“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.  Give no offense either to
Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all
things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may
be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33).

Although the truth of eternity
has been revealed to you by grace, this gains you nothing of itself. The Lord
who knows has called you. Do not think you’re either superior or inferior, but
only as one called by the Lord. Do not seek for your sake, for all you need is
already provided, but for the sake of others, for the Father desires that none
should perish and You have your part in sharing the truth with others.

Lord, help me to see that I am in the midst of the drama of this age. I can neither hide from what is around me, nor excuse myself from it that I might not be bothered. In Your providence, lead me to live according to Your will that I may profit by the goodness of grace which You have freely given. Help me to please others for Your sake alone that I may fulfill Your will on earth, as it shall be done in heaven.

Come, Holy Spirit, and lead me in
the way I need to go this day. Help me to spend less time trying to figure
things out and more time doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Guide me
according to Your will to be pliable in Your hands and resilient in action. Lead
me as You know I need to be led that I would willingly do all I am able for the
sake of Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

“I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my
freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am
I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?” (1 Corinthians 10:29-30).

There is freedom in Christ that
this world constantly tries to convince us is not there. We do what we do for
the sake of Christ who did all that was needed for our sake. Do not fall back
into trying to please others, yet always remain sensitive to the other’s need. For
their sake do these things knowing that Christ for your sake did all that was
needed that you might be with Him forever.

Lord, teach me these things that I will not once again make a law where
there is freedom. Let only the law of Your love be that which guides me in all
things. Help me to grow in wisdom that I may more fully understand these things
knowing that You have already accomplished salvation for all those who believe.
Guide me to live by the wisdom You give that I may live into the life to which
You call me.

Lord Jesus, without Your grace
nothing good is possible. In Your grace, You have freed me to become whom You
are creating me to be. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of wisdom that I may walk
boldly, yet sensitively, caring for others as You lead me to care. Through all
things help me to understand the difference and do things in freedom and not
under compulsion for Your sake. Amen.

“If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything
that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if
anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the
sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake” (1 Corinthians
10:27-28).

What we are called to do is for
the sake of others. Just as Christ gave Himself for all, so we are to give up
things for the sake of the other. This takes the focus off of us and places it
on the other. Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” Therefore, go and do likewise,
learning to love your neighbor as yourself. Learn to live freely, but always
with the Law and the Gospel in your heart.

Lord, I often worry about what others will think. I feel like a fish in an aquarium. Teach me to live my life with You as my focus. Guide me to see that those around me are looking, but that this is not the priority. That they see You in me, this is what matters for their sake and not mine. Help me to learn how to live this new life You have given me that I may do what is pleasing in Your sight.

Come Holy Spirit and continue to grow in me the image of Christ. Help me through all of those difficult situations where I am not sure what to do to see that my salvation is already accomplished and that through all things You are forming me into what I shall be. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always walk according to where You lead. Amen

“Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions
for conscience’ sake; for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains” (1
Corinthians 10:23-24).

There is a freedom in the Lord. It
is not freedom to do as you please, but freedom from the constant worry of
whether or not this or that will separate you from the Lord. You are saved by
grace. Period. Live then in a manner pleasing to the Lord by focusing on loving
God and your neighbor. Be guided by the Holy Spirit and He will set the
appropriate boundaries.

Lord, help me learn this new freedom You give me that I would live into
the life to which you have called me. All around me are those who keep placing
boundaries that are not Your boundaries. Guide me in the way of truth that I
would live according to Your boundaries and not man-made boundaries. Lead me in
the truth of the Gospel that I would live according to Your will.

Jesus, You said that if You made
us free we would be free indeed. Lead me in this freedom not to be free for all
things, but free to do the right things for the sake of the Gospel. Guide me in
the Father’s will to be discerning, seeing the difference which is being spoken
of here. Guide me to be bold in faith and strong in conviction that I may now
and always abide in the truth You have revealed. Amen.

“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things
are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of
his neighbor” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

We live in a world that encourages
us to go for all we can gain. We are encouraged to think of ourselves first. There
are times, but not all times, when we should think of these things. But we are
a part of the Lord’s creation and what does it mean to be a part of His
kingdom? Think on these things and act in accordance with His purposes. Seek
and do what is good for the neighbor.

Lord, I know well the pollution of my own mind. I know that I seek after things for myself.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I would seek after those things which are in Your plan and purpose rather than just those of this world. Lead me in the way of life that I would think of others too and not only of myself. Help me to know the freedom I have in You that I would live into Your will.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed. You know the struggle we have with sin and the temptations that get in the way of us living according to the Father’s will. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would now and always abide in the truth of what You have done and what You are doing. Guide me in grace to live according to Your never-changing Word that I may always abide in You and You in me. Amen.

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot
partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the
Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?” (1 Corinthians 10:21-22).

