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From: Bayo Afolaranmi
Dearly Beloved,
THINGS OFFERED TO
IDOLS
"Therefore concerning the eating of things offered
to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no
other God but one" (1 Corinthians 8:4, NKJV).
The ancient city of Corinth was a cosmopolitan
city. This made the young church in the city to have many socio-cultural
problems. Paul had to write many letters to them to address some of the problems
that confronted the church. One of such problems addressed by Paul in 1
Corinthians 8 had to do with things offered to idols. These were by and large
meat offered in sacrifice, and then either brought for sale in the market, or
served up at the feasts held in honour of idols, at their temples, or at the
houses of their adherents. Some of the Corinthian Christians were of the opinion
that it does not matter to eat such meat especially one bought in market; others
opined that it does matter and that it can become a stumbling-block to young
Christians. Of most concern was the meat offered to idols and later used to
entertain people. Should a Christian partake in such entertainment?
Well, to Paul, even the idols are nothing compared
to God, the Creator of the universe. The idols are just mere gods. So, eating
things offered to idols does not matter. However, because of conscience,
especially of the young and weak Christians, one may abstain from eating such
things offered to idols.
What are the things seemingly offered to idols
around you? These may not necessarily be meat or food used in shrines, but
day-to-day activities that are controversial and that may cause young and weak
Christians to stumble. What is your opinion about such things?
Paul later gave this instruction: "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.
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, NIV. Read Romans 14 for Pauls further
instruction on this matter).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
Prayer Requests:
1. Lord, do not let me cause others to stumble by
my actions and words.
2. Let my actions and words always glorify you,
Lord, and build up others around me.
===================================================
From: Suzianty Herawati
"Received up
into glory."
--1 Timothy 3:16 We have seen our well-beloved Lord in the days of His flesh, humiliated and sore vexed; for He was "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He whose brightness is as the morning, wore the sackcloth of sorrow as His daily dress: shame was His mantle, and reproach was His vesture. Yet now, inasmuch as He has triumphed over all the powers of darkness upon the bloody tree, our faith beholds our King returning with dyed garments from Edom, robed in the splendour of victory. How glorious must He have been in the eyes of seraphs, when a cloud received Him out of mortal sight, and He ascended up to heaven! Now He wears the glory which He had with God or ever the earth was, and yet another glory above all--that which He has well earned in the fight against sin, death, and hell. As victor He wears the illustrious crown. Hark how the song swells high! It is a new and sweeter song: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, for He hath redeemed us unto God by His blood!" He wears the glory of an Intercessor who can never fail, of a Prince who can never be defeated, of a Conqueror who has vanquished every foe, of a Lord who has the heart's allegiance of every subject. Jesus wears all the glory which the pomp of heaven can bestow upon Him, which ten thousand times ten thousand angels can minister to Him. You cannot with your utmost stretch of imagination conceive His exceeding greatness; yet there will be a further revelation of it when He shall descend from heaven in great power, with all the holy angels--"Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Oh, the splendour of that glory! It will ravish His people's hearts. Nor is this the close, for eternity shall sound His praise, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever!" Reader, if you would joy in Christ's glory hereafter, He must be glorious in your sight now. Is He so? SDG,
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