March 7
For conscience’s sake
1 Corinthians 10:25-29

 

25: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27: If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28: But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof:
29: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

The discussion here is about eating meat that was sacrificed to idols.  He says if you go to the market and buy meat don’t question as to whether the meat was offered in sacrifice to idols.  Just buy it and eat it because everything in the earth belongs to the Lord.  And if you go to a meal with an unbeliever eat what is set before you without questioning it’s source.

But if someone tells you, this was offered in sacrifice to an idol, then don’t eat it for their conscience’s sake.  You don’t want to give them the impression that you think it’s O.K. to offer sacrifices to idols.  So the point is, if your actions make it look like you are condoning something that violates God’s Word then don’t do it for the sake of those watching you.  Some people, especially unbelievers, will not understand if you try and explain your reasoning for why you believe it’s O.K. to do it.  To them it just looks like you are condoning and participating in it.  In this case it would look like you think it’s O.K. to worship idols if you ate of the food.

So rather than have them believe you think it’s O.K. to do (and by your permission they take that as God’s permission), then just don’t do it.

 

Confession:

I will be aware of how my actions may affect other people’s conscience’s.   I will be aware that other people may look to me as an example of what God’s Word says to do or not do.

Obedience is a tree of life!