Joshua said it in the Old
Testament and its message is true today. Choose whom you will serve. We were
created to serve and we will serve somebody. So choose whom you will serve and
in all things, as Paul will tell the Colossians, do so as serving the Lord. The
Lord is your strength and with His leading, He will take you where you need to
be. Be guided by the Lord and no one else.

Lord, teach me all that I need to know. Give me eyes to see that I
would not be led astray by the whims of this world. Help me now and always to
see that only in You is there the hope of eternity. Lead me, O Lord, that I may
remain on the narrow way. Guide me that I may stay in step with You. Help me to
overcome those things that get in the way of following You in and through all
things that I may learn to be faithful.

Lord Jesus, You know the
obstacles that come along to lead us astray. Guide me, O Lord, in my wandering
so that You need not go off to find me. Help me have a clear mind and sharp wit,
that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed and walk humbly with You
all the days of my life. Amen

“What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons” (1 Corinthians 10:19-20).

Seeing things as they are is a
hard thing to do in our world because of the pollution with which we have all
been afflicted.  A thing is a thing, but
we are in a war against principalities. 
Come then and be led by the goodness of the Lord knowing that He who
formed you will guide you in all of your ways and keep you from harm.  Your part is to be aware and not become
entangled in such things.

Lord, grant that I may have discernment and see more clearly the things
I need to see.  Guide me according to
Your goodness that I would not even inadvertently fall prey to the games of the
wicked one.  Keep me close to you knowing
that in You is real and true life and that You offer to share this life with
those who come to You.  Guide me, Lord,
in the way You know I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You have asked me to
come follow You.  You have taught us to
not be led in the way of temptation. 
Guide me, Lord, in the way of goodness that I would walk with You
always.  Keep me from those things which
will harm me.  Help me be whom You are
shaping.  In and through all things,
grant me eyes to see that I would not be led astray by demons into trivial
pursuits.  Amen.

“Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all
partake of the one bread.  Look at the
nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?” (1
Corinthians 10:17-18)

The Lord has come that all who
are in Him might be one even as the Lord is One.  There is great mystery in all the Lord is
doing, for He who is eternal has come into our temporal world that we might
follow Him into eternity.  This faith is
not to be figured out, but lived.  Grow
in wisdom and follow the Lord all the days of this life, being prepared to be
with Him forever in the world to come.

Lord, in this age of reason rather than faith I want to figure things
out.  There are some things that cannot
be figured out because of the temporal reality in which I live.  Lead me to live by faith not as one who is
blind, but as one who sees Your eternal light shining in the darkness of this
world and by it sees all else.  Guide me,
Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in the light of Your
presence.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead
the way for as many as would follow You out of the darkness of this age and into
the light of the glory of the Father which You have revealed.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may
learn to humbly abide in the grace You have given knowing that in You alone is
the hope for all people.  Lead me in the
way of salvation that I would walk with You now and always.  Amen.

“I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.  Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a
sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in
the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:15-16)

It does not matter what the
world thinks of you, but of who you are in Christ.  You have been called wise because of the call
you have in Christ.  Come then as one who
is wise and realize the gift you have been given.  Do not live as one who seeks the things of
the world, but as one who lives in the truth of Christ.  Feed your soul with the truth of His Word and
live into the life to which you have been called.

Lord, create in me a heart that seeks after the eternal truth You have
given.  Let me not be led astray by the
illusory glowing images of this age. 
Keep my mind clear that it would not fog over with the illusions, but
see the light of truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me along the narrow path that I may
walk humbly in Your sight and live according to Your goodness.

Come Holy Spirit and sift my
heart that the things which hinder my walking humbly in Your guidance may be
set aside.  Wise or not wise, let me not
be concerned with what others think, but with continuing to run the race with
perseverance.  Lead me, O Lord, that I
may follow, with You always being the One who guides me day in and day
out.  Let me walk fully in Your grace and
according to Your call.  Amen.                                                  

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God
is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be
able to endure it.  Therefore, my
beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:13-14).

Have you ever asked why this
constant tug-of-war?  Has not the Lord
promised that He will grow in you the image of Christ?  Do you not yet see that the Lord is working
all things together for good for those who love Him?  Do not be tossed about by the thinking of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Flee from that which tempts you and walk in
the counsel of the Lord.

Lord, help me to see that the war of this world is over.  Guide me in the way of true life that I would
not place myself in a position to be constantly tempted.  Help me to walk humbly with You knowing that
only by Your grace can I not be thrown about by the constant pressures of this
world.  You, Lord, have provided the way
of living that all who walk with You may walk in peace.

Lord Jesus, You know all that we
face and You have provided all that is needed. 
Teach me to flee from those things which entice that I may not be tossed
about by this world.  You have led the
way to worship the Father in spirit and truth. 
Continue to teach me what this means that I may always come into the
Father’s presence and abide with You and the Holy Spirit, doing what is
pleasing in His sight. Amen.