Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 23, 2023: SOAP #4858: Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8 (reworked)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling-block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Knowledge had set them free.  They knew that an idol was really nothing but a painted and decorated stick.  Knowing this, they also knew that there was no special power if the meat they were about to eat had been dedicated to that god.  But not everyone had grown in their spiritual walk to have that issue settled in their heart and mind.  Weaker/younger believers had changed their allegiance from the idol-gods to the One True God.  But some still thought the idol-god had some power.  When weaker believers saw a brother eating some meat that had been offered to an idol, they would be offended.

APPLICATION: So, what is a person to do?  Remember that the freedom door swings both ways.  We are free to eat, AND we are free not to eat!  Selfishly I may swing freedom’s door to get and/or do what I want!   Lovingly I may swing freedom’s door the other way not to offend my brother.

If ever there was one who used His freedom to serve others at great cost to Himself, it was Jesus!  No one forced Him to leave heaven and take on the limitations of a human body.  He willingly accepted the limitations of being a baby. He took the cross willingly.  He did it for me!  He loved me more than He loved His freedoms and the privilege He enjoyed of being God in heaven! 

Missionaries often lay aside the freedoms of their home country to accept the limitations of living in a country to which God has sent them. 

PRAYER:  Lord when I am frustrated because someone is offended by my freedom, remind me of the limitations you accepted for me. May I  willingly and lovingly accept limitations not to offend someone for whom you died.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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