I know that I just got back from Africa but that's not what I want to talk about...

Freedom in Christ.
An interesting thing to think about.
I have freedom in Christ.
But I do not live for myself. I live for others.
Or at least I ought to. That's the idea anyway.
Okay, I'm not making sense...

In 1 Corinthians 10 the apostle Paul talks about how we are no longer under the law but under grace. So we are free in Christ. But we were not saved for ourselves, but for the glory of God. He then addresses a problem in the Corinthian church- some believers were convicted on issues that were non-issues and were offended and condemning because other believers were practicing those things. In this instance the topic was eating meat that had previously been offered to idols. But does the spirit still apply to other issues? If love is truly kind and patient and looking out for the good of others rather than for the pleasure of self then gray areas aren't really gray. They're black and white. Just sometimes all mixed up together.
In other words, since I have freedom in Christ, I put discretion (and love for others) into practice by being careful to not offend their consciences. Even though it is not wrong for me to eat meat offered to idols, if it offends a sister in Christ then I will not eat it. If it doesn't offend, then go for it. But I am my brother's keeper- woe unto me if I cause a little one to stumble, right? If I cause my sister to condemn me because I was not sensitive to her beliefs and convictions, I have caused her to stumble. I should have been more selfless. If I truly love I will be selfless and so I ought to be quick to give up those things that I like in order to  encourage another to righteousness.
Wow, my life is not about me!
It's amazing how the worlds opinions seep into all the cracks and crevices of my life until I don't even know that it's there!
Hm... did any of that make sense? I feel a bit scatterbrained today.
:-)
Samia