ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN FOR ...
Nehemiah 9:22 – 38 and 10: 1: 39
The people are reentering Jerusalem. The are receiving the promises of God after repenting and turning back to God and rebuilding the temple. Are we repenting and being obedient, so that the promises of God are fulfilled in our lives?
I Corinthians 10:14 – 33
Paul tells his friends “We must flee from idolatry”. The worship of anything that is not God is Idolatry. He then tells them that they are sensible people;” judge for yourselves what I say.” He points out with questions, “is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” Of course, the answer to both questions is YES. In those times, the bread for communion came from one loaf. He goes on to explain that “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
For those who believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we participate in acknowledging Jesus’s body sacrificed for our sins. Paul asked another question. “Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of the demons”. In other words, you must choose who you will serve and not straddle the fence. You are then serving demons and not God. He is a jealous God and you do not want to arouse the Lord’s Jealousy because we are not stronger than he.
Paul explains our freedom. Even though we are free in Christ because he saved us from sin, wrong choices to do or not to do may not be beneficial or constructive. Rather than serving self, we should be mindful and intentional to serve the good of others. He uses the example of food and our conscience of purchasing and eating certain foods. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is before you. But if you are told that the food has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it. This is for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of the other person’s conscience, not yours. If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? We are to do everything for the glory of God. We should seek to not cause others to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God, so that they may be saved.
Who will you serve?
Psalms 34: 11 – 22
This is a Psalm of David teaching us to fear the Lord our God. If we love life and desire to see many good days, we will keep our tongues from evil and our lips from telling lies. We will turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The Lord looks upon the righteous, he hears our cry. He delivers the righteous from our troubles and is close to the brokenhearted and those whose spirits have been crushed.
Although the righteous have many troubles, the Lord delivers them from them all. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. What a blessing to be seen as righteous before our Lord! Otherwise, a wicked person will be slain by evil and condemned. Fear the Lord and reap his blessing and protection!
Proverbs 21: 14 - 16
It is good to bless others in secret even those who seek to harm us. We will receive joy and terror will overtake an evildoer. We must be careful not to stray from the path of prudence or wisdom lest we are led in the company of the dead.
Can you bless your foes knowing that God will bless you in return?
The people are reentering Jerusalem. The are receiving the promises of God after repenting and turning back to God and rebuilding the temple. Are we repenting and being obedient, so that the promises of God are fulfilled in our lives?
I Corinthians 10:14 – 33
Paul tells his friends “We must flee from idolatry”. The worship of anything that is not God is Idolatry. He then tells them that they are sensible people;” judge for yourselves what I say.” He points out with questions, “is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” Of course, the answer to both questions is YES. In those times, the bread for communion came from one loaf. He goes on to explain that “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
For those who believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we participate in acknowledging Jesus’s body sacrificed for our sins. Paul asked another question. “Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of the demons”. In other words, you must choose who you will serve and not straddle the fence. You are then serving demons and not God. He is a jealous God and you do not want to arouse the Lord’s Jealousy because we are not stronger than he.
Paul explains our freedom. Even though we are free in Christ because he saved us from sin, wrong choices to do or not to do may not be beneficial or constructive. Rather than serving self, we should be mindful and intentional to serve the good of others. He uses the example of food and our conscience of purchasing and eating certain foods. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is before you. But if you are told that the food has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it. This is for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of the other person’s conscience, not yours. If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? We are to do everything for the glory of God. We should seek to not cause others to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God, so that they may be saved.
Who will you serve?
Psalms 34: 11 – 22
This is a Psalm of David teaching us to fear the Lord our God. If we love life and desire to see many good days, we will keep our tongues from evil and our lips from telling lies. We will turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The Lord looks upon the righteous, he hears our cry. He delivers the righteous from our troubles and is close to the brokenhearted and those whose spirits have been crushed.
Although the righteous have many troubles, the Lord delivers them from them all. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. What a blessing to be seen as righteous before our Lord! Otherwise, a wicked person will be slain by evil and condemned. Fear the Lord and reap his blessing and protection!
Proverbs 21: 14 - 16
It is good to bless others in secret even those who seek to harm us. We will receive joy and terror will overtake an evildoer. We must be careful not to stray from the path of prudence or wisdom lest we are led in the company of the dead.
Can you bless your foes knowing that God will bless you in return?
by LaJeanne Williams, Women's Ministry Team
Posted in Read Through the Bible
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