God is faithful

12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 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 sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing 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 partners in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners 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 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

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Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 10:12-22, focus verses 12-13, and my struggles with a habitual sin. I realized that when I had tried to rely on my own willpower to overcome these habitual sins, it was often a futile battle as I was able to abstain for a season. But then when circumstances arise and thoughts about the sinful habits arose in my mind, I found myself drawn irresastibly to fall back into the habitual sin again. 

This unhelpful pattern of abstaining/fasting and falling back into sinful habits, led me to walk many years in spiritual darkness, and endless battles with depressive/suicidal thoughts. Until I came to the realization that it was not by my own power or might but by the Grace shown to me through Jesus' one-time perfect Sacrifice, that the Temple curtain was torn into two. I now have boldness to approach God's Holy throne without fear of condemnation nor shame, and power to overcome my sinful flesh.

As the Hebrews writer summed up in Hebrews 4:15-16:  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I will end my sharing with the words from Paul Wilbur's beautiful Messianic worship, "I Enter the Holy of Holies" 

I Enter the Holy of Holies – by Paul Wilbur

I enter the Holy of Holies

I enter through the blood of the Lamb

I enter to worship You only

I enter to honor I am

Lord I worship You, I worship You,

Lord I worship You, I worship You,

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

I enter the Holy of Holies

I enter through the blood of the Lamb

I enter to worship You only

I enter to honor I am

Lord I worship You, I worship You

Lord I worship You, I worship You

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord 

Let the weight of Your glory cover us

Let the life of Your river flow

Let the truth of Your kingdom reign in us

Let the weight of Your glory

Let the weight of Your glory fall

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

Youtube: https://youtu.be/s4CRvAPzxjI?si=oTsA9E79im7l3fbF

Album: Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem (2002) – track 4

Reflection on 1 Cor 10:12-22 by Chris Tan

Rock

"for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ’’ – 1 Corinthians 10:4

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The apostle Paul begins 1 Corinthians chapter 10 with Jewish history and by pointing out how the Israelites travelled through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The Israelites received vital blessings from the Lord. He led them through the Red Sea, then daily by a pillar of cloud, by night by fire, essential food and water. Despite all of these blessings, they were unfaithful to God. In this chapter 10 we read that God was displeased with most of the Israelites due to their idol worshipping, other sins and their murmuring too. Many Israelites died due to these sins (1 Corinthians 10:1–6).

Here in chapter 10, the apostle Paul uses the Israelites’ situation as important examples to the Corinthians. The Israelites lived for many generations in Egypt where other gods were plentiful. Likewise, the Corinthians were also born and raised in a culture that worshiped false gods. Thus, idolatry was part of their every day lives. 

As new Christians, the Corinthians now knew that they should not continue to worship idols. However, this was not easy. Their daily practices brought them back to participating in idol worship again. Paul brings the Corinthians a clear warning. In today's modern life, we can and should also learn from Israel’s mistakes in the wilderness. It is crucial that we live like the faithful ones in the days of the wilderness. Don't go along with the majority, abstain from the ways of the world, abstain from idols, keep your eyes above. For our Saviour Jesus Christ will return and reward the faithful servants.

The apostle Paul points out in 1 Cor. 10:4 that Christ was Israel’s spiritual Rock during their wilderness wanderings: “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”  Our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all God’s promises, to be our rock and fortress. As we read in Psalm 18:2: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge".  Psalm 18 is an example of many Messianic psalms, meaning these psalms prophesizes about Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus is our true shelter and dwelling place. He is our Saviour! Through His life, death, and resurrection. He died for our sins, once and for all (Romans 6:10). He is our place of safety. Our refuge. Our only Rock and Cornerstone.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 by Hanne

Gospel

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in it - 1 Corinthians 9:23

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Our life is a mission and so our daily activities are about carrying out the mission entrusted to us by God. Of course, this life is temporary. When we were young, time passed so quickly. Before we realized, it's time for us to take responsibility for our own lives and gradually, we become the primary key responsible for the lives of those closest to us, such as our parents, siblings and so on. 

Amidst the busyness of this world, we sometimes get lost in our daily activities, sometimes we don’t even realize that we are on His mission. Sometimes our missions challenged by unexpected calamities. These events serves to mature our faith and trust, as happened to the prophet Job. Do we realize that everything we do and undertake is an effort to fulfill God's will?

All the good deeds, started from the actions and teachings of Jesus as proclaimed in the Gospel.  Jesus' mission is so that everyone can return to the Father in a holy state so that we can join the inhabitants of the kingdom of heaven someday.  In fact, what God wants is our proving of the teachings of the Gospel, not just memorizing it verses but the most important thing is to reflect and implement, to put in action, these words in our daily lives.  May God bless our intentions.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 9: 15-27  by Sr Yanti Purnawati SFSC

Licentia vestra | Your liberty

Not all have this knowledge - 1 Corinthians 8:7.

