Not Ruled by Rules, but Loved to Love

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake--the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:23-31)

Christians have been set free from the laws that governed God’s people in the Old Testament. However, as those who believe whole heartedly that Christ sacrificed Himself to redeem us—entirely because of God’s unconditional, undeserved love for us—we are compelled to respond by seeking the best for others, even when it requires us to make sacrifices. We are no longer ruled by ‘the rules’, but we love to love others in order to bring glory to the God who loves us!  

Lord God, infuse our hearts with Your gracious love for us, so that we can graciously love others and through our sacrifices bring You glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.