Daily Reading Week 9
Sunday
1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-33
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The Christian ethic is deeply rooted in loving concern for others, especially believers. Paul emphasizes this throughout 1 Corinthians 8:1–10:22. He argues against the Corinthian believers’ participation in pagan temple worship meals, citing that it’s unloving and could lead weaker brothers back into idolatry. He also believes that eating these meals was akin to joining the pagans in worshipping demons. However, Paul’s concerns about food associated with false worship don’t end there. In 10:23–33, he addresses the issue of food sold in the marketplace after being sacrificed to idols. Again, love for other believers guides his response.
Paul repeats the phrase “all things are lawful” in verse 23. Remember, this slogan was used by the Corinthians to justify their libertine behavior. In chapter 6, they used it to justify a view of freedom from the Mosaic law that allowed believers to visit prostitutes. Based on this passage, it seems that the Corinthians also used the phrase to justify their consumption of meat sold in the marketplaces after it was offered in worship. This was different from eating sacrificial meals in the temple because the eating here wasn’t done in a cultic or worship setting. Instead, this was meat that had been used in worship but had then been removed from the temple and sold in the marketplace for everyday use. This fact is crucial because it influences Paul’s response to this question, which differs from his instructions on eating in pagan temples.
The Corinthians were right that the gospel set them free to eat the meat sold in the market. But they didn’t apply this truth in a loving way. They didn’t care about weaker Christians who were worried about eating meat. They just wanted to say it was okay, even though it wasn’t. They forgot that while Christians are free, we can still be selfish and hurt others. We should instead try to do what’s best for our neighbors, not just ourselves. Of course, we can’t ignore our own needs. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t help others. But we should always think about others first.
Respond
1. How do you balance your personal freedoms with your responsibility to others in your daily life?
2. In what ways can you ensure that your actions glorify God?
3. Have you ever been in a situation where your actions might have caused someone else to stumble? How did you handle it?
4. What steps can you take to be more mindful of the impact of your actions on others?
Monday
Galatians 5:13-14
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In the New Testament, the apostles often talked about the struggle between our physical selves and our spiritual selves. They encouraged us to live by the Spirit, not by our old, sinful nature.
First, let’s clarify what the word ‘flesh’ means here. It’s not just about our bodies. The Bible often uses it to describe the part of us that’s still stuck in sin, the part that’s against God. Unlike some ancient Greek philosophers, Christianity doesn’t believe that physical matter is inherently evil. Our bodies are just fallen, but the Bible says they’re still good. In fact, the physical world is so important that God is including it in His plan to save us. A new heaven and earth are coming, just as important as the spiritual world.
So, the battle between flesh and spirit in Scripture isn’t about our bodies and souls. It’s about our own desires. We have new life from the Spirit, but our old sinful nature hates this new life.
But when we trust in Christ, we’re free from sin and can live according to His rules. Our sinful nature still exists, though, until we’re glorified. It tries to stop the Holy Spirit from working in us.
Respond
1. How do you define true freedom in Christ?
2. In what ways can you serve others in love this week?
3. Which fruit of the Spirit do you see most evident in your life, and which do you need to cultivate more?
4. How can you ensure that your freedom in Christ leads to love and service rather than self-indulgence?
Tuesday
Romans 14:13-19
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The gospel brings people from all walks of life together, creating a united body in Christ. But when diverse groups come together, differences can arise that threaten to divide the community. People often make matters that are morally neutral into tests of true Christianity. We see this today, as many believers separate from other Christians over things like drinking alcohol, going to movies, smoking cigars, playing cards, and so on.