Learning is a lifelong journey. We begin at home, continue through schools and universities, read countless books and articles, and listen to wise teachers. As Christians, we also draw knowledge from the Holy Scriptures. Yet sometimes we fear we don't truly understand anything at all.

The essential knowledge we need is Jesus Christ himself. The Church Fathers—saints like Ambrose and Athanasius—dedicated their entire lives to contemplating the divine Word, the Son of God. Their writings reveal to us the one who was both God and man. Nearly every paragraph in their works shows us the person of the beloved Son of God the Father.

In our own lives today, do we possess this same knowledge? Do we focus on Jesus Christ with our whole heart and mind? Certainly, we have many responsibilities: family, work, providing food and shelter, and countless other concerns. Many people naturally concentrate on these matters—what we might call earthly concerns. The problem arises when we fail to find genuine time to think, speak, and read about the Son of God, even though we profess that he is the most important person in our lives.

When others observe you and your knowledge—that is, your relationship with Jesus Christ—what do they say about you as a Christian? Perhaps it's difficult for others to recognize the Son of God in your life because of how you behave. Perhaps you pay more attention to food than to Scripture. You might be an expert in your professional field, but are you growing in theological understanding?

Every Christian is called to possess this knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through your knowledge and witness, those who are weak in faith can be brought to sanctification and salvation. The brothers and sisters for whom Christ died are looking for your testimony of life.

Please don't think of yourself merely as a sinner—you are also God's adopted child. Even when you make mistakes in daily life, you can always return to Jesus through the Holy Scriptures. You can listen to his voice as the Divine Word teaches you how to worship the Lord. Open the Bible and feed your soul with true words of wisdom.

Then you will become not only a student, but also a teacher for those who lack this knowledge of Christ. In this way, you fulfill your calling to share the greatest knowledge of all—the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 by Józef Trzebuniak

(Listen to podcast here)

Scire aliquid | Necessary knowledge

Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge - 1 Corinthians 8:2

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 Food Offered to Idols

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him. 4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

 

Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6, focus verse 2, and my conversion story. I realized that when I had first accepted Christ as my personal LORD and Saviour, I became very legalistic in my faith. This included not holding joss sticks whenever my family gathered to pray in front of my late father's urn. This unknowingly caused much heartache to my widowed mom, who witnessed her only son, ie moi, not honoring the memory of my late father. 

After I became Catholic, I checked with my God pa about this struggle which I faced annually during my father's death anniversary. My God pa assured me that so long as I prayed to the Heavenly Father, that I was only holding the joss sticks to honor the memory of my late earthly father, and not worshipping him as an idol or god. It was ok to hold joss sticks as a Catholic to honor my late father, and out of love for my bereaved mom. I felt as if a heavy stone was lifted from my shoulders when I asked my mom for a lit joss-stick. My brother-in-law asked if I was Catholic, as he had observed that my mom had been sad all those years when I insisted on not holding joss stick at my dad's death anniversary but didn't dare to upset me. He observed that her face lightened up when I asked her to pass me a joss stick. 

I'll close my short sharing with this beautiful worship song about true worship titled, "Nothing Else + The Heart of Worship" 

Nothing Else + The Heart of Worship – Kari Jobe | Take 2 

Chorus 

I'm caught up in Your presence 

I just want to sit here at Your feet 

I'm caught up in this holy moment 

I never wanna leave 

Oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, 

You don't owe me anything 

More than anything that You can do 

I just want You 

Verse 

I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions 

I'm sorry when I just sang another song 

Take me back to where we started 

I open up my heart to You 

Verse 2 

I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda 

I'm sorry when I forgot that You're enough

Take me back to where we started 

I open up my heart to You 

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge x8 

I just want You 

Nothing else, nothing else 

Nothing else will do 

Bridge 2 

When the music fades 

All is stripped away

And I simply come 

Longing just to bring 

Something that's of worth 

That will bless Your heart 

I'll bring You more than a song 

For a song in itself 

Is not what You have required 

You search much deeper within 

Through the ways things appear 

You're looking into my heart

 

Bridge 3 

I'm coming back to the heart of worship 

And it's all about You 

It's all about You, Jesus 

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it 

When it's all about You 

It's all about You, Jesus 

Ending 

I just want You 

Nothing else, nothing else 

Nothing else will do 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/llJ5QVT_mto?si=TbISTOmGA9tCq9aO 

Source: Worship Together | Take 2

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6 by Chris Tan