Day 43: Knowledge v. Love

1 Corinthians 6, 7, 8

With the knowledge bestowed upon us, by being believers in Christ, we have a huge responsibility to those of weaker faith or of no faith at all.  It is through their lack of knowledge that God decided to exemplify his love.  We are expected to lead a life, in accordance to God’s will, which we continue to fight in everything we do, that is of this world.

I realize that as a Christian, to hate and want to seek revenge, not only diminishes God but my faith as well.

We know that we all possess knowledge.^[a] Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ²The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. ³But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

We are instructed to do everything out of love, for if we do it out of man’s knowledge – we can lead those who are weak in their faith astray.  Paul warns those of Corinth of this exact problem.

⁹Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? ¹¹So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. ¹²When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Dear Lord, I am imperfect in my faith – and it is apparent in the way I act, think and talk.  Allow me to understand the perils and the warnings that the Corinthians received on how we are to lead a more Christ-like life.  I ask that these warnings pierce my heart for to be a better witness of my faith.  I resolve to seek the Lord’s will in everything I do: to love others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 41: The Weak and The Strong

Romans 14, 15, 16

I can admit that I used to be one of those people who said, “I’m not sure how the stories of the Bible relate to my life and problems now.”  In the little time that I have spent in the Word, I realize now that anyone who says this has yet to read their “owner’s manual”.  I used to wonder, “How am I supposed to apply this story to {present situation}?”

As I read Romans 14 & 15, I couldn’t help but realize that the Bible is filled with practical applications.  I may not be able to understand what is different about being able to figure out application but I do know that it is all due to God.  I realized that I am a culmination of both the weak and the strong.  It has essentially become harder – because I now have the knowledge.

As I read about the instructions that Paul gave to the Romans as far as the weak and the strong go, I could easily see myself in both classifications.

¹Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1

⁴Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4

⁸If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  ⁹For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. Romans 14:8-10

¹We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ²Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^{[a] 4}For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:1-4

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Dear Lord, as I deepen my relationship with You, let your Spirit fill me with joy and peace.  The joy and peace that you bestowed on all of us – though undeserved. may it serve as a reminder of our weakness and of your great strength.  I pray that you may humble any desire of boasting for earthly reasons, let it be boasting for you and that I may seek Your truth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.