Back in the first century, Christians didn’t deal with those specific issues. But the presence of Jews and Gentiles in the church often led to disagreements about food and drink. In the church that met in Rome, some believers thought it was wrong to eat meat altogether. They probably couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t connected to pagan sacrifices. These believers looked down on Christians who ate meat freely. Those who ate meat, on the other hand, judged the vegetarians for being too strict, seeing them as less Christian. They probably ate meat openly in front of those who had scruples against it or bragged about their freedom to eat meat, thinking they had a better understanding of Christ. This explains why Paul told the Roman Christians not to put a “stumbling block” or “hindrance” in front of a brother in the Lord. Clearly, those who were more likely to stumble were the weak Christians, and the strong Christians were those who ate meat freely because they knew that meat itself isn’t unclean.
In Romans 14: 13-23 Paul emphasizes the stronger brother’s duty to the weaker one. He makes sure to ground his advice firmly, acknowledging the validity of the stronger brothers’ perspectives but warning them against using their strength to hurt others. The Apostle declares, “Nothing is unclean in itself”. He doesn’t mean that we find nothing in creation that’s inherently evil, because sins like murder and adultery are always wrong. Instead, Paul is talking about ritual purity in light of Christ. Jesus’ work showed that no creature is unclean in itself; therefore, kosher laws were just temporary measures to guide Israel towards the Messiah. But even something that’s naturally clean can become unclean to those who don’t understand. Those strong in the faith need to grasp this principle if they want to act with love towards the weaker brothers.
Respond
1. How do you handle disagreements with other Christians over non-essential matters?
2. What are some ways you can promote peace and unity within your community?
3. How can you ensure that your actions are edifying to others?
4. Are there any personal preferences you need to surrender for the sake of unity?
Wednesday
Philippians 2:3-4
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Achieving unity with others is a tough nut to crack, especially in the Christian church. Even though we’ve broken free from the power of sin, it’s still there, and we’re constantly tempted to go back to our old ways. So, we need some guidance on how to get the love and unity that Paul talks about in Philippians 2:1–2.
Luckily, the Apostle gives us some advice in verses 3–4. He tells us to avoid being jealous and boastful, and to be humble when we’re dealing with others. The jealousy and boastfulness that Paul warns us against in Philippians 2:3 are the same kind of envy and rivalry he describes in 1:15. Instead of trying to be the best or make a name for ourselves, our goal should be to love God and His people. We want to see our brothers and sisters in Christ grow and thrive.
To do this, we need to be humble and put others first. Paul isn’t saying we should ignore our own talents or abilities. He wants us to think about ourselves honestly and recognize our worth, but not to think of ourselves more than we should. We’re not better than others just because we’re talented or have a special position. Instead, we’re to put others’ needs before our own.
In the Christian community, we strive for greatness by serving others. It’s not like we can’t have our own interests, as Paul says in Philippians 2:4 that we should consider our own needs and the needs of others. But the main thing is that our focus should be on serving others. We should pay close attention to their needs and wants, and be willing to give up our own desires if it means helping someone else.
Respond
1. How can you adopt a more Christ-like attitude of humility and selflessness?
2. In what ways can you prioritize the interests of others this week?
3. How does Christ's example of humility inspire you in your daily life?
4. What steps can you take to cultivate a servant's heart?
Thursday
John 14:16-17
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In the Bible, the names given people hold a lot of meaning. For instance, at key moments in God’s plan to save us, He changes people’s names. These new names give us clues about who they are and what they’re meant to do. Take Abram, for example. In Genesis 17:5, God changes his name to Abraham. He says, “I’ll make you the father of many nations.” This makes sense because the name Abraham literally means “father of many.”
Considering the Holy Spirit in this light, it’s interesting that His name is Holy Spirit. Scripture says, “God is spirit". So, the Father and the Son, in their divine nature, are also spirit. But the Father and the Son don’t have the name Spirit like the Holy Spirit does. Why is that? Well, it seems like the Holy Spirit gets this name because of the special work He does. Even though the Father, Son, and Spirit are all involved in everything God does, the Holy Spirit is especially important in helping us become Christians. He gives us the inner change we need to trust in Christ. He also strengthens us in our spiritual journey. He works in our hearts and minds to make us holy, so it’s fitting that He’s called Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is holy because He’s committed to the truth. He’s also called the Spirit of truth. This means He helps us understand the truth and believe God’s truth with all our hearts. He’s also the Spirit of truth because He’s against the spirit of antichrist or the spirit of error. John says that error comes from within. People who lie and don’t believe in Christ are lying spirits. These can be fallen people, Satan, or both. These spirits are invisible to us, but they show themselves when people teach and believe lies about the Lord. The Holy Spirit is also invisible to us, but He shows Himself when people love and teach the truth of God’s revelation in Christ.
