1 Corinthians 11:13-16 

¹³ Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, ¹⁵ but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Skateboard

During summer, skateboarding enthusiasts are glad they can play outside. Do you like skateboarding? Skateboarding is not very simple sport but you may want to try if you’re physically able. Of course, older people in their advanced age have brittle bones, and it is not advisable for seniors to explore skateboarding.

You may have already watched videos of dogs skateboarding. Isn’t that amazing? Their trainers should be very patient in teaching their dogs to balance themselves on skateboards without help. Such reality inspires possibilities that if you are healthy, you can eventually learn to skateboard with much enthusiasm.

Similarly, when the Holy Spirit inspires us, we can learn to practice faith in God enthusiastically. King David invites anyone to learn that it is blessing to take refuge in the good Lord. Personally, he had testified in Psalm 34:8-11: ⁸Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. ⁹Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. ¹⁰The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. ¹¹Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Through faith in the Lord, King David overcame difficult challenges of life. Before he rose to prominence as greatest king of Israel, he was lowly shepherd. His older brothers looked down on him, but after he defeated the giant Goliath, his brothers were relegated to oblivion. When King Saul tried to kill him, David survived hiding among the Philistines; he pretended to be lunatic and insane.

King David was not exempted from parental problems. His children were problematic. It is sad reality. Even his advisers connived with his son and tried to kill him. When he danced in worship to God, his wife laughed and despised him.

Yet, David found refuge in the Lord. By faith in God, he had overcome all those undesirable challenges of his life. Together, let us reflect on the prayer of King David in Psalm 106:47, ⁴⁷Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

God is faithful to the faithful.  It takes time to become faithful Christian. By God’s grace, we learn to be faithful. As we mature spiritually, we confidently seek God’s guidance by faith. God is love. He readily helps when we seek his mercy and forgiveness. Apostle Paul testified that God was patiently merciful to him. And as a result, Paul was transformed from worst sinner into faithful missionary.

Together, let us learn from the testimony of Apostle Paul that he recorded in 1 Timothy 1:15-16: ¹⁵Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

Why did Apostle Paul testify that he was the worst sinner? Paul may have regretted it deeply that he persecuted the church before he became Christian. He was not just sorry for his sin. His behavior and priorities were changed. Faithfu.lly, he preached the gospel of Christ as practical proof that he repented of his sins.

The Holy Spirit himself compels us to repent of our sin, and then we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He transforms and changes our behavior. Life transformation practically proves that we sincerely repented of our sins.

Sincerity of repentance is practically proven by behavioral transformation. It’s not just sentimental regret. What behavior has been changed ever since you repented of your sins? Judge it for yourselves and reflect on your lifestyle.

1.  Reflect

¹³Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 

Someone said, “Don’t judge, if you are not a judge!” How could one judge?

Judges study, deliberate, consider and reflect on the matter to come up with legal judgment. For legal decisions, judges should not depend on human instinct.

We are advised to judge, if it is proper for women to pray with their heads uncovered. To judge if this tradition should be practiced in our church, we reflect and seek God’s guidance. Again, the term woman is properly interpreted as wife.

Why use the word woman instead of wife? Woman includes the unmarried. Unmarried women may possibly wish to get married later. Women are advised that Christian wives should respect their husbands as a practice of faith in Christ.

This tradition of covered head when praying practically exhibits that a wife respects her husband. When a wife respects her husband, she practices her faith in the Lord; and truly, she trusts that marital harmony was designed by God.

Wives: Do you cover your head when praying as respect for husbands? Reflect on that and judge it for yourselves: Is it proper for wife to respect her husband? Well, respect of husband is Christian identity of whom? Christian wife!

Seriously pray for inspiration if you still doubt your Christian identity! Let’s reflect again on 1 Peter 3:5-6, ⁵For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Last Sunday, we asked if ever wives had addressed their husband as lord.

Did you see someone who raised her hands? Wives: Were you terrified that you should address your husband as lord? Maybe? The term “Lord” with capital or uppercase “L” pertains to God in the Scripture. Well, the English word “lord” can mean “master, ruler or king.” In some cultures, they commonly use the term “lord” to address their rulers, nobles or aristocrat; someone who has authority or power

Jesus Christ as our Lord has become our ruler, master and king of our life.

When we address Jesus Christ as Lord, we relegate ourselves as his servants. Personally, reflect on that! How serious have you been as servant of Christ?

In the Scripture, Sarah addressed her husband Abraham as her lord, why? Sarah trusted that respect of husband is godly design for harmony in their marital relationship. Sarah respected her husband Abraham and addressed him as lord.

Judge for yourselves; reflect on this: Is it a practice of faith in God when wives address their husbands as lord? Wives: Do you respect your husband as practice of your faith in God? Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord, you are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

By faith in God, Sarah did not give way to fear; she trusted that Abraham won’t abuse his authority. Wives: Are you terrified that husbands abuse their authority? Prayerfully ask God for wisdom and judge for yourselves. Don’t force the issue. Unmarried women if you hope to be married later, pray that when that day comes, you’ll gladly respect your husband without forcing the issue.

