be led astray by the constant harangues of this world.

Lord Jesus, You were constantly barraged by those who had contrary ideas.  Help me O Lord to not get caught up in such things, but to instead live into the life which has no end.  Guide me in the eternal precepts You have given that I may not be carried away with temporary variances that are offered as another way.  Through all things, keep my mind clear and my purpose straight.

Come Holy
Spirit and lead me in discernment.  Guide
me according to the Father’s purpose to live with who I am, where I am, and the
direction You lead me.  Help me to work
on the simple things of character this day, accepting who I am, that I may grow
into what You are creating me to be. 
Lead me, Spirit, deep within to be consistent and bold in my witness of
the faith You give.  Amen. 

“Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to
God with her head uncovered?  Does not
even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to
him” (1 Corinthians 11:13-14).

There are
cultural institutions that are not against the Lord.  Do nothing to rebel against the culture that
is irrelevant or unnecessary.  Stand firm
in the truth of the Gospel.  Weigh what
is important and follow the Lord’s direction. 
The world is in constant turmoil and we are called to discern what is
important.  Keep the Lord’s law of love
in your heart and live with the Lord first on your mind.

Lord, this world does have crazy ideas.  Some really do not matter in the grand
scheme.  Help me to keep good priorities
and seek for harmony and peace as far as I am concerned.  Within Your created order, guide me to live
into the life for which I was created that I may become more like Christ each
day.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will follow
You through the morass of this age.

Lord Jesus,
You know what it is like in this world. 
So many people with so many different ideas about how things ought to be.  Lead me this day, O Lord, to live into the
life to which You have called me.  Guide
me according to Your precepts to not be confused by the offerings of this world
and help me to grow in Your likeness. 
Through all things, help me see the good order of creation and live
within that order.  Amen.

“However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man,
nor is man independent of woman.  For as
the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the
woman; and all things originate from God” (1 Corinthians 11:11-12).

We come to
the place of understanding the reasoning of Paul.  There are distinctions and we ought not
ignore them, yet recognize that all good things come from God who established
His order.  Live in harmony with the
things of God and do not follow the world which continues its rebellion against
the Lord and His established order.  We
are created in relationship and for relationship.

Lord, I am often tugged by this world which is constantly
hammering against Your established order. 
Help me, I pray, to see through the fog of this age to know that what
You have established is right and good. 
Let me be sensitive in those places where there has been abuse, but also
firm in those places where Your created order is being questioned that in life
I may live into Your order always.

Lead me,
Lord Jesus, for You know how humanity thwarts the Father’s will by manmade laws
and customs.  Help me to be both gracious
and firm in living into the life for which You have created me and called me.  Guide me by Your example to confront evil,
love my neighbor and live in harmony with all that You have commanded.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.