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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Today's Passage : Today's Passage:Food Sacrificed to Idols Bible Verse :1 Corinthians 8:4-13 "Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." Message:
The early Christians had a problem: they could not worship any God but God, and specifically not an idol, according to the Ten Commandments. But they were often put in the position of wanting to eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol. For example, such meat was often less expensive, or they might eat at the house of a friend or in a restaurant where it was served. (Food sacrificed to idols was generally divided up three ways: part was burned up, part was returned to the person who offered it, and part given to the priest. Either of the latter two might then resell it for cash.)
Rabbit ringing a church bell
Paul’s solution was simple. Sacrifice of meat to an idol was simply meaningless. The meat was not cursed and it was not blessed, and eating such meat was just like eating any other meat. (This is very different from participating in a feast to an idol; be sure to read 1 Corinthians 10:14.)
He gave one very important warning, however; they should be very careful that nobody got the wrong impression. He was concerned that a person might see them eating such meat, and think that they were endorsing the sacrifice, or were in some way connected to worship of the idol.
There are many situations in modern day life. You might find yourself watching a movie or television show, or reading a book, full of blasphemy or other unchristian behavior. You might be at a meeting or social gathering where language is used or jokes are told, that you believe sacrilegious.
Jesus heals Bartimaeus
I’m not about to tell anyone else what to do in such situations; however, Paul teaches that we should not tolerate such things if there is a chance that our tolerance will be a stumbling block to another person. While we certainly have freedom, as Christians, to tolerate a certain amount of profane behavior without sharing the sin, Paul reminds us that we should not appear to be endorsing the sinful aspect. (And certainly, we should not actively participate.)
The situation described by Paul is very different from unchristian behavior committed by a person in the name of Christ. Several places in the Bible tell us to correct our brother or sister if they have fallen into a visible sin, such as in James 5:19-20. We would not sit silently and watch a Christian actually participating in the sacrifice of meat to a false idol; and we must not sit silently when televangelists urge people to send them money, because Christ will make them rich if they do!
We have strayed a bit from our Scripture. Paul’s point is quite clear: eating sacrificed meat is not sinful; the sacrifice is nonsense and the meat has not changed. But if someone who is in our company cannot handle such a situation, we should avoid it.
Meditation : Prayer : Oh God who has made me, oh God who keeps me, oh God who will be my Lord through all eternity, shine down Your blessings and wisdom upon me like the sun upon a field; and may I keep You in the forefront of my every thought and deed, throughout this day, and evermore.....Amen |
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