ESOCS Devotional 25 April 2025 – Avoid Double Standard
MEMORY VERSE: “You cannot drink from the Lord’s cup and also from the cup of demons…..” 1 Corinthians 10:21
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:19-33
What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
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The first step in knowing God will be to answer the call to come to Church. Some were called by birth; some came seeking for help; some came because of the pleasure of sweet music and opportunity to dance; some came because of the lavish feasts we enjoy in Church. People have different reasons for joining the fold of Christ.
The next thing after responding to the call is to accept the message of salvation and receive the power to live by the word of God (John 1:12). If we continue to live carnally while attending church, it will mean that we live in double standards and that is not what is expected of us (vv. 19-21).
The God we serve is a jealous God. He does not permit hypocrisy or allow the glory due to Him to be shared with any person or gods. We must live for His glory alone (v 22). We must be intentional about living for God. God does not force anyone to serve Him. God gave us the power of freewill. But while we can choose what to do and how we live our lives, we cannot choose the consequence of our choice of action (vv. 23-26).
It does not pay to be intentional in wrong doing. Let us allow our conscience to guide us. Avoid those things that our conscience rejects, especially when they are evil. This should be applied both in the things we do. Verse 32 of our text says, “Live in such a way as to cause no trouble either to Jews or Gentiles or to the Church of God.”
CHALLENGES
- Does your action agree with what the Bible teaches?
PRAYER POINT
- Father, may I be guided on the path of life in Christ all the days of my life, in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 1 Kings 7:1-24; 1 Corinthians 11:1-12.
ESOCS Devotional 25 April 2025
