Ten Things to be Thankful For, Day 7: Give Thanks for the Freedom of Who You Want to Be (1 Corinthians 6:12 – 20)
“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
There have been times in my life where I wish I were a robot. There have been times in my life when I would be overwhelmed with guilt over sin in my life that I was struggling with. I would have welcomed being a robot in those times so I would automatically make the right decisions and not struggle with temptations. The truth of the matter is: people are not robots. We have to make our own decisions that result in different outcomes. Wouldn’t it be nice if we never had to make a decision between right and wrong? Unfortunately, we don’t have that option.
While this passage in 1 Corinthians 6 is specifically speaking about sexual immorality, I believe we can apply it to all areas of life and temptations. You see, people have to make decisions, and instead of getting frustrated with that reality, we should thank God that we have the opportunity to worship Him without being forced. Sometimes, the decisions we make aren’t even a right or wrong scenario. Instead, they are a “beneficial” or “not beneficial” scenario. Just because we can does not mean that we should. So, with all of these decisions that we, as people, need to make on a daily basis, how do we know what is best?
Well, first, spend time in God’s Word and pray to Him. The more time we spend with God and meditating on His Word, the easier it will be for us to make the right decisions. For example, if you have been married to someone for over 15 years and have never once seen them drink coffee, would you even consider buying them a gift card to a coffee shop? No, you wouldn’t even think about it because you have just spent over 15 years getting to know them and you should know by then what they like to drink and what they don’t like to drink. Can you imagine the look on your spouse’s face if you gave them such an item as a present? They would be so deeply hurt because they would conclude that you don’t know them at all. It’s the same with God. If we want to know what God desires of us, we need to spend time with Him on a daily basis. Doing so may seem hard at times, but making that decision will help you with all of the other decisions that you need to make.
Second, spend time with other Christians who are growing in their walk with the Lord. It simply amazes me how I can change when I’m around different people. Have you ever noticed that about yourself? I know I have. I make better decisions when I spend time with those who have a close relationship with God.
Third, practice making right decisions in small things. Think of it as a workout. If you just try to bench press 200 lbs. without ever having lifted weights before, you might be in for a surprise. On the other hand, if you start out small and work out regularly, you might even be able to bench press 300 lbs. without breaking a sweat! But that only comes by determination and practice.
So, be thankful that God has given you the ability to choose between what is right and what is wrong. You get to choose what kind of person you are going to be. You have the freedom to do what you want, but remember that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Pastor David Guenin