1 Corinthians 8: Do You Love God?
Verse of the Day: (V3) “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”
1. Love (V1-4)
V1 “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit reminded the Corinthian church that God placed charity or God’s love above everything else, including knowledge. When we have knowledge, we may become proud, while when we have true love of God, we will always remain humble, and continue to love and encourage others. Paul warned them that though they could eat the food offered to idols because these idols were nothing, yet they must be careful not to stumble the weaker Christians. Indeed, God’s love is above everything else!
V3 “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”
2. Lord (V5-6)
V5 “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)”
The people in Paul’s time, and even today, believed and worshipped many gods and lords, but truly there is only one God, the Father, and only one Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only God is the Creator of this world, and only the Lord Jesus is the Saviour of this world.
V6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
3. Liberty (V7-13)
V9 “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.”
Though we are at liberty to eat food offer to idols, yet we should refrain from eating them, because we know that there are weaker Christians who have weak conscience, and may be stumbled by our liberty. If we stumble them, we actually sin against God, because it shows that we do not love them. Therefore, let us who are strong, love the weak, by not stumbling them, because the Lord Jesus Christ is the best and perfect example of love. Jesus loves us so much, that He left the throne of heaven to be a man, and to die on the cruel cross, and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. Whosoever believes in Jesus should never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven.
V12 “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love You and others, because You first love all.
