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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
July 20
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday we saw Paul build a logical argument which stated that when you participate in certain religious activities, specifically meals, you are putting your stamp of approval on the message which that religion teaches. When a believer participates in the Lord's Supper he is identifying with Christ. When a Jew ate of the meat that had been sacrificed in the Temple in accordance with Old Testament law, he was identifying with Jehovah. And, when someone participated in a religious feast that was held in a pagan temple and was dedicated to the pagan god, he was identifying with that demon. He concluded verse 20 by writing,
"I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils".
Now Paul's admonition becomes even stronger. He says that the believer can not be a partaker at the Lord's table and also a partaker at the devil's table. Spiros Zodhiates wrote,
"There are substances that naturally do not mix. Oil, for instance, does not blend with water. As there are things that do not mix physically, so there are spiritual things that, by the nature of their being, cannot be mixed. Among these are idolatry and Christianity....How can two antithetical spiritual forces sit in fellowship together?"
The answer is that they can not. This does not mean that the Corinthians did not have the physical ability to do this, or that it was a physical impossibility; for they certainly had the power to do it, and, unfortunately, were doing it. But it does mean that they could not do it and be true to the Lord. It was never proper nor appropriate. They were bound to serve and obey Christ: they had devoted themselves to Him; and they could not join in the worship of demons and be faithful to their commitment to Christ.
Paul will address this issue again in II Corinthians 6:14-17, where we read,
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
He states that there is no fellowship between light and darkness, between righteousness and unrighteousness, or between the temple of God and the temples of idols. Therefore, God commands His people to come out, stay out, and not even get close enough to touch that which is unclean.
The problem for many alleged believers is that they attempt to eat at both tables. They go to church Sunday, but then spend the rest of the week serving the flesh and the devil. With their lips, and perhaps their Sundays, they pay homage to God, but they give their bodies, minds, finances, and the rest of the week to that which offends the Lord and honors Satan. Paul says this has to stop. I am reminded of Elijah's challenge to the Israelites:
"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (I Kings 18:21).
If you're going to serve God, then obey Him. If you'd rather support that which opposes God, then stop pretending to love the Lord. You can't do both.
Paul concludes in verse 20 by asking whether or not the Corinthian believers really want to provoke the Lord, and make Him jealous of the fact that the worship which belongs to Him is being given to idols. Do they think that they are stronger than Him and can withstand His judgment? We saw in verses 5-12 what happens when God's people choose to ignore Him. It would be foolish for the Corinthians, or us, to try.
Are you trying to eat at both tables? You will not be successful. Stick with the Lord and separate from the devil.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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