Tuesday, February 6, 2018


February 3, 2018 Saturday

“However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” (1Corinthians 8:7-13 NKJV)



            We often like to think of ourselves and our times are very unique but in reality we and our times do not differ that much.  As said in West Virginia “peoples is peoples”!  We could also say times is times! 

            Some may think they do not need to worry about this verse since there is no “meat” that has been offered to idols.  But this misses the point in two ways:

First is that we often have “idols” in our own lives and we must be careful to not draw others into sin.

Second is that we should treat our brothers and sisters with honor and a deep desire for their welfare even at our own cost.

            If we are not careful our desire to be “right” or “correct” can be seen as more important than God’s call for us to love one another!  Without acting in love we can easily fall into false pride in ourselves and do great harm to ourselves, others and even to God’s Kingdom!

            Often people will hold the judgmental and harsh attitude of Christians (?) against the Church and sadly even God.  In my own life I remember a time when all was falling apart and I knew everything was out of control.  In just a few weeks I would find out I had three months to live.  In great fear I went to service at a congregation that had a famous TV ministry.  I remember feeling so embarrassed to be there since I knew I didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness that I sat behind a pillar in the sanctuary.  As people starting coming in an elderly usher touched me on the shoulder and asked me to return for another service since this was their televised service.

            As I left I was not humbled but humiliated and believed that I was too terrible for God.  After all, I knew I was a terrible sinner!  Why would God want me?  The usher just confirmed what I felt in my soul that God could not want me.

            We must care for the souls of those our God and savior loves and cares for!  If you truly love someone you want to be friends with their friends and care for those they care for.  That is just part of a healthy relationship.

            Will you love others as God has loved you and put their welfare above your pride just as Jesus put your welfare above His pride as He who did not deserve to died on a cross for you?



            Returned this morning from the sleep test and it was without my CPAP machine.  I am so weary and tired as I didn’t sleep very well.  All day I struggled to stay awake so hopefully I could sleep well at night.  A truly bad day!

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