All to the glory of God

Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God’s glory. Live in such a way as to cause no trouble either to Jews or Gentiles or to the church of God. Just do as I do; I try to please everyone in all that I do, not thinking of my own good, but of the good of all, so that they might be saved.
Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ. (verses 10:31 – 11:1)

Read 1 Corinthians 10:14 – 11:1

When it comes to the crunch it’s not my freedom or rights that are important. It’s not a philosophical debate about what I can or can’t do as a Christian. It’s not a matter of legalism versus the freedom of the gospel.

What is important is that everything I do is done in a God pleasing way. This means doing it in such a way that I do not place stumbling blocks in the way of people’s faith. It 1s God’s will that everybody be saved, therefore 1t 1s God-pleasing when the way I live and act does nothing to put barriers between people and God.

This is so important in a society where ‘standing up for my rights’ is one of the great virtues. If Jesus had stood up for his rights then he would not have died on a cross. But he gave his life so that others could call God Father, as he did. That is why Paul tells us to imitate Christ, as he does.

We can’t have it both ways. We can’t have a foot in both camps. We either live as Christians or we don’t. We either confess Jesus or we don’t. God grant that our feet – both of them – are in the right kingdom!

‘Take my life, and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to thee.’ Amen.

by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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