September 10, 2026

1Now in regard to meat sacrificed to idols: we realize that “all of us have knowledge”; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. 2If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if one loves God, one is known by him. 4So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols: we know that “there is no idol in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth (there are, to be sure, many “gods” and many “lords”), 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist. 7Practical Rules. But not all have this knowledge. There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols, their conscience, which is weak, is defiled. 11Thus through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. 12When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. 13Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.

1Psalm 139 The All-knowing and Ever-present God - For the leader. A psalm of David. I - LORD, you have probed me, you know me: 2you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. 13II - You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. 23Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my thoughts. 24See if there is a wicked path in me; lead me along an ancient path.

12No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.

27“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit [is] that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. 35But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. Judging Others. 37“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”