“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a
stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge,
dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be
strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?” (1 Corinthians 8:9-10)

The summation of the law which Jesus gave rules in the freedom we have in Christ. Love your neighbor such that though you know such things do not matter, you are sensitive to them who think these things do matter. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but of love. One who loves the other does what they may for the sake of the other. It is upon this that God builds His kingdom.

Lord, grant that I would become discerning and see that in the truth
You have already revealed I have both freedom and obligations. Teach me to be
sensitive to my neighbor, loving them enough to be constrained with my freedom
for their sake. Grant wisdom to not live by some newly formed law, but by love
that I may now and always live in Your grace and will.

Lord Jesus, in the contrasts of the life You lived, help me to see more clearly the balance You demonstrated. You were always aware that the disciples were watching and You led them that in time and with Your Spirit they matured and became Your witnesses. Help me to do the same and live life in freedom, but with sensitivity to my neighbor that I may also be Your witness. Amen.

“However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to
the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their
conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are
neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (1 Corinthians
8:7-8).

It is not what we do on the
outside that means anything. Some stumble because their piety seems more
important than what is driving that piety. Do not be driven by what you think
or your actions, but by the One who has created you. Yes, when you do good this
is right, but doing right is from what has happened because of grace. Live in
the freedom the Lord gives in faith.

Lord, there is a time and place to think and do, but help me see that no
matter what I do it is You alone who enables me to do good. Help me to mature
so that I am not caught up in the elemental things without realizing that it
must be You above all things. Lead me in faith to come to that place where I
look to You as the source of all that I am. Guide me in this upward call now
and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the
example of the godly life. Lead me to be faithful knowing that faith itself is
a gift You give. Guide me according to Your goodness to know that in You alone
is the hope that I may not become caught up in some kind of works-righteousness
way of living. You have freed me by grace to be forever Yours. Lead me in this
call You have given me. Amen.

“For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as
indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the
Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him” (1 Corinthians
8:5-6).

Even though the world offers all
kinds of ideas and ideals, focus upon the True and One God who is the Creator
of all. Do not worry about all the offers out there. Come to the Lord and let
Him guide you through life amidst the myriad thoughts that float around. It is
not to figure out, but to taste and see that the Lord alone is good and
gracious. All things exist through Him.

Lord, I am easily distracted and chase this way and that. Help me O
Lord to see that in You alone is the hope of all ages. Guide me through the
noise of this world to see that only in You do I find the hope and salvation
that is true for all times and in all places. Lead me now and always in the way
of truth that I would know that You are the One through whom and in whom are
all things.

Lead me Lord Jesus in the way of
truth. You have come to reveal truth and lead those who follow in the way
established before the foundation of the world was laid. Guide me, O Lord, in
that way You know I need to go that I may live as one who has faith. Help me
through the struggles and save me from this world of insanity. Guide me in the
way of true faith that I may abide in You. Amen.

“But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the
eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an
idol in the world, and that there is no God but one” (1 Corinthians 8:3-4).

Once one knows in faith that God
is God, everything else is known as a lie. In our politically correct world we
often forget to think in the simplest of terms. God is God and there is no
other. Therefore, the things people do that are false mean nothing. There is no
jinx, curse, or karma, only God and what He has created. Know that the Lord has
made His revelation and called You into His presence.

Lord, I listen to all of the noise of this world. Then I see those who
say they have faith and then act abominably and think, “Can this be the faith?”
Help me to hear amidst all the noise the simple truth that You are Lord and
there is no other. It is not as if I were choosing what to believe, but instead
living in the knowledge of what is true. Help me, Lord, to see, hear and
believe.

Lord Jesus, You came to reveal
the truth of the ages. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and
always abide humbly in the truth of the revelation You have given. Let me see
through the cacophony of things in this world the simple truth that You alone
hold all power and authority. Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth and help me
now and always to follow You who has give the words of eternal life. Amen.  

“Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that
he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know”(1 Corinthians
8:1-2).

The gift of salvation is never given
to lift us up in arrogance. Some see themselves as superior because of the gift
of salvation. This is the old Adam. Jesus comes to us humbly, having emptied
Himself of His heavenly glory to walk as an ordinary man in our midst. We are
to follow the example of Jesus and walk humbly as He did. If you know
something, simply share it with others as Christ has shared it with you.

Lord, it is hard to be humble. Let me neither walk in pride, nor seek
to walk with a false humility. Lead me to simply walk each day as You give it,
sharing where You would have me share the knowledge You have given me. As I am
free, help me see that others are free to believe what they do. Give me a
willing heart that shares, but does not insist. Teach me this humility in all
things: for Salvation is of the Lord,

Lord Jesus, I am unable to
imagine how You, so high, came so low for our sakes. Lead me, O Lord, in the
way of truth that I would become unconcerned with where You place me. I am
Yours and pray that this truth is enough – and more than enough. Remove pride
from my heart that I may simply learn to live in the love You have for all
people and share that love with all whom I meet. Amen.

“So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does
well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.  A wife is bound as long as her husband lives;
but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only
in the Lord. But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I
think that I also have the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 7:38-40).

