Verse of the Day - weekend 9/11

Through the Bible - Proverbs 21-26, 2 Coriinthians 6:14- 8:15

 

Good morning,

On this day when most of us will solemnly remember the events of this day in 2001 there is much in the news surrounding the desire, the "rights" of some who would like to build a mosque on the site and those who expressed a desire to burn the holy book of the opposing side.  Both are claiming the rights that they have in the laws of our country.

 

Neither side, from what I can see was considering the appropriateness of their actions.  They may have the right under our laws, but would either action be appropriate, especially considering both parties are taking their stand on religious beliefs.

 

If you have a "right" to take a certain course of action, is that sufficient reason for doing it?  The impact on others must be taken into account.  The question is not whether we have the right , for the Christian not whether Is it "right or wrong?" but rather, "does this help or hinder" our witness.

 

For this weekend's verse, we'll go to the book of 1 Corinthians to a passage that tells us about when (a) right becomes wrong.

 

1 Cor 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.   NIV

A commentary that I read on this passage stated that "the will of God can be invoked to justify practically anything.  The following of Christ summons us to self sacrifice."

Oftentimes that self sacrifice will mean foregoing things that we may have the "right" to do.

 

The commentator continues, "Had they loved their neighbors, they would have made sure that they did not make life more difficult, if not impossible, for those whom conscience forced to take a different position."

 

We may not be in the national limelight over what is right or wrong on a certain position.  But in our actions and in our conversations with others we should evaluate whether our words or actions, our testimony, and the fall out from them,  will make life more difficult for other Christians.

 

1 Cor 8:1-Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. NIV

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
1 Cor 8:1-10

 

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge.  Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

 

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

 

7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

 

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.   NIV