GOD Morning! August 29, Free to Be Me

GOD Morning! August 29

Free to Be Me

1 Corinthians 10:21-24, 33 AMP

¹⁹ What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is [intrinsically changed by the fact and amounts to] anything or that an idol itself is a [living] thing?

²⁰ No, I am suggesting that what the pagans sacrifice they offer [in effect] to demons (to evil spiritual powers) and not to God [at all]. I do not want you to fellowship and be partners with diabolical spirits [by eating at their feasts].

²¹ You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table.

Simply put, we can’t have it both ways. God wants our all. Period. He is disgusted by half hearted service to Him.

²² Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that we should defy Him]?

Uh, no. I would strongly suggest to anyone, do not provoke the Lord to anger and indignation. You do NOT want to do that. He is a great and terrible God.

“And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: “ Nehemiah 1:5 King James

Continuing…

²³ All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

I am free to do anything I desire to do. But at the end of the day, how do I feel?

I am a lover of bumming around, I’m not gonna lie. When I get home from work, my first choice is collapsing on the couch. And, you guessed it, watching a Hallmark movie.

But I can say honestly that afterwards, rarely am I motivated or inspired.

But when I choose to do something that is constructive or profitible, I am exhausted, happy, at peace in my soul, or looking forward to the next day as I drift off to sleep. Or all of the above.

So when I choose the harder thing, I bless God, I bless others, and ultimately, I bless myself.

²⁴ Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].

There is seriously no joy like blessing others. Seriously. I have found this out for myself. In my past life, I was amazingly selfish. And depressed. A lot. When I started giving to others, even sometimes right in the middle of my depression, my world opened up and the fog lifted.

Let’s skip to verse 33.

³³ Just as I myself strive to please [to accommodate myself to the opinions, desires, and interests of others, adapting myself to] all men in everything I do, not aiming at or considering my own profit and advantage, but that of the many in order that they may be saved.

When I give of myself without concern for myself, wow, it is incredibly rewarding. The joy comes right back to me!!! Over and over.

“Thank You Jesus! Thank You for loving me in the middle of my selfishness. And drawing me into a delightful relationship with You. You never gave up on me, and You never give up on me, Jesus. How I love You. You are the Lover of my soul. My Bright Morning Star. My Redeemer. My Savior. Bless Your Mighty Name, Oh Great and Terrible God. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”