All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
—1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (KJV)
Freedom is a wonderful gift! Freedom in Christ is more significant than any other kind of freedom. God entrusts it to us. But we don't want to use our freedom to impinge on someone else's freedom or damage their faith. We don't want our liberty to cause others to sin or to lose sight of Christ. So, let's use our freedom wisely and redemptively — only to use it for what is "beneficial" and "constructive"!
Precious God and Almighty Father, thank you for the many gifts you have poured into our lives as Jesus' followers. We especially want to thank you for our spiritual freedom in Jesus. Please empower us to use our freedom to bless and build others up — to be "beneficial" and "constructive" to other believers. Rather than bringing glory to ourselves by exercising our freedom, we want to encourage and bless others, especially new and weak believers. Please help us see others as the place of your work in the world and lead us to join you in that work in the ways we use our freedom and also in the way we withhold it from ourselves. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Freedom is a wonderful gift! Freedom in Christ is more significant than any other kind of freedom. God entrusts it to us. But we don't want to use our freedom to impinge on someone else's freedom or damage their faith. We don't want our liberty to cause others to sin or to lose sight of Christ. So, let's use our freedom wisely and redemptively — only to use it for what is "beneficial" and "constructive"!
My Prayer...
Precious God and Almighty Father, thank you for the many gifts you have poured into our lives as Jesus' followers. We especially want to thank you for our spiritual freedom in Jesus. Please empower us to use our freedom to bless and build others up — to be "beneficial" and "constructive" to other believers. Rather than bringing glory to ourselves by exercising our freedom, we want to encourage and bless others, especially new and weak believers. Please help us see others as the place of your work in the world and lead us to join you in that work in the ways we use our freedom and also in the way we withhold it from ourselves. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
