O: Paul was talking of people following pagan traditions of sacrificing food to idols, and if someone of knowledge or higher up was seen following old traditions, someone of lesser knowledge would think it was ok to follow suit. The higher up would be causing the lesser to sin.
A: The people we associate with are influencers. As are we. If we hang around people who sin, we are more likely to follow suit. And then those who see us do it might think “well if that so-called Christian can doit and be forgiven, I can do it too.” But we should set ourselves to “do first, ask for forgiveness later.”
If we are causing someone else to sin, we have also sinned against God. Romans 13:13-23 also talked about this. In Matthew 18:6-9, Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” And continues about if a hand causes us to sin, cut it off. Whether it is a specific food, a person, or a place, if it causes me to sin and may lead someone else to sin, I need to be done with it.
K: Lord, you are most gracious for bestowing gifts upon me. Thank you for today and yesterday. I pray for tomorrow and each day coming that I will stay on the right path, with you guiding me.
"Idol worship was a huge part of the culture in Corinth. Most of the new believers would have come out of this idolatry. So, eating meat sold in the market place, that had first been offered to idols, became an issue for the church. Many in the church most likely suffered for their choice to follow God and so their conscience would not allow them to eat the meat offered to idols. It may have felt like a denial of Christ for them. So, Paul reminded the church that love should trump their freedom to eat meat.
Sacrificial love is needed in our churches today. Freedom in Christ is a delicate balance. While we are free to enjoy many things, we must consider if abstaining from certain things would be the more loving choice. Have you been in a situation where you felt free to enjoy something that a sister or brother in Christ felt convicted about? Is there an area where perhaps you need to abstain out of love for them?" (https://womenlivingwell.org/2019/09/good-morning-girls-resources-1-corinthians-6-10/)
No comments:
Post a Comment