You are an example
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9
As a Christ follower and child of God, you are an example. Not only to the outside world, but also to other believers. This is why it is so important to consider your actions and who they will influence. It’s easy for those who are outside of the faith to look and pick at what they feel you are doing wrong, but what about a new Christian that is beginning their new life of obedience? What are others seeing when they look at your life? Do they see someone who is consistent in their words and in their actions? Or do your actions and speech change depending on who you are around? The truth is you never know who is going to pick up on something that you may not have wanted to get back to your church family. This is why it is so important to live your life the same way you would if you were following Jesus like one of His 12 disciples. Not because you are focusing on keeping a set of rules and regulations, that is just religious behavior. It is because you want to be an example of what it means to not only be a follower, but also being part of the family. You love your heavenly Father and want the world to see that God’s people are different because you have been crowned with His loving kindness.
Today’s reading is all about eating meat that was offered to idols. We don’t really see much of this today or at least I don’t. However, the passage can still be applied to the example we are setting for others. We live a separated life, not because we are putting on a show, but because we are dedicating our life to be an imitator of God our Father. He said in Ephesians 5 to imitate Him as a child imitates their parents in this world.
This is truly what our goal in life as a Christian is: to be more like our Father. We are not trying to obey a set of rules, but we are here to help others along the way. How unnecessary it is for others to fall away from their faith simply because of a “mature” believer not taking their relationship with God seriously. It is serious and it is the only thing that will last beyond this lifetime.
Jesus took this very seriously. In fact, in Mark 9:42 He said if you cause a new believer to stumble, it is better if you were drowned in the sea. That is very strong, but it gets the point through that He wants us to look out for the weaker believers and not be selfish in our behavior.
Today I want to encourage you to take a step up in imitating your heavenly Father as His dear child. Press into Him and learn more about how to help those who are new in the faith. Look seriously at the example you are setting to those around you and be the same loving and serving child of God no matter who you are with.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
The Daily Dose 