1 Corinthians 8:7-13 Eating in an Idol’s Temple
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 21, 2020 1 Corinthians 8:7-13
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
(Understanding the Text) This is the heart of Paul’s argument. Some people cannot separate the meat from the worship, so if they follow the example of the one who says that it is okay and eat it, they will be corrupting their own worship of God. They will be worshipping an idol. Thus, just because I can do something with no ill effect does not mean that someone else can do the same thing without hurting their Christian walk. If I encourage them to do an action that will hurt their relationship with Jesus, I am acting out of selfishness rather than love.
“if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple” This passage gives me insight into where the meat was eaten. It was not just bought at the market and taken home and prepared. It was actually eaten within the temple precincts where people worshiped the false god. Thus, the surroundings were such to bring back certain feelings in those who had formerly come to such temples and sincerely worshipped the false gods before rejecting them for Jesus.
(Revelation of God) Paul’s argument is that there is only one God. Everything else is false. Our God is unique in the universe. He is our Creator and the One who balances all the forces of the planets. It is my God who has all power and any power possessed by anyone else whether angel, demon, or human comes from God originally. Thus, He is the source of all power. Paul knew that the false gods being worshipped in the pagan temples were not gods at all because Paul knew his own God so well, but for a new believer, there might be difficulties in understanding that Yahweh was the only God. It is difficult to give up beliefs and superstitions that one has been raised with, especially if there had been some kind of demonic power used to reinforce belief in the idol. Paul understood this and dealt with converted pagans with kindness and understanding.
(Application) We all have weaknesses. My weakness is stories. The stories in movies and books affect me profoundly. Thus, I have to be careful which stories I allow to enter my mind. Other people are not as affected by story and can watch questionable movies with only limited effects on their psyche. I don’t have a weakness for music. I can listen to music of all kinds, and it will not affect me that much. Yes, I listen to it all the time, and I enjoy it a lot, but it does not speak to my imagination to take me away from God like stories can. I need to be aware that just because I don’t have a weakness in an area does not negate someone else’s weakness in that area.
(Prayer) Strengthen me in my weakness and give me kindness and understanding to treat others’ weaknesses with compassion. Help me to know You so well that any false beliefs and superstitions that I have received from my culture melt away before the truth of who You are.