Post by Quia on Mar 16, 2014 14:08:45 GMT
Hey guys,
I know that this has been difficult! I pray that you guys keep pushing...we're almost there. So in today's reading a couple of things stood out to me. The end of v. 1 says "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up!" This is a good reminder to me because we often get caught up in what we "know" happened or how we feel and we are led by our own interpretation of things. This little tidbit reminds us that love is UPLIFTING...knowledge is PROUD. And because love is not proud or boastful, we can't rightfully love someone (especially in the way that God loves us) if we are prideful. This reading also made me think about how other people view us. As Christians, especially young ones, we are expected to look and act a different way. We are not supposed to meet the standards of this world but rather the standards of God. It is extremely difficult to do so in a world saturated in sin, but v.9-13 illustrate that we must take extra precaution because SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING!
NEW KING JAMES VERSION
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 MESSAGE VERSION
But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
10 For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.
11-13 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn’t you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him—because, as you say, it doesn’t really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these “weak ones.” So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there’s any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.
This really spoke to me. I like the message version because it puts it in plain terms for us, but the NKJV uses the phrase STUMBLING BLOCK which I think is important. This passage is important to be me because it really puts things in perspective. Now, though he is speaking about food (as referenced in the Old Testament) I like to think of it in broader terms and relate it to any act that we do. For example, smoking, going to the club, cussing, fornicating etc. If we are to be walking in the counsel of God and our sole purpose is to worship Him and bring others to Christ by setting an example we must be painstakingly careful what we do/how we act. It is our responsibility to be committed to the kingdom and to ensure that our lives and our examples don't become confusing to those who are watching and someone always is. I know that for me, that is a lot to consider. I don't necessarily want that type of scrutiny because I know that I am not perfect and I fall short, but that's why our RESPONSE to the things that happen in our lives are probably the most IMPORTANT element of being a Christian. People don't want to see how happy we are, they want to see how we, as Christians, respond to adversity in times of trouble...we will keep the Faith in the God that we sing about, pray to, read about or we will yield to Satan's will. I'll quit talking yall's heads off, but just remember that we are a chosen people...let's act like it! I know it's a struggle, but the better we become about controlling ourselves and the examples we set the more glory God gets from our lives!!!!
I know that this has been difficult! I pray that you guys keep pushing...we're almost there. So in today's reading a couple of things stood out to me. The end of v. 1 says "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up!" This is a good reminder to me because we often get caught up in what we "know" happened or how we feel and we are led by our own interpretation of things. This little tidbit reminds us that love is UPLIFTING...knowledge is PROUD. And because love is not proud or boastful, we can't rightfully love someone (especially in the way that God loves us) if we are prideful. This reading also made me think about how other people view us. As Christians, especially young ones, we are expected to look and act a different way. We are not supposed to meet the standards of this world but rather the standards of God. It is extremely difficult to do so in a world saturated in sin, but v.9-13 illustrate that we must take extra precaution because SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING!
NEW KING JAMES VERSION
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 MESSAGE VERSION
But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
10 For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.
11-13 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn’t you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him—because, as you say, it doesn’t really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these “weak ones.” So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there’s any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.
This really spoke to me. I like the message version because it puts it in plain terms for us, but the NKJV uses the phrase STUMBLING BLOCK which I think is important. This passage is important to be me because it really puts things in perspective. Now, though he is speaking about food (as referenced in the Old Testament) I like to think of it in broader terms and relate it to any act that we do. For example, smoking, going to the club, cussing, fornicating etc. If we are to be walking in the counsel of God and our sole purpose is to worship Him and bring others to Christ by setting an example we must be painstakingly careful what we do/how we act. It is our responsibility to be committed to the kingdom and to ensure that our lives and our examples don't become confusing to those who are watching and someone always is. I know that for me, that is a lot to consider. I don't necessarily want that type of scrutiny because I know that I am not perfect and I fall short, but that's why our RESPONSE to the things that happen in our lives are probably the most IMPORTANT element of being a Christian. People don't want to see how happy we are, they want to see how we, as Christians, respond to adversity in times of trouble...we will keep the Faith in the God that we sing about, pray to, read about or we will yield to Satan's will. I'll quit talking yall's heads off, but just remember that we are a chosen people...let's act like it! I know it's a struggle, but the better we become about controlling ourselves and the examples we set the more glory God gets from our lives!!!!
