Stumbling- 1 Corinthians 8

Today's a good one! In this chapter Paul is discussing idols' food. In my head as i read this I replaced idols with other controversial items that don't affect our salvation (like what we eat, jewelry/ what we wear). Right off the bat Paul says he knows that we are all smart, but God shows us what's good and not good. This chapter is pretty self-explanatory:


"So this is what I say about eating meat sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is really nothing in the world, and we know there is only one God. Even though there are things called gods, in heaven or on earth (and there are many "gods" and "lords"), for us there is only one God—our Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord—Jesus Christ. All things were made through him, and we also were made through him.

But not all people know this. Some people are still so used to idols that when they eat meat, they still think of it as being sacrificed to an idol. Because their conscience is weak, when they eat it, they feel guilty. But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us better in God's sight.

But be careful that your freedom does not cause those who are weak in faith to fall into sin. Suppose one of you who has knowledge eats in an idol's temple. Someone who is weak in faith might see you eating there and be encouraged to eat meat sacrificed to idols while thinking it is wrong to do so. This weak believer for whom Christ died is ruined because of your "knowledge."When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ like this and cause them to do what they feel is wrong, you are also sinning against Christ. So if the food I eat causes them to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again so that I will not cause any of them to sin." 

Basically, if you know something isn't going to affect your salvation, but someone else thinks it will, but it's ok because you did it, you just caused them to sin. So don't be selfish, be thoughtful of others. Some things that don't matter, really don't matter.

Judge Them?

I'm currently reading through the book of 1 Corinthians, a chapter per day, for my devotionals. Today was chapter five, and I've got to say, I'm a bit taken aback. I'm not going to copy and paste the entire chapter here (even though it really isn't that long) so you need to go read it for yourself. Here's a link even.  
So in this chapter, which is part of a letter Paul is writing to the Corinthians, Paul tells these guys that they can't ignore what's going on in their own congregation. Paul basically says to throw them out so that the church family doesn't become comfortable with overlooking immorality. He says to JUDGE them! Whay?! Here are verses 12 and 13: "It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the church. God will judge them. But you must judge the people who are part of the church. The Scripture says, "You must get rid of the evil person among you." 

We have all grown up hearing, "Don't judge, it's God's job, not yours." But here, Paul says that we are to judge those in our congregation. To judge them in order to keep them accountable. We are all judged by God based on what we do know. Many people in the church just don't realize that being immoral, sexually or otherwise, is completely against God. This doesn't justify their actions, but it does give them a right to knowledge before being judged by God. Those in the church though, know that immorality is wrong, wrong, wrong, and we have a responsibility to keep them on track. 

I glanced ahead at chapter six and I've got to say, I can't wait until tomorrow to read up on that. I am loving getting back into my Bible!!

Happy Sabbath!

Isaiah 55:8-12

"The Lord says, 'My thoughts are not like your thoughts. 

       Your ways are not like my ways. 

Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

       so are my ways higher than your ways 

       and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Rain and snow fall from the sky 

       and don't return without watering the ground. 

    They cause the plants to sprout and grow, 

       making seeds for the farmer 

       and bread for the people.

The same thing is true of the words I speak. 

       They will not return to me empty. 

    They make the things happen that I want to happen, 

       and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. 

So you will go out with joy 

       and be led out in peace. 

    The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, 

       and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands.'" NCV emphasis added

This verse has just been all over my mind lately. I had never looked at this verse before and actually realized what it said. God is basically saying that, no matter what, He IS in control. He will make things happen. Now I know to some, that seems quite scary and rude, but if you think about it, we humans are in His best interest. He loves us, and He wants us to know if He says He is going to do something, He will do it. We can't think that our pitiful human muscles are going pound their way around it.

When reading this I also understand how important it is for me to trust that God is going to pull through for me. Because what He says, goes. 

Repeated Mistakes, Genesis 12-20

It has been a long while since I read the story of Abram. To kick off my year, I decided to check it out and refresh my foggy memory. Here's what I found.

It seems that even though Abraham is known as a man of great faith, (earning a coveted spot in Hebrews 11 aka the faith chapter), he doubted God quite often. After being sent to wander around to a new homeland by God at age 75, Abram took it upon himself to protect he and his wife. When passing through Egypt, Abram told Pharaoh that Sarai was his sister. God brought on plagues to Pharaoh and corrected Abram. You would think he would have learned by now, right? Well, not quite. He continued to honor God when rescuing his nephew Lot from some crazy kings, but God still had to remind him, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward" (Gen. 15:1b). But even then, Abram continued to question God on the fact that he would have a kid to inherit his large fortune.

Over and over, God proved His love and care for Abram and his family, but Abraham continued to falter in his trust. He laughed when the Creator of the universe told him he would have a child at 100 years old! But God continued to love, nurture, and protect him.

I have to say, this definitely gives me hope for myself. It has been a rough summer for me spiritually, and I am so happy to be back at school— a constant environment of peers striving to honor God. I feel that this year is going to be a good one, I just pray God never gives up on me as He didn't Abram.

By the way, Abram and Sarah did have a child, just when God said they would. Their names were changed to Abraham and Sarah, for they were the parents of a great and blessed nation. Now that's gotta strengthen someone's faith!