Day 2

Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 8:1–3

God ensured that Paul told the Christians in Corinth (and us) that love surpasses knowledge. We read in 1 Corinthians 8:1–3, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.” God had Paul answer by stating that everyone had knowledge about the issue of meat sacrificed to idols. However, God had Paul point out that knowledge can make people feel boastful whereas love is what strengthens the body of Christ. There must have been some boastful people in the church in Corinth because God had Paul say that anyone who claimed to have all the answers didn’t really know much at all. God reminds us in Romans 12:3, “…not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Therefore, no one should ever think they are better than they truly are, for even the faith each person possesses is a gift from God. But then, we also see in verse 3 that God takes note of His children who love Him and obey Him. God reminds us of this in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” We must desire God above all else.

Challenge & Application

Why is it that knowledge often puffs people up whereas love encourages and edifies? How are you guarding against pride and learning to love God and others first and foremost?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

Swipe to Discover More

Day 1

God used Paul to answer many questions that the Christians in Corinth had about several different issues. God had already used Paul to address questions about marriage and remaining single. As we read 1 Corinthians 8, we see how God used Paul to answer the question about eating meat sacrificed to idols. In Corinth, during the time of Paul, ma...

Read

Day 2

God ensured that Paul told the Christians in Corinth (and us) that love surpasses knowledge. We read in 1 Corinthians 8:1–3, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if...

Read

Day 3

We continue our journey as God used Paul to write His letter to the Christians in Corinth and to us today. As God led Paul to write, we read in 1 Corinthians 8:4, “Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.” God had Paul get righ...

Read

Day 4

God continued to have Paul deal with the issue of so-called gods and idols since the Christians in Corinth were concerned about eating meat that had been sacrificed to those so-called gods and idols. We read in 1 Corinthians 8:5–6, “For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lord...

Read

Day 5

God used Paul to teach the Christians in Corinth about false gods and idols and whether they should or should not eat meat that had been sacrificed to those so-called gods and idols. As God had Paul write, we read in 1 Corinthians 8:7, “However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if i...

Read

Day 6

God never wants us to use the freedom we have in Christ to cause a new Christian or an immature Christian to stumble. This is what God had Paul write in 1 Corinthians 8:9: “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” As Christians, we must continually be mindful of the power God has given u...

Read

Day 7

God had Paul unpack the reason for all Christians to use caution in all of life’s choices. God led Paul to write this in 1 Corinthians 8:10–13, “For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he wh...

Read