The Tree Church Daily

Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35 (NLT)

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

Explanation:

Picture this: you are part of something new, exciting, and spreading like wildfire. Your opportunity is to share a message with eternal promise, a message of the risen Savior. There’s only one problem: the world outside is totally opposed to your mission. You’ve gone radical. It’s counter-cultural to the point that leaders in your group are being thrown in jail and martyred for your cause. How do you react?

In Acts, we read of the reaction of the people to Peter and John’s reports of the condemnation of the church and the Gospel. They united! The Scripture says that these people, all of whom were very different as individuals, came together as one. They shared each other’s needs, shared possessions, and came together as a unified family with one heart to pray for the Church.

The result was nothing short of remarkable. God showered them with blessings, and they experienced a sense of unity that was greater than any they’d experienced before. These people took care of one another, assuring that no one was suffering in poverty. Those who had been both from rich and poor backgrounds came together to focus on their brothers and sisters in an act of love. They lifted one another in prayer and gave generously with open hearts in the name of Jesus.

I think about this story sometimes when I feel the need to tackle mountains on my own. We are part of a community. We are believers that are called to have one heart, and if I am suffering, I have an entire community of people that I can call on to help me. You have the same resource. If you a challenge or burden you are facing that you’re trying to carry on your own, I am called to be your sister and help you in whatever way I can. Sometimes, it just means that I listen and pray and gather other prayer warriors around you. Other times, it may look different. The key is that we are one. One heart, joined together, seeking to edify each other and spread Jesus’s message to all the world.

Application:

1. What does it mean to you when you think of the Church having “one heart”?

2. When you are facing struggles, what is your default reaction? Do you turn to others, or do you try to tackle it alone?

3. How can you demonstrate a posture of “one heart” as a part of the Church body?

Devo Plus:

Read these other scriptures about being unified as one: 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 3:28, Philippians 2:2, and Romans 12:4-5.

Prayer:

Ask God to search your heart today and show you areas where you need to improve with the “one heart” posture. Ask Him to help you when it comes to your own struggles and how you approach them. Spend some time being quiet before God and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you.

Romans 16:1-27 (ESV)

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Explanation:

Paul did incredible things in his life. He planted churches all throughout the Mediterranean region, healed the sick, raised a dead boy, wrote letters that would become scripture. One thing Paul never was shy about was that his work was dependent on the work of so many around him. The churches Paul planted would not be healthy or sustained if the women and men at those churches did not step up and do the work required. His letters would never have been delivered or heard without people like Phoebe delivering, reading, and explaining Paul’s letters to the churches. Without the contributions of the many churches, his mission and the money to care for the needy would not have been there. It took the faithful followers of Jesus doing the work and being generous, willing to contribute their resources to accomplish the mission of God.

Things have not changed since Paul’s time. God still accomplishes His mission, not through individual leaders (though they are important), but by the faithful followers who work together to make disciples and proclaim the good news of the Gospel.

Application:

1. If you are honest with yourself, do you feel like you are playing a part in the mission of God at your local church?

2. Where have you been generous with your time, talents, resources?

3. Where is God maybe challenging you to take an additional step of faith?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Your mission has never been dependent on one woman or man. You have called a people who each have a part to play. You have gifted each of us in such a way that we can contribute to the expansion of the Gospel. Stir up in our hearts the desire to be a part of what You are doing. Stir in us a passion for seeing disciples being made, for the Gospel to continue to go forth, and show us our part in it. You are good and worthy to be praised! Amen.

Romans 15:14-33 (NLT)

14 I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. 15 Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, 16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. 18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. 19 They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21 I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,

“Those who have never been told about him will see,

and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

22 In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.

23 But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. 24 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.

25 But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. 26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. 28 As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. 29 And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.

30 Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. 31 Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. 32 Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.

33 And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.

Explanation:

Serving the Lord is not for the faint-hearted. What sounds like an upbeat and encouraging message to the believers in Rome is actually confirmation of the truth found in Proverbs 19:21.

You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.

