Conscience | November 16
… for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
… the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
1 Corinthians 8:6-13, 1 Timothy 1:5
Father, You emphasize, in several places, that food and drink are gifts to us, to be enjoyed. Here You tell us that we should not let our liberty in your gifts get in the way of our witness to those who believe that certain foods are not to be eaten. We know You are the Father of our liberty; now help us to place our witness and our love for others above our liberty.
You tell us that if we are insensitive to the needs of a weaker brother that we are sinning against You. That is a powerful reason for us to show patience when we are inclined to do otherwise. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project
