10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
10:5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.
10:6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.
10:7 So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
10:8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.
10:9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.
10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
10:12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.
10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
10:14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
10:15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.
10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
10:17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.
10:18 Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?
10:19 Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything?
10:20 No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.
10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
10:22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?
10:23 "Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds others up.
10:24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.
10:25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience,
10:26 for the earth and its abundance are the Lord's.
10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.
10:28 But if someone says to you, "This is from a sacrifice," do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience--
10:29 I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience?
10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for?
10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
10:32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,
10:33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
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