What is the better portion for
you to do? We do have choices and sometimes they are a matter of good and
better. Seek for excellence. Do not just settle for good enough, though it be a
fine choice. You are called to come out of yourself and forward toward and into
the Lord. Toward this goal, live urgently, for each day brings you closer to
the prize. Know that He who is in You has already overcome all obstacles.

Lord, in this world, we can be tempted to settle for good enough, but
there are those few who take the extra step toward what is exceptional. Help me
to not live mechanically, but willingly, doing all I can and to the best of my
ability. Stretch me Lord in the way I can and need to be stretched that I would
live into a life that is all You know it can be, doing all You know I can do.

Lord Jesus, none of this is about
grace, for Your grace alone saves me. This is about learning to become like You
in all things. Guide me along this path that I would daily increase in Your
likeness. Help me now and always to see that only in and through You am I able
to exercise these gifts which You have given. Help me always that I may grow
and be like You and become excellent in the gifts You have given me. Amen.

“But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin
daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes,
he does not sin; let her marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, being
under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this
in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well” (1
Corinthians 7:36-37).

Again, this is a thought stream
and not a law. Think through what you are doing in the context of where you
are. Are you doing what you are doing from evil in the heart, or are you
seeking what is pleasing to the Lord? Do pay attention to what you are thinking
and why. Seek what is good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord, for He will
guide you in all of your ways that you may become like Christ.

Lord, I need to learn this amidst all of the garbage the world throws
my way. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in
the truth You have revealed once for all. Guide me, O Lord, that I may have my
heart examined by Your Spirit and be led not by what is evil in my heart, but
by Your Spirit which leads me in the way of goodness. Help me, Lord, through
Your Spirit.

Lord Jesus, You have come to
rescue us from the evil that is in our heart. You know first hand the
difficulties that reign in us. You know this world and its multitude of ideas
that pummel us each day. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go that
I may learn to follow You in all of the ways you have established. May I now
and always abide in the truth You have revealed. Amen.

“And his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the
virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in
body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the
world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your own benefit; not to
put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure
undistracted devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:34-35).

The community in Corinth was
amidst upheaval because of the impropriety of one of its members. Paul’s
direction here is not a law, but a way of thinking through these things. He is telling
us to keep our eyes upon the prize. The way to the prize is the upward call of
Jesus. Be led to become like Christ in whatever way that will take you and let
nothing get in the way.

Lord, You know all things and You know all that is needed. Grant us eyes
to see and ears to hear all that is right and true. No matter to what You call
me, help me to go there. Grant that I would see through the distractions to
focus upon all that is right and good. You have come for our benefit. You have
come that we might live into the purpose for why we exist. Be the One who
guides and let it be no one and nothing else.                                

 Lord Jesus, You know the struggles of this world. You know how hard it is to see through all of the distractions that come each day. Guide me this day, Lord Jesus, that I would see clearly as I walk each step of faith. Help me now and always to see that in You alone is the hope of all. In and through all circumstances, help me to learn how to be faithful that I would live according to the Father’s will. Amen.

“But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is
concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who
is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his
wife” (1 Corinthians 7:32-33).

We get to the heart of what Paul
has been saying. There is a principle here. We have been created to care. Where
that care is directed is important. We often find that we are driven to care
about the things of this world. When that care interferes with the direction of
our faith, this is a problem. We were created to love and the direction of our love
will guide us. Direct your life toward the Lord.

Lord, I do not know what it means to love you above all things. Lead me,
O Lord, to be guided by You in and through all things. Help me to see that only
in You will I find meaning for why I exist. Guide me to live in the right
direction that I may now and always walk according to Your purposes. Help me
see through those things that seek to direct my focus in other directions.

Lord Jesus, You continuously
pointed us upward. Lead me to see that only in You will I find completion. Guide
me according to Your goodness to know that in You alone will I be able to walk
the narrow path of salvation. Lead me out of myself to see that through You is
the only way to find what is missing that I may not wander through this life
aimlessly. Guide me, Lord Jesus. Amen.

“And those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who
rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did
not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use
of it; for the form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:30-31).

The point continues that your
momentary circumstances will change. 
What you have will eventually pass from you to another.  What you do not have remains to be seen.  Who you are in the Lord is eternal and the
hope toward which we are called.  This
age will pass away, but you are called by the grace of the One who is
eternal.  For what will you live and to
what will you strive?

Lord, there are many ideas in the world.  People are constantly vying to persuade me
this way or that.  Help me I pray to see
through the lies and delusions to see clearly what it true.  In truth, lift me up to become as one who
seeks Your face and follows in Your example. 
Teach me how to walk in this world of confused and mixed messages to be
one who walks with You in the words of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, lead
me in truth that I may be guided by Your clear and ever-present word.  Help me in moments of confusion to see and
hear clearly.  Help me to learn what it
means to abide in You.  Help me to never
reject the promise of Your abiding in me. 
Through all things, keep me on the narrow path that I may walk humbly
before the Father and do what is pleasing in His sight.  Amen.