[:en]Our Daily Verse (7/21/20)[:]

[:en]SCRIPTURE:  1 CORINTHIANS 10

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“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” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

“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 10:31-32)

WARNINGS FROM ISRAEL’S HISTORY (vs. 1-13)

Paul gave examples of how the forefathers of Israel set their hearts on evil things.

  1.  They ate and drank and indulged in pagan revelry.  (v. 7)
  2. They committed sexual immorality (v. 8)
  3. They tested the Lord and were killed by snakes (v. 9)
  4. They grumbled and were killed by the destroying angels (v. 10)

IDOL FEASTS AND THE LORD’S SUPPER (vs. 14-22)

Paul used the Lord’s Supper in comparison with idol Feasts.  The believers had fellowship (communion) with Christ by partaking the cup and loaf.  An idolater had also fellowship with demon in counterfeit communion service.  While idols were not real, but Satan used idols to lead people astray.  People could worship demon through idols.  Therefore, Christians must not involved in devil’s religion.  It is inconsistent for a Christ to share in the Lord’s Table and sit at a table of demons in other times.  Beware of Satanism!

THE BELIEVER’S FREEDOM (vs. 23-33)

Christians are free to do all things lawful but not everything are beneficial or constructive.  Paul gave us some guidelines to follow:

  1. Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others. (v. 24)
  2. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.  So eat without raising questions of conscience. (vs. 25-27)
  3. If a Christian tells you that the meat has been offered in heathen altar as sacrifice, do not eat it.  This is to avoid the weaker brother being bothered thus caused him to stumble. (v. 28)
  4. Do everything for the glory of God. (v. 31)
  5. Do not cause anyone to stumble. (v. 32)
  6. Live with the purpose to win souls. (v. 33)

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