Paul was very much looking forward to visiting Rome as part of his missionary journey. However, when he wrote these words, Paul had no idea that God’s plan to get him over to Rome would be as a prisoner in chains, aboard a ship full of felons, bound for a Roman prison where he would eventually die at the hands of a godless emperor! Had Paul known this, would he have remained faithful? In Acts 21, the prophet Agabus warned Paul ahead of his journey of the imprisonment that awaited him. Paul steadfastly declared he was “ready to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”

It is good to have goals and make plans, but always be ready to adjust your life to where God is working. If you stay in the center of His will, God will use you in ways you never imagined. Paul wanted to preach the good news where it had never been heard. God not only honored that request, He used Paul to reach prisoners and Roman officials who otherwise may never have heard about the love of Jesus Christ.

Application:

1. If you were told what Paul was told, would you still serve God wholeheartedly?

2. Paul said he was following the plan in the scriptures to speak of Jesus to those who have never been told (Isaiah 52:15). In your day-to-day activities, do you meet people who have never heard of Jesus Christ? How do you react?

3. How does today’s passage connect tithes and offerings with serving the Lord’s people?

Devo Plus:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I trust You to lead me and keep me in the center of Your will as I obey the next step You give me. Amen.

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Explanation:

Have you ever had an experience that you just could not wait to share with someone? In excitement, we usually pick up the phone to call or text that person or go seek that person out the next opportunity that we get. Why do we do this? Simply put, we have a God-given desire for commonality and connection with others. We want others to join us in our life journey, and sharing stories about our experiences can be a very powerful tool in unifying us.

Jesus, in His incredible wisdom, was very clear that this idea of sharing stories, or witnessing, was going to be an invaluable method that could be utilized to share the message of His gospel. In fact, it has been a method that God has used from the very beginning. In general, much of our Bible originated from the sharing of stories from one generation to the next. Therefore, it is no surprise that Jesus commanded His disciples and us to be witnesses for Him throughout our lives as well.

As with any exciting experience that we encounter and cannot wait to share with others, our message of how the gospel has changed our lives is an exciting opportunity that has tremendous impact. It is one that can change lives forever. Our excitement for this witness to others blooms out of an active relationship with God. Our faith can be so real and genuine that we cannot help but share it with others. When our lives are fueled by our deep love for God, others see that. We must remember that each encounter we have can be an opportunity to reflect Christ to others. People need the light of Christ that you have in you. Share it, spread it, and go live it!

Application:

1. What can hinder you at times from witnessing to others?

2. Why is witnessing to others such a valuable tool that Christ uses?

3. How have you been impacted by Jesus, and why do others need to hear about it?

4. What interactions do you have throughout your day where you could witness to others?

Devo Plus:

Read 2 Timothy 1:8-10. How do these verses remind you of the importance of our calling to witness?

Prayer:

Jesus, You have changed my life and made me a new creation. I know this is the greatest gift that anyone can receive. Help me not to forget that. Holy Spirit, remind me of the value of my story and my relationship with You. Help me not to forget the powerful message of Your gospel and how it can eternally change someone’s life. Make me sensitive this day and each day moving forward to the opportunities that I have to witness for You. I want to make Your name great!

Romans 15:8-13 (NRSV)

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,

and sing praises to your name”;

and again he says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;

and again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and let all the peoples praise him”;

and again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse shall come,

the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;

in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Explanation:

When God called Abraham to be “the father of His nation,” He also made Abraham a promise. God promised that someday a Messiah would come to set them free. But this Messiah, this Savior, would not only save the people of Israel, He came to save and set free anyone who would believe.

God not only made these promises, but He was faithful to keep them. In today’s passage, Paul refers to many Old Testament verses to remind the people of the promises God had made, and also to encourage them that God is indeed faithful to keep every single promise He makes. Every promise God made in these passages, He was faithful to fulfill. This is why we can trust Him. This is why He alone is where we can find hope. God was faithful in keeping His promises to Abraham, to the people of Israel, and to the Gentiles…and He will continue to keep His promises to us as well. This is where we find true hope. Think about it, we have a God who not only loves us, but who makes promises to us that He will keep. No one else and nothing else will ever be able to live up to that reputation. But our God can and He will. When we trust God and place our hope in Him, that is where we find true joy, true peace, and true life.

