Welcome to the book of First Catastrophes…I mean first Corinthians.

Ever walked into a mess? You know, a room full of drama, deception, danger, and disaster?

Paul the Apostle had the swagger of a UFC fighter. He was shipwrecked, snake bit, side swiped, and shaken to the core by his own faith community as he carried out the great commission to reach people for Christ.

I wonder though was he ready for the Corinthians? After establishing this small group faith community in one of the most immoral cities in the east, Paul left for Ephesus. While there, he learned his small group had a few “issues”; nasty division, immorality, specifically sex with a step mom…eoooh, getting hammered at communion, and more.

What would be the first thing you’d say? You know, without swearing?

Paul calls them holy.

Look at the passage: I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours. 1 Cor. 1.2

Instead of hammering them, Paul shows them where they are. These hard core people stand…holy.

Holy means separate, special, sacred as opposed to worthless, common, and unholy.

This makes me squint and rewrinkle the creases in my forehead. How about you?

As I follow Jesus, he calls me holy. As the Corinthians brutalize their beliefs, Paul points to the foundation of faith…God is holy.

We are followers not because we performed, but because God loves and declares.

I forget where I stand sometimes…do you? I assume that if I am good enough, God accepts. This is heresy. God accepts because He is good.

But when he calls me holy…something happens within…the being holy motivates me to “do” holy. The vision calls me higher than mediocrity. By the way, mediocrity begins with the word…me. Holy touches his being, his holiness declares me worthy, special, and accepted.

I am working with a bunch of marriages right now. Some are catastrophes and others are pending…but all of these marriages are…holy. Holy inspires hope.

I spoke with a single friend this week…she is so grateful for her church. The church is holy, she is holy accepted, beloved, included, has immense purpose and value. I think we have something here.

Is the world a mess and you have no control over the catastrophes? He calls you…holy. Go ahead and unwrinkle that contorted forehead. God is good and HE is holy.