Is there anyone in your life that you are withholding your affections to?  In this passage, Paul was speaking to the people of Corinth.  Who were they?  They were the believers that Paul had assisted by establishing a church in Corinth while he was on his second missionary journey.

    What does Paul mean by affections?  He is talking about being forthright or being a person of honesty and openness.  Who led you to the LORD?  For me it was my neighbor (literally).  She lived next door to me, found out I didn't drive and extended herself to me.  She earned my trust and friendship by caring about me.  After I was saved, she and her husband worked hard to show my husband his need for the LORD.  From the moment my husband and I were saved, they were at our disposal.  They took us on as their own responsibility.  Later, as we developed relationships in the church, many others became important in shaping our lives.

    Once we went out into the ministry, my husband and a very few friends became important to me in this way.  Being honest with others is not easy.  Openness is even harder, yet this is what we must be in our relationships with others.  Those people who are an integral part of our lives deserve our forthrightness.  That means our close friends, our spouses, our children, our families and others who have been forthright (or had an open heart) towards us deserve the same from us.

    Join with me today with an open heart before GOD and share goodness from your heart to the hearts of those who are deserving of your affections! 

open your heart now