by Pastor Rich Carlson

As Paul continued on his second missionary journey, he left Corinth by sea, landed in Ephesus (in western Turkey), then headed back to Jerusalem and Antioch. He then took off on his third missionary journey, back through Turkey "strengthening all the disciples" and churches on the way. He ended up in Ephesus again where he spent two years.

While Paul was in Ephesus, he wrote his first letter back to Corinth. Priscilla and Aquilla had traveled with him from Corinth to Ephesus. They stayed behind while Paul went back to Jerusalem. While in Ephesus they met a man named Apollos.

Here’s what I know about Apollos from the book of Acts: "He was a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, he spoke with great fervor, and he taught about Jesus accurately." I’d like to have that said about me!!

Aquilla and Priscilla met him, invited him to stay in their home, explained the way of God more adequately, and sent him to Corinth to help the believers there. Apollos might be the one who received and then shared Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. I can see Apollos in the marketplace in Corinth, or maybe in the synagogue there, and a letter comes in "the mail"—however they got mail back then. The believers gather around. What would Paul have to say after being gone for a year or so? That’s the setting as we begin our look at 1 Corinthians.

I was recently in that old city of Corinth. I can still see it in my mind. Known for its extreme immorality, Corinth included Christians who needed help living what they believed. The letter takes on meaning for me because I too want to live for God but am in a world that has a lot of ungodly distractions.

The book begins with my text for today:
1. You have been sanctified in Christ Jesus
2. You have been called to be holy

To me the two words, "sanctified" and "holy," are almost the same. They both translate in my understanding to something like being "set apart." I like the order of things here too. First, Christ Jesus set me apart, and then He asks me to choose to live like I have been set apart. Everything has been provided by Him, but I need to respond by choosing to be holy.

If I want Christianity to work in my life, then I need to decide to choose nothing that will distract me from Him. Paul told the believers that even amid huge temptations and struggles in Corinth, God provided everything they needed to live for Him. But, they would have to choose His way if they wanted to succeed.

That’s the message for us too:
Everything has been provided. Jesus has offered the solution, now we have to choose. Things may be bad today, but they don’t sound as bad as life in Corinth! If they could prevail, so can we. I pray that we will respond again to Jesus’ calling and commit ourselves to His ways.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.