When my daughter was a child, she never ran out of questions.
She could wear us out asking us about anything. At times, it became exhausting
to the point where Terry would ask her to quit talking so she could give her
brain a rest.
Questions are an important part of life. I don’t think we
should ever stop asking questions, or force those around us to stop asking
them, except for some momentary times of solitude, so we can gather ourselves
and prepare for the next barrage. Questions asked when seeking honest answers
help us all become better people.
We’ve been asking ourselves a very specific question this
semester, that like I said in chapel this week, shapes our lives by the way we
answer it, one way or another. That question for us to think about, is the one
that Jesus asked his disciples: Who do
you say that I am?
But there are also a series of questions that, when asked
more generally, can help us stay where we need to be on the road we are
traveling. I asked you to think about eight questions this week as chapel came
to a close, and how they help you process your decision of whether you would
drink or not.
After chapel, I received a text, and the person sending the
text said that those questions apply to much more than just social drinking,
and I agree. I realize that we went through them rather quickly, so I wanted to
give them to you so you can refer to them from time to time, as you continue to
live in the way of Jesus. They are worded a little differently here than they
were in chapel, thanks to the text I received, making them more general, applying
to all of life.
My prayer for you is that you hear the voice of the spirit as
you read these questions again.
1.
Have I involved
Christ in this decision?
2.
Is this decision
made under the influence of the flesh, or the Spirit?
3.
For me, or my
brother, can this decision lead to an addiction with the potential to enslave
me or them?
4.
Will my decision
harm someone else spiritually?
5.
If I do this, am
I going against my conscience?
6.
If I do this,
will it harm what others think about me?
7.
Would I want
others to imitate me by the way I live?
8.
How would my life
be enhanced if I do this, or compromised if I don’t?
Text for the week: 1
Corinthians 10:23-33