Often God’s Word speaks directly, without diplomacy. The Word of God is not afraid of the reader’s negative emotions. Your salvation is more important to God than your feelings. Today’s January 29 Daily Devotional Bible verse speaks to us very plainly – Leave your old way of life behind.
Devotional for Today, January 29
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (full text at 1 Corinthians 5:1-8)
Leave your Old Way of Life behind
Oh yes, strict but actual words today in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Many people read this passage in the Bible and feel confused. They are not sure what Paul is saying.
Devotional for every day here: Daily Devotional
Therefore, today I will answer you clearly: If you believe in the Lord Jesus, leave your old life and begin a new one. Is that clear?
For the Ultimate Goal
Yes, this is radical. But to achieve high goals in life, sacrifices must be made. And this is not just some silly goal of this world. This is the highest attainable goal – the Kingdom of God.
It is worth to sacrifice for the Highest Goals
Believe me – it is worth sacrificing for this goal.
The Apostle Paul says, “Keep the feast.” Here he is referring to the feast of Easter, which Jesus Christ filled with new content. Whoever celebrates this feast with “unleavened bread” no longer lives the old life. In Christ Jesus, we are a New Creation.
This is what the Apostle says: Live the life of a new creature. Let there be no more room for the old sinful life. Throw away the old life. With Jesus, you start from scratch, a clean, blessed life.
Is that clear?
The Fruits of Your New Life
Your new life, born of faith, bears fruit not only in your personal life but also in the life of the whole Church as a community. These are beautiful fruits.
The leftovers of old dough can spoil the whole new product. Therefore, please clean it up and throw it away. No need to play with sin and naively hope it will not overcome you.
You will not even know you have become a slave to sin. Sin can destroy more than dreams of a beautiful life. It can ruin your whole life in reality. Be aware of this.
Prayer for Today
God, the Words that You speak to us through the lips of the apostle is hard. But they are trustworthy and protect us from evil. Help us by Your grace to decide never to give in to the temptations of the old sinful life. Help us never to return to the bondage from which Jesus freed us by his death and resurrection. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
