Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience’s sake—the other man’s conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.
– 1 Corinthians 10:23-32
Devotion
Here Paul addresses the topic of Christian liberty. The Christian has tremendous liberty in Christ. However, we are to seek the welfare of others. So, our lives should not be primarily directed and dictated by liberty. Liberty is limited by love. As Christians, we are not pinned down by legality. We should be concerned about our influence and effect on others. In the end, we must ask ourselves, “Is what I am about to do going to bring glory to God?” As we live out our love for God in a hostile world, what kind of testimony are we portraying? As always, Jesus is our example. He turned the Jewish religious system upside down with all their rules and laws, yet His love for God was so evident to the unbelieving world. Jesus is a perfect example of the balance between law and liberty. He acted responsibly and made sure no one missed out on the love of the Father.
The Big Question
Do you sometimes use your liberty in Christ to judge other believers? Do you seek to glorify God in all that you do and say? Is the love of God evident in your life? Do you continually seek the good of others? Do you sometimes exercise restraint of your liberty in Christ for the benefit of other believers? What did Paul mean when he said, “Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial?”
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.