March 15th, Sunday: 1 Corinthians 8-9

1Cor 8

Life is controlled by conscience.

Conscience is the judge within that commends us for doing right and condemns us for doing wrong.

If we sin against our conscience, we do terrible damage to the inner person.

Conscience is strengthened by knowledge.

Your spiritual knowledge can either a weapon to hurt people or a tool to build people.

Love knows when and how to yield to others without compromising the truth.

William Cowper wrote, 'Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much. Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.'

1 Cor 9

You know, we do not have the right to give up our freedom – well, that was purchased by Christ.

But we do have the freedom to give up our rights.

For the sake of winning the lost, Paul gave up his right to receive financial support.

And he begged the Corinthians to give up their rights for the sake of the saved.

Christian ministry is like fighting a war.

Caring for a vine, a vineyard, tending a flock, and cultivating a field – meditate on these images and see what they teach you about serving the Lord.

Ministry is stewardship, and the servant must be faithful.

Ministers of Christ are also like runners who must keep the rules or be disqualified.

A few of these verses calls for courtesy and wisdom in witness, not for compromise.

“I have become all things to all men.” does not mean Paul had no personal convictions. No, not at all.

It means he used his convictions to build bridges, not walls.

If he seemed inconsistent. It was only because people did not look deep enough.

His one overriding and great desire was to win the lost – and that governed his every decision.

It was Howard W. Newton who wrote, 'Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.'