Application:

1. What are some things in this world in which you have placed your hope?

2. What has the outcome been of putting your hope in worldly things?

3. Why is it different with God?

Devo Plus:

Paul uses many Old Testament passages to show God’s faithfulness. Check out the following verses as a reminder that our God truly is faithful to His word and promises: 2 Samuel 22:50-51, Psalm 117:1-2, and Isaiah 11:10-12.

Prayer:

God, we are so thankful that You are a God who keeps His word. What an amazing thing it is to know that You are a promise-keeping God. You are faithful, and because of that, we can put our hope in You. Thank You for being a gracious, loving, faithful God. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:22-24 (ESV)

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil...

Explanation:

We recently returned from a road trip with our family of four. As with any vacation, there can be great times and not so great times. For me, what always creates the most tension during road trips is when someone is not getting along with another. What makes it worse is there is no escape when you are in a car, especially for extended time periods.

On our trip we had a few occasions where our two kids, ages 10 and 6, were quarreling about things they didn’t see eye to eye on. As a parent who is learning how to best parent my kiddos at each stage of their lives, I couldn’t help but find myself annoyed by some of their spats. My aim was to view them in grace, but in all honesty some of the things they were quarreling about were petty and obnoxious. They were often rooted in selfishness and lack of compassion. We had many conversations about why it is important to treat others well.

If you have ever been around another human being, you know that this is not unique to my kids. Even as adults, we can often find ourselves in situations where we are easily irritated with another individual. As we read today, we must be very guarded about the way we handle our interactions with others.

As with Jesus’ time, there were individuals in Paul’s time who loved to stir up those they were around. In the same way that it is easy for us to get pulled in and wrapped up into many different controversies that arise in our culture, Paul was warning his mentee Timothy to be very careful with how he conducts himself around others. Paul encouraged Timothy that Jesus’ way was to be kind to others, to use disagreements as an opportunity to teach others the ways of God, and to not be surprised if others are evil toward you for having a godly perspective. We too must keenly heed these very same truths, for most of us probably know from experience that foolish and ignorant quarrels never bring out the best in us or others. Keep these passages in mind the next time you are tempted to instigate or jump into a quarrel with someone else.

Application:

1. When you have been involved in or witnessed foolish and ignorant quarrels in the past, what are some of observations that you have made?

2. Why do you think Apostle Paul was so adamant about warning Timothy about his role as a servant of Christ?

3. If you approached others with the humility of kindness, willingness to teach rather than condemn, and endurance when they are evil toward you, how might others respond to you better?

4. How can you grow in these specific areas?

Devo Plus:

Read Matthew 7:12. If you approached your interactions with others with this heart, how might those interactions change?

Prayer:

Jesus, You model so well what it looks like to live a life full of grace and truth. Your kindness truly led others to repentance. We too want to share in serving others this same way. Enduring evil patiently can be challenging especially when what others say is hurtful. Reinforce us with Your love and grace in these times. Help us to use these times to share with others the true heart of God.

1 Corinthians 8:6-13 (NLT)

But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.

However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

Explanation:

In this passage, Paul is again focusing on the conduct of believers as it relates to other believers. He uses the example of meat to represent confusion among the new Christians in Corinth; specifically, whether or not a believer was free to eat the remainder of meat that was previously sacrificed to pagan idols.

After writing about love for the past few devotions, these verses come as a punch in the gut. But the reality is, Paul’s words here are even more about loving our fellow believers because this is where love gets hard. He is telling us that anything we do as Christians has the potential to affect another believer’s walk with Christ. He uses the words of “weaker conscience” to simply mean those that are either new or vulnerable in their faith. These believers are contrasted with the actions and decisions of “mature” or “seasoned” Christians and Paul is clear that this responsibility is for all of us.

