Give up something, that is perfectly acceptable to me, if my doing it hurts or harms someone else?
Just because I think it is OK, someone else may not be able to cope with it.
Paul’s focus here is on food, but the scope is much wider. What am I doing in my life, that may be harming the life of others? What do I do, possibly even without thinking, that is making life harder for someone else? Making it more difficult for them to hang on in there, or stick to their path? Putting temptation in someone else’s way? Making them angry or upset – with good reason? What things do I say, that would be better not said?
Things that may be effecting my life, without me realising, or even thinking?
Something to pause and think on as we journey through Lent.
8 In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. 2 In fact, people who think they know so much don’t know anything at all. 3 But God has no doubts about who loves him.
4 Even though food is offered to idols, we know that none of the idols in this world are alive. After all, there is only one God. 5 Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. 6 We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.
7 Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. 8 But food doesn’t bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don’t eat, and we are no better off if we do.
9 Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. 10 You know all this, and so it doesn’t bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. 11 Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. 12 When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 So if I hurt one of the Lord’s followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live.
Lord,
help me to reflect on all I do.
To realise the things that damage others,
don’t help in situations,
point people in the wrong direction
and are unhelpful to me.
I hand them to you,
and receive
your forgiveness
release
and life.
All that swirls around me,
troubles me,
leads me the wrong way,
nags at me,
tempts me.
Into that
you stepped.
Into the same water
I shared,
I have washed in,
tried to get clean.
You come.
“I’m here,
your life is my life,
let me be a part of it;
let me walk with you,
guide you,
lead you,
gently tend your wounds;
help you to stand up straight again”.
And the Father proudly declares,
“This is My Son”.
You are not just anyone,
but God’s own presence,
here with me.
In the swirling currents of human life
you are here
to share,
support,
lift up,
carry
and be.
Lord,
may I welcome you,
hear you,
see you;
and put my trust,
my life,
in your hands.
9 About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. 11 A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”
Jesus and Satan
12 Right away God’s Spirit made Jesus go into the desert. 13 He stayed there for forty days while Satan tested him. Jesus was with the wild animals, but angels took care of him.
Pam's Perambulation 