THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd, 2011
“How to be a godly example to a watching world”
BY
DR JACK GRAHAM
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Romans 14:20-23
One hot-button issue today among American Christians is whether or not certain foods or drinks are okay. And, as we see in today's passage, that's not a new controversy! Now let me be up-front and tell you that I've made the choice to practice complete abstinence when it comes to alcohol because of the example I want to set.
But there's really a bigger issue at hand here than just the substance itself: your example to others.
When it comes to your freedoms, anything that may cause others to stumble should be either limited or eradicated around those who may sin because of your example. This can show itself in several areas like watching how you eat in front of people who struggle with food, being mindful of your comments around those who gossip, or watching your temper with those who deal with anger.
As Christians, one clear responsibility you and I have is to constantly ask ourselves, "Will this hurt others?" And if something we do keeps someone else from coming to Christ or effectively living the Christian life, we need to leave it alone.
Truly living out the Gospel always requires sacrifice. So pray and ask God to show you where you can make sacrifices in your life to more effectively lead others to Christ!
YOUR EXAMPLE TO OTHERS IS A POWERFUL TOOL TO LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST. SO PRACTICE HABITS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GLORIFY GOD WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR.
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