As The Message version of the Bible bluntly puts it: “When you hurt a friend, you hurt Christ.” Paul makes clear that no behavior is worth the cost of a weak one. God very much cares when we use our found freedom in Christ carelessly, and urges us to steer clear of anything that may trip up a brother or sister in Christ.

I’m not sure about you, but the idea of sinning against others AND Christ Himself just doesn’t sit well with me. I never want anyone to be confused on account of my actions. I want to use my freedom in Christ with sensitivity to what others may have been through or are currently going through. Even if we have peace with a certain area of our lives, we should refrain from doing something if it creates a stumbling block for others. We never know when or with what someone may still be struggling. But God does. Jesus died for YOU and for THEM so don’t forget “THEM!”

Application:

1. Food once offered to an idol might seem like an outdated example for us today but what if we replace it with another behavior that could potentially create a stumbling block for another? What do you know you do that could cause another newer believer in the faith to go off track?

2. Does this behavior have to be intentional to cause another’s stumble? What does the verse say?

3. What are you willing to give up today if it means it could secure another’s eternal destination? If nothing comes to mind, ask God to show you what behaviors or ideas could cause others confusion, and then ask for Him to help you take steps to change them. Anything God asks us to do will always be worth the sacrifice!

4. As Oscar Wilde once said: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Be reminded and encouraged that this goes both ways; it is also possible for people to “see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Let us be people that cause others to give thanks to God instead of causing them to stumble!

Devo Plus:

1. When Paul suggests that our superior knowledge has the potential to “destroy” a weak believer, he uses a Greek word that denotes “eternal destruction.” Let us keep this in mind next time we tell ourselves that our behavior is not a big deal to ourselves or others! See Romans 2:12, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 15:18, and 2 Corinthians 2:15, 4:3 for other examples.

2. Listen to “The Bible Project” explain the harder parts of Paul’s Letter in 1 Corinthians.

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank You for creating us to be in this life with Your people. You could have created a lonely world, but that You gave us others to do life with shows us just how important relationships are on this earth. Give us Your Holy Spirit to direct our paths in these often difficult situations. And should we cause another to stumble, help us to recognize it and repent, reaching down immediately to help them back up. We praise You for being a God of peace and never of confusion; teach us Your Ways and thank You for loving all of Your people so. Amen.

Romans 15:1-7 (ESV)

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Explanation:

Swearing was not too big of a deal in my house growing up. It was simply the language we used. But there were moments when we were under strict instructions to not use certain language, such as at my great grandmother’s house. We can go back and forth with whether its ok for one to use colorful language or not, but the point was this: there is a time and a place to exercise the freedom I felt. Grandma’s house was not one of them. We did our best to honor that because we wanted to honor her (and we knew there were consequences if we didn’t).

This is Paul’s heart and instructions to the churches in Rome. Christ’s death and reformed way of viewing the relationship with God was challenging to many who were part of the Jewish community. It abandoned things that were staples in the Jewish faith. The gentile believers had no problem with the freedoms and instructions of the new community of faith, but the Jewish Christians did. Paul instructs the gentile believers to set aside their rights to the freedoms they enjoyed for the benefit and honor of those who were still learning how to walk in these freedoms. For the good of the unity of the Church, for the good of the other believers, for the witness to the power of Christ, they were called to set aside their rights, privileges, and things they enjoyed (agape love fueled by submission). Because while Paul enjoyed the new freedoms found in Christ as much as the next person, loving others and uniting in faith was more important and more glorifying to God than enjoying the good things He had given.

