October 30, 2023
Consider Your Neighbor
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1.
Christ has given us tremendous freedom that we might follow Him wholeheartedly. For, if we are constantly worried about following a rule to make ourselves acceptable to God, we have nullified the power of grace. God wants us to be people who, because of the grace and love they have received, will follow Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, which means we must learn how to live righteously even in situations where there is no clear path of obedience.
Paul’s advice to the Corinthian believers gives us a clear principle to consider as we seek to live out our freedom: “[W]hatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). In first-century Corinth, what you ate and drank communicated quite a bit to the watching world. Unbelievers would have expected Christians to abstain from eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Similarly, new converts might be confused by a Christian brother’s freedom to eat such meat (see 8:9-13).
In both cases, the best thing for a believer to do is put down the fork. Paul wants us to be free to exercise our freedom but especially free to not exercise that freedom. We should be able to sacrifice our own desire if it means we will uplift our fellow believer and bring God glory. If we can remember, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others,” we will honor God and love our neighbor in every area of our lives.
Prayer: Father, thank You that I am free to live righteously before You. Help me to use my freedom to lift up my brothers and sisters in Christ. May the way I live reflect Your supremacy in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World, Part 14: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW
Want more devotionals from Leading The Way? Sign up for MY Devotional and have a devotional delivered directly to your inbox daily!
Leading The Way’s daily MY Devotional is also available as a podcast—listen today on your favorite podcast platform!
PARTNER WITH US
We are Leading The Way for people living in spiritual darkness, at home and around the world, to discover the light of Christ as we passionately proclaim uncompromising Truth. Visit us today at LeadingTheWay.org.
Listen to Dr. Michael Youssef on today's broadcast of Leading The Way at OnePlace.com.
Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
