Day 6 - Sept 19
Daily Reading: 1 Corinthians 8
Theme: Strength for the Assignment
Special Verse: Isaiah 40:31 — “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”
Personal: Pray for supernatural strength, endurance, and resilience.
External: Pray for single parents in our community to be supported and strengthened.
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A Volunteer Vegan
I like my beef, I like my chicken, and I like my carnitas. It would be difficult to give up a great steak, ribs, roasted chicken, or carnitas tacos. Would I do it out of love for God or even another believer? Possibly. The Apostle Paul has no hesitation in yielding his rights or even preferences in order to not be a problem for another person’s faith. It is not our purpose here to get into the specifics of the passage, but the principle of preferring another is what is important for our consideration today. In fact, all things are “lawful” for the person who is free in Christ, but we are never to use our freedom in a manner that negatively affects those who are new to Christ. Culture differs vastly, and we are called to accept and celebrate customs as much as possible. In the words of the Apostle, “I have become all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22 NIV) in order to reach more people with God’s love.
For this reason, missionaries have learned over the centuries to work within and through a culture as much as possible including embracing local traditions, foods, apparel, etc. The beauty of the world is reflected in its diversity. When we permit a narrow and critical attitude of non-essential issues to become louder than the message of God’s love, our efforts to win others are severely limited.
On the contrary, when we choose to accommodate people—even if it means being a vegan (smile)—we provide a pathway of connection and communication that can quickly lead others to Jesus. Is your hamburger really that important?
