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Idols – Day 17

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge”. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

The Thought

These are strong words from Paul, a committed and enthusiastic Jew who had been proud of himself and his knowledge of the Old Testament and Jewish law in particular. So much so that he was there to witness the stoning of Stephen the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58).

Paul is declaring in this verse that he saw a huge difference between his old legalistic version of Judaism and his new life of love in Christ.

Many of us have made an idol of our faith, becoming strict in our attitudes to other faiths or activities that we consider “not Christian”. We must remember the most important thing is to love the sinner, and to love even our enemies. Jesus told His listeners To you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).

It is only through love that we can hope to show people the message that Jesus came to give. Not doing this makes an idol of our own ideas, our own knowledge and experience. That is what Paul is saying in the verse for today, and he continues in the following verse saying Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God (1 Corinthians 8:2-3).

Action

Reflect on those verses as you go through your day today. Ask yourself how much you really know about Jesus, Father God, Holy Spirit, and talk to Him, the “three in one”, asking His help to improve your knowledge so that you can help others grow in their understanding of life with Jesus.

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