Wives: Do you require husbands to earn respect? Is it biblical to first earn your respect? It is godly command for wives to submit to husbands. But, to obey godly commands requires trust in God and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Human instinct resists godly commands. The Lord won’t require husbands to earn respect first before wives submit, right? Does it violate the command for wife to submit to her husband if she requires him to earn respect first before she can submit? Is it sin against God? If it’s not biblical command, it’s arguable.

Wife, submit to your husband. That is godly command for Christian wives to practice their faith in God, and Godly commands include blessings.

Likewise, it is also godly command for husbands to be considerate and respect their wives. Respect for each other is godly design and open-secret for marital harmony. Together, let us seriously reflect on what it says in 1 Peter 3:7.

⁷Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Husbands: To be considerate is unconditional. To respect each other with no reservation exhibits faith in God. Does it hinder prayer if respect is conditional and reserved? By faith in Christ, we become children of God; we are co-heirs of the gracious gift of life. So that nothing will hinder your prayers, husbands listen.

As practice of faith, be considerate and respect your wives unconditionally.

2.  Respect

¹⁴Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, ¹⁵but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 

Long hair is glorious beauty as covering to a woman but disgrace to man.

Why did Apostle Paul preach that if men have long hair, it is disgraceful?

It is possible that men in the Corinthian church have not yet changed their worldly practices and behavior. Paul passed onto them Christian traditions and practices that served as their Christian identity to set them apart from other religions.

Christian pastors, seminary professors and church leaders follow biblical traditions but some others practice the culture of their contacts to be acceptable in the society of their contact. They wear long hair to identify with those who have long hair. They may also shave their head to identify with those without hair.

How do you interpret what Apostle Paul testified in 1 Corinthians 9:22?

²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

What did Apostle Paul imply? How did Apostle Paul become weak to win the weak? Did he let his hair grew long just to win those with long hair? Did he disrespect others so that he can win wives who cannot respect their husbands?

To be weak is to be sympathetic and considerate to those who are still weak in their faith in Christ, as compared to being indifferent or no concern at all.

How can we show sympathy to people who cannot prioritize the Lord?

Whatever

In a comic strip, the husband was busy reading newspaper. “What do you want for dinner?” his wife asked. Without glancing, at his wife the husband said, “Whatever!” The wife tried to be calm and suggested, “How about fried eggshell and grilled banana peelings?” Without minding what his wife had suggested, the husband still seriously focused on the newspaper answered, “Nice! That’s great!”

The wife was upset that her husband did not even mind what she just said. She turned and said, “Ok, I fry eggshell and grill banana peelings for you then!” The husband tried to be excited and said, “That’s great! Thank you very much!”

Wives: How do you normally react when your try to be romantic preparing food but your husband was just busy doing what he is doing? Did you ever say, “Bahala ka sa buhay mo,” What does it means? “It’s your life; handle your life!” “Take care of your life!” “It’s up to you what you want to do with your life!”

The ordinary response when people ignore us is to ignore them. It’s human nature. It is also human instinct to criticize those who prioritize materialism.

Christians are not exempted. Everyone is warned in Corinthians 10:12.

¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 

As practice of faith, we have to seek inspiration of the Holy Spirit always, inside or outside church setting. Religious or not, anyone can be tempted to criticize others. So what can we do? We continually pray for stronger faith and godly wisdom. We are commanded to respect each other. So we need inspiration of the Holy Spirit to resolve and determined to respect to each other. Amen.

3.  Resolve

¹⁶ If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Apostle Paul offered no other option. We have to resolve and determined to respect for each other because angels of the Lord are watching us. God sends his angels to help us and deliver his blessings. Even before we prayed or asked God, he already sent his angels to deliver blessings. Angels of God release his blessings at the right moment, not late, not early and no random delivery.

How do you interpret when Christ teaches how to pray in Matthew 6:9-15? ⁹“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us today our daily bread. ¹²And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” ¹⁴For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

We believe that the holy name of God is sacred. How should we interpret when it says, “Your kingdom come”? We let God reign as Lord and King of our life. We trust by faith that God provides for our daily needs so that we don’t worry about tomorrow. Someone said, “Worry is meditation on the wrong direction.” Fill your mind, meditate and memorize command from God, instead of meditating or worrying on negative things. God’s angels release blessing to obedient Christian.

When we ask forgiveness from God, we acknowledge that we are not exempted from sinning. And for us to know that God has forgiven us, we are able to forgive others. Yet most often when we are offended, our tendency is retaliate. We are commanded to forgive! But are we commanded to forgive and forget?

We’re not forced to forget terrible experiences in the past, but it is blessing to forget them. What do you think? Judge it for yourselves and reflect on this. Do you not want to smile, have peace and cheerful heart rather than feel bad again and again whenever you meet people who made your life terrible in the past?

Have you ever pondered upon why God allows seniors to get dementia or loss of memory? It’s tough for caretakers but dementia favors the senior citizens. Seniors with dementia forget painful experiences, and they live peacefully.

Reflect on what is declares in 2 Peter 3:10, ¹⁰The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

We live long or not, we pray and hope that Christ returns in our lifetime. We should always be mindful and prepare for our eternal residency. We pray for stronger faith, wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit and resolve to respect each other so that our gracious and loving God answer our prayer. Amen!

><((‘> .. ><(((‘> … ><(((“> tmec\2024 <“)))>< … <‘))>< .. <‘))><