“But if anyone should say, ‘This is meat sacrificed to idols’ do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake” (the other man’s)– 1 Corinthians 10:28. Paul has clearly declared the freedom that comes from knowledge. (cf chapter 8) Now he declares the limitations that come from love. Love is always measured by loss. A mother loses sleep because her child is sick. A believer loses the freedom to act or think certain things because others are watching and may be harmed by the example. Love motivates both. The clearest picture of love is the life/death of Christ. “He emptied himself. . .and became obedient to death, even death on the cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8) If He was willing to serve us in this way, it is impossible for us to call ourselves His followers and “refuse to lose” in service to others. Friend, what are you prepared to lose for the sake of love?
Actually nothing… I mean I do not see it that way. I have come to appreciate that loving is not something we have to do, but something we get to do. I actually feel sorry when I see people making the choice not to love. I feel sorry for them because they missed the opportunity for God’s best. I am like Paul in Phil 3:7-11 who says, But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
To me it seems it is all how you look at it. For the JOY set before Him, Christ endured the cross (Heb 12:2)
I plan on losing (although I do not look at it that way) a portion of my day today praying for someone who really does not like me. Yet I consider it an exceeding joy to do so. To commune with the father and do His will… or at least trying to do His will the best that I can. It is one thing to pray for your enemy if you do not really believe God will answer and it is another matter all together to pray for your enemy if you are an intercessor and know very well God answers your prayers. I had to face this assault to the “flesh” and cast it down…. declaring that I am going to do what God requires. What helps me is to really know how much God loves His imperfect children.. me included… and to keep my eyes focused not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. I have discovered there really is higher ground for Christians. We can live above this world and its temporary discomforts/losses.