By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY
THEME: EATING AND DRINKING TO THE GLORY OF GOD: PART I
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
REFLECTIONS
Suppose all humanity would think about giving glory to God and do His will with the understanding that what He prescribes is the best for our lives. In that case, we will have fewer problems, less pain, rare complicated diseases, and no conflicts, and the dignity of human beings will be elevated to a higher pedestal than it is today. If only we would remember where we have come from, who made us, and His purpose for our lives here on earth, we would experience less selfishness, no self-destruction, and be knowledgeable about the right choices to make in life.
Because God does not in any way impose His will on humans, He has, since our creation, given us free will. How we exercise the freewill depends on us. Childhood training and upbringing are intended to help shape our thinking to apply free will in a manner that will make us survive and make the right choices in life and for life. Free will comes with choices. Daily, we are confronted with these choices and decisions that determine what we become. Whether we choose to or not, we have to make choices every day. But thank God, if we desire, we receive divine guidance to make the right choices and decisions (Proverbs 3:5-8; Isaiah 30:21).
God allowed Adam and Eve to make a choice regarding appetite. Unfortunately, they made a tragic choice. They chose death because they knew very well that if they ate the forbidden fruit, death would result. Any serious generation, group of people, or individuals will learn from Adam and Eve regarding the complex and lasting repercussions of their fatalistic choice. Remember, it was a fruit, in fact, a simple fruit – one type of fruit when there were many other good choices. Till today, choices that border on appetite and taste are killing millions of people. People know very well that this is not good for them, but they give excuses to camouflage their low and deflated willpower. Appetite is the most significant culprit and cause of the many degenerative diseases that disturb humanity in our world today. These debilitating and expensive-to-treat diseases have created a booming pharmaceutical industry that runs into trillions of dollars a year. Unfortunately, the poor and the rich alike are prone to these diseases and have to pay the same price to be cured.
But who has the right to prescribe what should go into the body? God – the Creator. A manufacturer is the only one with a legitimate right and authority to specify how the product should be used. This information is recorded in a manual that comes with the item. God has put His directives in our minds to know what is good and what is not. God has also put in His word, the Bible, what is suitable for life and what is dangerous to our existence. Still, we have to make a choice. But the choice that is sound, healthy, and life-giving is the one that glorifies God. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 15 – “My Maker and My King”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for life and health; thank God for aiding you in making the right choices; pray for God’s guidance in making daily choices; pray for loved ones;
– Pray for the millions of people who are afflicted with appetite-related diseases; pray for all who are sick; pray for people who are modifying their lifestyles;
– Pray for God’s protection for those in war zones; pray for fellow human beings who are displaced by all manner of disasters; pray for refugees, humanitarian aid workers, and organizations;
– Pray for God’s guidance for our leaders in their choices and decisions; pray for peace and unity in the country; pray for the soon return of Jesus Christ.
