This Sunday we come to the final passage in the larger section of 1 Corinthians 8-10. Three statements govern all that Paul’s been saying. “Love builds up.” (8:1) “I do it all for the sake of the gospel.” (9:23) And in this final section: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (10:31)

Not only does humble, rights-relinquishing love build others up and remove obstacles that stand in the way of the life-giving gospel. It also glorifies God. It makes Him look good. Not because He needs our help to look good. We can never make God look better than He is. But our lives can point away from ourselves to God whose great love for us has set us free to love others just as we have been loved.

That’s what Jesus was talking about in the Sermon on the Mount (which we’ve been meditating on this month in our Take Up Your Sword reading plan) when He said:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

We gather each Sunday to give glory to our Father in heaven with our songs and prayers and praises and hear his word so that we might scatter to give Him glory in whatever we do, with whomever we’re with.

Erik Thoennes will be preaching 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 this Sunday and Kenny Clark will be leading our time of sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And let’s pray for ourselves and one another Moses’ prayer, “‘Please show us your glory (Exodus 33:18)’ so that we might then show others Your glory.”

See you Sunday, Grace. Let’s come hungry!

 

SONG LINK OF THE WEEK

King of Love by Steven Curtis Chapman

With the hands that formed the world You washed our feet
Kneeling down You laid aside Your majesty
And You said for us to go and do the same
So we serve for the glory of our King