1 Corinthians 8
June 24, 2022
“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak…When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” (v9,12-13)
Paul is a “freedom in Christ” guy. In many of his letters (i.e. Galatians), he highlights the freedom from dead religious rules that Christ won for us. However, to the Corinthians, who were so enamored with personal freedom that it became more important than loving their neighbor - Paul offers a correction. Yes, they’re free to eat meat, but if it causes a weaker believer to be confused and tempted to idolatry - Paul says he’d rather go Vegan. After all, there is no command in the Bible to eat meat, so it’s not a big deal to abstain for the sake of a weaker, conscience-stricken brother. Paul is more concerned with the health of the Body than he is with freedom to indulge our body.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the freedom You won for us at the cross. But forgive us for the times we’ve been more focused on our personal freedom to indulge our body than with loving our brothers and sisters in the Body. Give us wisdom to know when we are called to fight for freedom (i.e. for the gospel and the clear commands of God’s Word), and when to lay down our freedom for the sake of loving others. May we be known for both courage (to hold fast to Your Word) and compassion (for others in the Church).
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
