Friday July 7, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1
This week’s readings can be summarized in the last few verses of this passage… In 10:21, Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”
Paul reminds us that we are responsible for our actions and our words toward God and toward others. It is a privilege that we get to do life with others in community, and part of that privilege comes with the responsibility of showing love to our neighbors and not causing them to stumble in any way. Just because we have the freedom to do many things, it does not mean that everything we could do will glorify Christ. We should be considerate of our actions and our words and consider if they are truly propelling us forward in our relationship with Christ.
We deny ourselves from things that harm us or may harm others for a cause greater than immediate pleasure. We deny ourselves because of an eternal promise to be in relationship with Jesus Christ and to glorify our heavenly father. It is the ultimate calling in life to live in a way that embodies our identity as children of God first, trusting that the rest of the details in our life will fall into place exactly as needed.
Questions for reflection:
- What key point from this week’s devotionals stick out to you? How have you grown in your understanding of Paul’s writings?
- What responsibilities do you have in your life that not only help others but also glorify Christ? For example, what are your responsibilities as a parent or grandparent?