Day 1,055: 1 Corinthians 10- Gospel Glory: Remove The Idols

​For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food,4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Do All to the Glory of God
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
 
Meditation
Idolatry begins as simple affection, looking to a created thing for identity, security, strength, status, or power. Quickly idols overpower our hearts and our love for them begin to disorder our lives. The gospel of Jesus Christ frees us to grow in consciousness, self-awareness to identify the idols of our heart, as it grows a greater affection for Jesus Christ. The gospel flourishes and idols are removed.
 
Paul commands the Corinthian church to flee from idolatry (14). Looking backwards, Paul offers strength through what we learn from Old Testament Israel (1-12). The culmination of the lesson is the character of God: God is faithful. God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear and God will always provide a means of escape (13).
 
Paul deepens gospel strength through celebrating present participation we have with Christ through the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (14-22). Our fellowship with Christ and His body is fuel to uproot idolatry, nourishing our hearts with grace and tilling the ground of our souls to grow glory for God from our lives.
 
When the gospel transforms our life and loves, glory for Jesus becomes our primary purpose (31). Other things are permissible, but not everything beneficial towards this end (23-30). The love of Jesus transforms our lives so that love for Jesus guides our lives, so whatever we do we do for His glory. This greater affection, love for Jesus and a hunger for His glory, is our primary tool to remove the idols of our hearts that compete for our loves.
 
Richly Dwelling
-How do you grade yourself on Paul’s commands for Christians to “flee from idolatry” and “do everything for the glory of God?”
 
-If you are like me, you have seasons where this goes well and seasons where it does not. Do you identify with the Corinthians who saw all things as permissible and went for it?
 
-Jesus lived the perfect life we can never live. Jesus died the death we deserve. Jesus rose from the grave so that we might walk in a newness of life. How does the finished work of Jesus free you to examine your heart for idols and fuel you to do all things for His glory?
 
Key Verse
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.