Mon., 9/9/13 Devotion (1 Cor. 14:4)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 14:40, where we read these words:

"Let all things be done decently and in order."

Paul ends the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians with these words (above). Earlier, he had given specific instructions about Sunday church wor-ship in the congregation (in Corinth). Though much of that particular de-tail is now abrogated, in that God's full written revelation is completed--all of it was to be done, "decently and in order."

The Lord is in no way a "kill-joy"; and His insistence on dignity and de-corum in His worship is not designed to dishearten us. Instead, the ex-act opposite is true. God provides structure and order, so that in the church--particularly in Sunday worship--we have a practical "anchor," since we have to deal with a disordered, sinful, and insane world (the rest of the week).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Flesh and blood may have its fears and dis-quiets, but grace checks them." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Di-vine Contentment"]