Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 8 Aug 07

The word of encouragement for today is giving careful thought. In yesterday’s word the challenge for us all was to put our faith into action, to know that we have not been forgotten. Now, we need to give careful thought to every aspect of our life, so that we are not blindly moving forward, but we are being strategic. Let us ask ourselves this question, the things that we are doing right now, is it beneficial to my future, is it helping others around me, am I growing?

I love this verse written by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. This verse is something that we need to incorporate into our daily lives, because if we don’t, we will always be walking on the fine line of our convictions.

It is interesting how we try to reason with God, making excuses why by doing “this” it is permissible. Sometimes we say to ourselves, if I just lie this one time God it will make my work load easier, it will please my boss. Another most common thing we say to ourselves, it is ok to build with someone of the opposite gender, and we are all part of the same spiritual family anyway. Another example, it is ok for me to watch this movie even though there are some scenes which go against my convictions, but I’m seeing it because everyone else says it is ok. Married couples are often trapped by this, reasoning their way to prove why it is ok to build with a single woman or man. The list goes on and on, but 1 Corinthians 6:12 best defines everything we have doubt in. Let us ask God today, what are things in my life that are mastered over my life other than you Father? What are things that I am reasoning with God to try and prove that it is permissible? And God is it beneficial?

There are boundaries that we all need to place in our lives, especially when it comes with the opposite gender. As a married man or woman, as a single man or woman it does not matter, this verse still applies, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.

By: Shaun Lee