July 23, 2020
Over the next 16 days we will be reading through the book of 1 Corinthians together. The church in Corinth was an absolute mess! They were plagued by serious issues of arrogance, division, sexual immorality, and confusion concerning doctrine as well as the particulars of their moral living under the gospel. This church needed a wake-up call, a call to repentance and purity, to renewed devotion to Christ, to love and unity, and to zeal for the gospel. The church has changed little over the last 2,000 years, but praise God that there is abundant grace for the mess! Each of us needs this same call to humility faithfulness, unity, and fervor today as much as they needed it then. Let’s heed this call which God gave the church at Corinth through the apostle Paul and let it shape the way we live as Christ’s body!
Paul begins this chapter with a strict warning against idolatry. Apparently some of the Corinthian Christians had been eating in pagan temples the things that had been sacrificed to those particular gods. Paul makes a distinction between eating these things inside the temple and eating the meat of a sacrifice sold in the marketplace, because eating it inside the pagan temple is to participate in the sacrifice to a false god! He draws on the example of the Israelites and their fall into idolatry to warn the Corinthians against this and to remind them that God is always faithful to provide a righteous path for us to take when we are tempted.
Paul then turns his attention to meat sold in the marketplaces and the consciences of weaker brothers and sisters in the faith. He applies the truths he has spoken of in chapters 8 and 9 to this situation as well, commanding the Corinthians in verse 24 “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” This, along with what Paul says in verse 31 (“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”) is the ethic of the life that we are too live in Christ!
God calls us to flee from worldly and idolatrous ways, ways that would draw us deeper into sin as well as bringing reproach and shame on the church and on the gospel. He calls us to make a clean break with the ways of the world, for “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (v.21). He calls us to live in such a way as to, as much as possible, avoid offending anyone so that the gospel can go forward unhindered. Are you living this way?
1 Corinthians 10
Warning Against Idolatry
10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food,4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Do All to the Glory of God
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- How can we flee from situations that would even make it appear as though we approve of any form of idolatry or worldliness? What does it look like in our day to day lives to seek not our own good but the good of our neighbor, and to do all things to the glory of God?
Help my focus today to be fully on You. When I do that, I have less time to be focused on worldly things.
Amen Dan!
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!! Lord I want to focus strongly on you. I want to walk your walk and talk your talk. I want you in my life. I praise you and need you always. I am blessed because of you. You are my Lord and Savior. I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name Amen
Amen!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to always be mindful of how I present myself before others. When I glorify You in all that I do and live by Your standards,then others will not question where my allegiance lies. I dont want to be a stumbling block on anyone’s journey to finding a relationship with You, LORD. Lead me in the paths of righteousness and lead me not into temptation for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Father, God. I lift my husband, Ernest L Hill, to you in prayer this morning. He is 80 years old and is in the hospital with Covid. I ask You to give him the strength he needs to fight through this horrible sickness. He is alone. I can not be with him to help make him comfortable. Please bring him through this valley and help me do what I need to do until he is home with me again. Be with his doctors and nurses who are trying to heal his body. Give him a fighting spirit, God in heaven. These things I ask in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
Praying with you Ms Hill. God is in control of our fragile human lives. Jehovah Rapha is our Healer. To God be the glory.
Praying for complete healing in Jesus name!
Lord, thank you for this day. Asking for healing and comfort for Ernest and Pat. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Mrs. Hill I have added your husband to my prayer list and will continue prayer for God’s healing. I am also praying for you too this is so hard to be away from him.
Pat, I am praying with you & for Ernest’s strength, comfort & healing, complete recovery & return home to you. Praying for your strength in the waiting, trusting completely in the Lord. Lean into Him!
Dear Mrs. Hill, I join all God’s Saints in lifting you and your husband in prayer. I pray for God’s wisdom and direction for the doctors and all who will be making decisions concerning your husband’s treatment, I pray for the Lord’s peace that surpasses all understanding to be with you all at this time, I pray for strength for your husband as his body fights this virus, most importantly I pray that he feels the presence of the Lord, and that it will comfort him as we wait for him to come back home to you. ?????! You are loved!
I’m praying with you right now, dear sister in Christ, asking God for comfort for you both, healing for your dear husband, and strength for the journey. Love and blessings, JJ
Heavenly Father I pray today, Not my will but thy will be done. I yield my will to you today so that I may walk in the steps you have ordered for me today. As I trust and obey you Father, I know I will please you. Let me lift up the name of Jesus high today so That all men may be drawn to you. Let America humble herself and come back to her first love! I ask this in the mighty and precious name of Our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen
Amen.
Whatever I do, I will do to the glory of God.
Father help me always to remember that worrying about my finances and Etc: is a idol because that means I am not trusting you to provide for us.
Lord Jesus I too lift up Mr Hill. In Your Name we ask for healing. Come quickly Lord. Comfort them both. Let them feel that You are near to them. They are not alone. For You say You will not leave us comfortless but will come to us. Come Lord come. So many need You. I praise Your Holy Name. Jesus. Amen.
We must hold to the highest standards for the good of unbelievers, because they will emulate from our example.
The Word tells us that we may eat anything from the market place. If an unbeliever presents us with food from sacrifice, we can even eat that, but we are urged to not. Not because it jeopardizes me personally, but that example leads to the wrong understanding for the unbeliever. In this way, I put the needs of another above my own. This does honor the second greatest commandment!
“13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Thank you Lord for providing strength, and a way of escape from the sin that can follow our weakness and temptation.
“31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” What a high bar that I can only hope to accomplish by the power of your spirit.
Prayers have gone up for Ernest Hill and family! Father, continue to give them your mercy and grace as they walk through this season in their lives! In Jesus name I pray! Amen! ?