Application:

1. Could you identify a freedom in your life that is a hinderance to others?

2. Has it ever posed a problem for other people?

3. When you are in that situation where you know it’s going to be an issue, how do you process through that?

4. Have you ever considered setting aside your preferences and rights in that moment as not to offend the other?

Devo Plus:

Read Galatians 5:13-26.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please help us to keep in mind the things that are most important. You have given us a lot of freedom and the ability to enjoy so many things. But help us to hold tight to the better thing: loving others and creating unity in the body. For Your glorious name! Amen

Romans 14: 13-23 (NLT)

 

So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Explanation:

When this scripture was written there were jewish religious laws that people had to follow including what to eat and drink, but Paul is telling them that under the authority of Jesus no food is unclean to eat. These verses tell us that if, what you are going to eat or drink would cause your friend to stumble or fall into sin then you should not do it. Think of it as drinking in front of an alcoholic or eating cake in front of someone that struggles with their weight. You would not want to do that, you would want to look out for their well-being.

In this world we live in this scripture can be difficult to follow. We constantly hear “do what is right for you!” “Look out for your own self.” But, by living God’s way we should look different and take care of each other. If your friend comes to you and says, “I can’t take another drink of coffee or it will kill me”. You should slap that coffee out of their hand the next time you saw them with one. The same is true with our actions, if someone told you all of your opinions you write on social media makes them worry, fearful, get angry or gossip then you should stop. Think about what you say, wear, drink or eat. If any of those things are going to cause someone to walk into sin then you should not continue doing them. Build each other up and not create division among believers.

God placed us here to live in harmony and direct others towards Jesus not to tear them down. We would not want any of our actions to negatively reflect the church therefore cause someone to quit pursuing Jesus. This is a hard concept because we want to do what we want to do but God has asked us to reflect Him to this dark world.

Application:

1. Who has God laid on your heart that you haven’t carried about them lately?

2. What action are you doing in life that could be causing someone else to stumble?

3. What action do you keep doing that God has told you to get rid of and you keep doing it because the world accepts it?

Devo Plus:

And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble. 1 Corinthians 9:12-13

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Help me to put my pride down when I want to do things my way. Help me to see my friends and family the way you do. Forgive me for the things that I am doing that would make others stumble. Help me to see those and change them to your ways. Thank you for always loving me and challenging me to be more like You.

Love you Father!

In Jesus name I pray!

Amen

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 (ESV)

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Explanation:

We hear a lot today about people being offended. In fact, we get offended pretty often these days. Today Paul talks about how careful we must be not to cause someone to be offended in the sense of being able to see Jesus. Have you ever been to a movie, concert, play, or other venue and someone extremely tall (or with a big head) sits down in front of you and blocks your view? Talk about offensive…

We all have friends that are striving to see Jesus. Have you ever thought that the reason they can’t see Jesus is because you keep stepping in front of their line of sight, and your big head is blocking their ability to see? Time for a self-check. Are there things that you do that may be causing your friend to stumble? We are under a microscope, friends, and our actions are being examined by those who are looking to us to be an example of Jesus.

As Christians in a broken society, we must be careful of how we act, react, and speak. We are called in this passage to do everything to the glory of God. If you are going out socially with someone and you know that they are striving to see Jesus, what do you do? Do you go to see the movie that has been taunted to be full of sex, lust, and immorality, or do you choose something different? By making the decision to go, could it cause your friend to think that you can follow Jesus and still keep one foot in the world? We are called to the highest of purposes when we choose to be a Jesus follower. We must constantly question our actions not only for the benefit of our own salvation, but for the good of others as well.

Application:

Are you ever confronted with the “should I or shouldn’t I” decision? Think of a situation, real or hypothetical. Apply these principles:

• Will it give you fellowship with God?

• Will it glorify Him?

• Will it edify others?

• Will it distract others and get in their way of seeing Jesus?

How can you apply today’s passage to your friendships, colleagues, and other relationships?

Devo Plus:

To go a little deeper into today’s passage, read Leviticus 19:18, Romans 15:1, Romans 14:13b, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 and Colossians 3:17.

Prayer:

Jesus, help me to be a light in this dark world. Keep my big head out of the way of the sight line of others who are looking to You. Give me the wisdom to know when I should or shouldn’t engage in a conversation or activity. Help me to keep from stumbling while I stay out of the way of others. Give me courage to say no to the things that don’t edify You and to be strong in Your Word.