Short Daily Devotional

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1. Now about food sanctified to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

3. But the man who loves God is known by God.

4. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

5. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),

6. yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom we lives; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7. But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

8. But food does not bring us neat to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

10. For 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?

11. So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

12. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13. Therefore, 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.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: LOVE STRENGTHENS THE CHURCH

If brethren show love to one another, the Church will be highly strengthened and witness tremendous growth.

This passage helps us to know that if we truly love our fellow brethren, then we would not want to do anything that will lead them astray. Our exemplary lifestyle will definitely help others not to stumble but be encouraged and focused in serving the Lord.

Through love, we would do everything possible to help our fellow brethren so that they are not discouraged. Someone once said, “If everybody behaves like you, how will the church be?” If this question is directed at you, what will your answer be?

QUESTION: Has your lifestyle been a source of encouragement to others?

PRAYER: Dear Father, please help me to be a source of blessing to others and to love them, in Jesus name, Amen.