Sat.’s Devo - Honor God

Read: Nehemiah 11:1-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16 The people who lived in Jerusalem were a combination of volunteers, those chosen by lot and those who had lived there before. Their names were recorded by the priests and scribes. Everyone else lived in the land of their family inheritance. *** These records were kept for years. The people were scattered from Beersheba to the Hinnom valley. Beersheba was where Hagar, Abraham and Isaac all called out to the Lord. Isaac’s life was spared when Abraham was about to offer him on the altar to the Lord in the land of Beersheba. It would be associated with salvation. *** The Hinnom valley was just the opposite. It was believed to be the gateway to hell. It was associated with the worship of Molech until Josiah tore the altars down. Later it was used for burning corpses of criminals and animals. *** In Corinthians, Paul told the believers to flee the worship of idols. He explained that idols and false gods are really demons and we are not to participate in offering them anything. *** The big question to them was whether to eat meat offered to idols. Paul tried to make it simple. If they knew it was meat offered to idols then for the sake of other believers who this might bother, they were not to participate. It they didn’t know it was meat offered to idols, they didn’t have to worry about not eating it. If they don’t know, then it is fine to eat it. God made all things for our benefit and he is greater than any idol. The bottom line is to do everything to the glory of God and to honor his children in the process. We can’t please everyone but we are to be a witness in everything we do. *** Lord, help us to live in freedom but also be an example to the weak of your love and grace. Give us wisdom in all our decisions.