1 Corinthians 8 - 10.31.24

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 8:6-9

But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created all things and made us to be his own; and one Lord Jesus Christ, who made everything and gives us life.

However, some Christians don’t realize this.

All their lives they have been used to thinking of idols as alive, and have believed that food offered to the idols is really being offered to actual gods.

So when they eat such food it bothers them and hurts their tender consciences.

Just remember that God doesn’t care whether we eat it or not. We are no worse off if we don’t eat it, and no better off if we do.

But be careful not to use your freedom to eat it, lest you cause some Christian brother to sin whose conscience is weaker than yours.

OBSERVATION

While at first glance a chapter that is dealing with the matter of “food offered to idols” wouldn’t seem to have much significance for us today, yet there IS an overall relevant lesson.

For believers in Corinth staying clear of any contact from the food offered to idols was next to impossible for two main reasons.

First, it was an accepted “social practice” for all people to eat meals in the temples associated with idol worship because it was a hub for all social events including weddings and large family celebrations.

Second, any food that was left over from the temple sacrifices were sent to the marketplace and it was sold for discounted prices making it more affordable for the average families.

So even eating in a friend’s home, you could very well be eating food that came from the marketplace—which would most likely would have come from the pagan temples.

This was a great concern to some believers—and other believers weren’t concerned as they didn’t believe that the Food, itself, whether it had been offered to idols or not—could impact them OR their Faith in Jesus.

So, the question came to Paul—should believers eat food that had been sacrificed to idols?

APPLICATION

To get the right ANSWER you need to Ask the Right QUESTION

Paul explains that the question here is not really about eating food that has been sacrificed to idols.

The Correct Question was: How much do you Love your fellow believers?

[Note: to be clear, Paul does acknowledge that there are demonic powers behind these idols-BUT—Food in and of itself is Neutral [1 Corinthians 10:18-22].

““ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Jesus called the crowd to him and said,

“Listen and understand.

What goes INTO someone’s mouth does not defile them,

but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”” (Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

How much do you Love others?

Paul gives us an overriding important principle —Let LOVE—inform your decision.

Since there is no specific commandment here-and the concern is the division amongst you—

Let your Love for your fellow brother or sister believer inform your decision.

“Now about food sacrificed to idols….knowledge puffs up—while love builds up.” (1 Cor.‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬b NIV‬‬)

Knowledge is important…to guide our decisions. We need to read and study God’s word daily and seek the Holy Spirit for Wisdom and understanding —But it ALL must be knitted together with LOVE.

“I wisdom, live together with Good Judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.” (Proverbs 8:12 NLT)

“If I have the gift of prophecy and if I can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.“ (1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬ NIV‬)

If I have knowledge that it is okay for me to have a drink of wine, or buy a lottery ticket, or go on a shopping spree…or do anything that may be allowable for me BUT might cause someone who has a weakness in that area to sin—and do it anyways claiming my freedom—this is not showing wisdom AND it is not showing Love for the weaker believer.

“Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience]. And when you sin against the brothers and sisters in this way and wound their conscience [by confusing them], you sin against Christ.”

‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭9‬, ‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

There is only ONE God The Father who Created ALL things and made us to BE His Own for His Glory! AND One Lord Jesus Christ—Who Gives us eternal Life.

Thank You for Your Love and calling me out of darkness to make me Your own.

Help me Lord-to Love others the way You have loved me. Help me to lay down my rights and put others first. This is not something I can do in my flesh, but by Your Holy Spirit-melt me and mold me to be more like You.

Help me to seek Your Wisdom and Your Kingdom first. Give me strength to serve you and glorify You in my life. May others see YOU in me. May they SEE Your LOVE.

In Jesus Name, amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Joshua 20 - 10.30.24

Scripture

Then the Lord said to Joshua “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.” (Joshua 20:1-3)

Observation

In Deuteronomy 19, God had given instructions to Moses about the cities of refuge. Now Joshua has conquered the Promised Land, and he is in the process of designating cities. God asks him to designate the cities of refuge. In the Old Testament, the law is “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Exodus 21:24), which means retaliation is allowed and expected for every sin. If someone is murdered, the law required the murderer to be killed in retaliation. (Exodus 21:12). However, God provided provision for an accidental killing. Someone who killed someone accidentally can flee to one of the designated cities of refuge, and once inside the city’s boundaries, he cannot be killed. He is free to return home once the High Priest of the time dies, and can no longer be killed.

Everything in the Old Testament is a shadow (Colossians 2:17) of Jesus and God’s plan of redemption through Him. The cities of refuge are a shadow of Jesus, to whom we can run and be safe. Once covered by His blood, we are safe from the wages of our sin. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and Jesus died for us. In the New Testament, Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), and his death has freed us from the penalty of our sins.  

In writing this Observation, I drew inspiration from my mother, Susamma Chacko, and her book “Jesus in the Old Testament”. 

Application

Jesus is our refuge to which we can run into, everytime we fall. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7-8). We were bought with a price (1 Cor 7:23). It cost God everything to save us - the blood of his Son, Jesus.  Let us live a life that acknowledges the price He paid, bringing glory to His name.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for reminding me that you are the city of refuge that I can run into. You have paid the price for my sin. Your blood has washed me. Your death and resurrection has set me free. Help me to live a life that is worthy of the calling you have placed on my life (Ephesians 4:1), bringing glory to your name. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

1 Corinthians 6 - 10.29.24

SCRIPTURE:  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom?  Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God."

OBSERVATION:  Paul wrote this letter to address the church in Corinth regarding how they were still living like they were a part of the world's system. The main issue Paul addressed is how they were tolerating the worst kind of immorality.  Paul wrote that their body's were not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  Another thing he addressed was the way the believers were treating one another unjustly, and taking their disputes to the pagan court system rather than taking the matter to a wise person among them who was able to arbitrate between them. 

They had been washed, sanctified, and justified.  Now it was their responsibility to start living according to their new identity in Christ!

Paul wrote that Jesus had liberated them to be free, and he exhorted them to use this opportunity to serve one another through love rather than an opportunity to serve their fleshly desires.  They had been made free, not to violate God's will, but to glorify Him by doing His will. 

Paul wrote, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.  Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be brought under the control of anything." 

APPLICATION:  "Christ has liberated us to be free.  Stand firm then and don't submit again to the yoke of slavery.  (Galatians 5:1).

The most profitable way for us to exercise our freedom is by being a slave to God and servants of one another in love.  To most people, this may sound contradictory and absurd, but according to the Lord : To be set free from the bondage of sin, we must become servants of God and one another.  

PRAYER:  Thank You Lord Jesus for the freedom that You purchased on the cross for us.  The way to experience that freedom is by living godly lives before You.  That is true freedom!  Thank God that, although we used to be slaves of sin, we obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching we were transferred to, and having been liberated from sin, we became enslaved to righteousness.  (Romans 6:17,18).  

- Robin Orefice