Day 213

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:22, Romans 14:19-15:13, Psalm 89:46-52

The other day I enjoyed the best burger I have had for a long time. It had the most succulent meat, the softest bun and the tastiest relish that you could imagine. There was just the right amount of salad (practically none) and it came with the most beautiful chips. This was burger heaven. I’ve craved Big Macs before but this won hands down, home cooked, local meat, local relish and a local drink. I savoured every minute of that burger. Sadly I was with friends who had given up meat and bread for lent so my feasting was just a bit cruel for them.

This is Paul’s point, we  should not do anything that is unhelpful to those around us. Thankfully my friends are very strong and they didn’t have a problem with me tucking in to something so tasty. There are others though who may not be so strong – like me. If someone was biting down on a cream cake and I had given cakes up, I would probably rugby tackle them to the ground just to get a bite – far too weak. Paul is continuing in his theme of love and saying that doing stuff like that if you know that your friends are going to have a problem is just not loving. I’m feeling more convicted the more I type!

Onto something different, spend a couple of minutes concentrating on the end of the Romans reading. There is not much to write here, just spend the time, you and God, allowing the words to sink in.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”