8/31

1 Corinthians 10:31-33

³¹So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³²Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- ³³even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

The Christian life is about living for another out of love. I'm referring to the One who died and conquered death that He might be with you. It is an all-out, 100%, way of living. In everything that is done, we seek the glory of God, even in the little menial tasks of daily life. It isn't what you do on Sunday morning and in the five-minute daily devotion time. It is your whole life's focus.

In living for the glory of God we seek to share Him with others. One thing that must grieve God deeply is when we offend individuals who knows we are a Christian. As a representative of Jesus, we have pushed them away from Jesus. That usually takes place because we are selfish and demanding our own preferences. We are being completely inconsiderate of the way they see and understand life and their need to find Jesus as Savior. We please ourselves but give up the greatest privilege we could have, which is sharing the love of Jesus with them.

Paul is telling us part of the reason he was so fruitful in his ministry. He did his very best not to cause anyone to stumble. That does not mean that he compromised the truth. One look at his life tells you that is not the case. But he did consider the cultures of others and limited his actions to not unnecessarily offend them. He acted for their good and not his own, so that they might be saved.

Dear reader, remember that you are the only expression of Jesus that many will see. Do whatever you can to draw the lost to Christ, not repel them. Their salvation is worth more than any liberty that we might cling to. Take on Paul's motto of trying to please all people in every way in order to win them to Jesus. Seek their good over your own that they might be saved.