To know God, we need to know His truth. We can’t know Him if we don’t care about the truths in His Word. That’s why believers should love God’s truth more than anything else. The Holy Spirit must give us a love for the truth, and a hunger for the truth of God’s revelation is a sign that the Lord has done His work in us.
Respond
1. How do you experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
2. In what areas do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's help?
3. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit?
4. What steps can you take to be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading?
Friday
Matthew 5:14-16
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Our Savior calls His disciples the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” two essential substances that transform the food they’re in. Just like salt and light, the church is meant to make a big difference in the world around us.
Salt is usually cheap and produced in very small grains, but it’s valuable becomes apparent through its uses. Christians are like salt, and we should make a positive impact on society, even if we don’t have much power. The meaning of Jesus’ metaphor isn’t just about one benefit we get from salt, but about its preservative quality. The church needs to keep society from rushing towards evil. Christianity has done this in the past, leading the way in advancing human rights.
Rural communities like the one Jesus was speaking to have a real appreciation of the darkness of a moonless night. But a city in the distance can give people hope and direction. Just like walking around at night without a flashlight is dangerous, Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. We should live like those who have been changed by the Spirit so that the world will notice and praise the Father.
Being salt and light isn’t impossible. Jesus first tells us what we are and then calls us to live up to that standard. In Him, we are salt and light, so we should live out what He has made us to be. If you feel like you’re not being salt or light, remember that Jesus says you are and that you can do it with the power of the Spirit.
Respond
1. How can you be a light in your community and influence others for Christ?
2. What are some practical ways you can let your light shine this week?
3. How does living out the values of the kingdom challenge you in your daily life?
4. In what areas do you need to be more intentional about reflecting the light of Christ?
Saturday
1 Peter 2:11-12
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Many of us can remember a time when we didn’t know the Lord. Whether we were raised in a Christian home or not, some of us lived for years before we trusted Christ alone for our salvation. Just like the original audience of 1 Peter, we were “conformed to the passions of our former ignorance” and followed the “futile ways” of our ancestors.
Everything changed when we were “born again to a living hope” of salvation guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus and protected forever by the Father. This incredible hope that fills us with joy was eagerly anticipated by the prophets and makes us the true Israel of God. Now that we know Christ, we’ve become fully part of God’s people, and we must live lives that mirror His holiness.
We live holy lives first and foremost by resisting the sinful desires of our bodies. One way we can obey this command is to live honorable lives among non-believers so that they can see our good works and praise God on the day of His visitation. Today’s passage goes into more detail about how to live honorably under the rule of the government. Christians, we read, are to submit themselves to every human institution, including the emperor and those ruling under him.
Peter makes it clear that submitting to the civil authority is a sign of holiness when he says we do it “for the Lord’s sake”. We know that the rulers have been put in place by the Lord to punish evil and reward goodness. When we obey their just laws, we’re actually submitting to God because He has chosen them to rule over us.
In these verses, Peter isn’t saying that all authorities are good; he’s just saying that it’s the government’s job to do what’s right. But other passages tell us that some authorities can become so corrupt that they stop doing what they’re supposed to do. If the civil authority tells us to do something wrong, we would obey God’s rule instead by following Daniel’s example and refusing to do evil.
Respond
1. How can you live a life that reflects Christ's character to those around you?
2. What are some areas in your life where you need to abstain from sinful desires?
3. How can your actions serve as a testimony to non-believers?
4. In what ways can you be more intentional about living as God's chosen people?