All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. — 1 Corinthians 10:23-31

Several times, I’ve mentioned that my dad served in the US Navy. I remember times when dad spent weekends at his post, pulling watch duty and working on planes. Many times, my mom would drop my brother and I off at the base, and we’d spend the day with dad.It was always fun and very interesting. Dad let us play in the airplanes or he’d take us to various shops around base. Lunch by the end of the runway was the ultimate thrill as planes came and went.

When touring the hanger and workshops, we’d happen across tools used to repair airplanes or for loading bombs, rockets, and torpedos on planes. Some tools were easily recognizable, others were just too weird to describe. We’d ask dad what it was, he’d explain, and then end with his famous line: “Every tool or instrument has its purpose.” I remember that line even today, and can tell you it makes a huge difference when working on a car or around the house.

For me, I’ve often asked myself questions in relation to the Kingdom of God. What’s my purpose? What’s my role? Where do I fit? Review the scriptures above and I think our purpose is pretty evident: We’re here to glorify God in everything.

Easy to say, a little less easy to do. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” is what we read, and this pretty much means everything! So, to repeat, easy to say, hard to do. How do we glorify God in everything? We tell ourselves things like I work in the secular world. Or, I can’t talk things theological at work. Or, that guy just cut me off and I’m having a terrible day! The list could go on ad nauseum.

God’s created us to his glory. Living in this life can reflect glory towards God if we choose to do it. We’re not robots, we’re created with our own will. Whether we yield it to God is the choice we all make. Once we realize this, and surrender our will, the manifestation of that surrender will overflow into our daily life, causing renewal that will permeate all we are and do. But this begins with a personal choice to release and surrender. As you reflect on the scriptures above, maybe praying through the prayer below, you can begin the process of surrender and renewal.

Lord,

Your will is
My will.

Your desires are
My desires.

Your love is
My love.

Your vision is
My vision.

Your Kingdom is
My Kingdom.

Flood You into
Me.

I surrender
Me to
You.

By Rich Obrecht

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