by Desiree Bustamante

Appreciating the ingredients that make us who we are.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Romans 14:17-19 New Living Translation

What’s your favorite sandwich? Do you like to keep it simple with only meat and cheese on fresh bread, or lots of veggies piled high on toast, or maybe a grilled cheese with tomatoes? Maybe what makes a great sandwich for you is what’s NOT on it. Mayonnaise, mustard or onions might be your kryptonite, ruining it for you. There are countless combinations, but everyone has their own favorite ingredients and condiments to make a perfectly enjoyable sandwich.

We usually don’t condemn another person for enjoying pickles on their sandwich even if we hate them on ours. We generally understand that there’s room for different tastes and food preparation. We might even admire a photo of a well-crafted sandwich, even though we would never want to eat it.

When we follow Christ’s example, we understand that living a life of goodness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit means having an attitude of love toward others, even when we may not like aspects of who they are, what they believe or how they act. We are called to appreciate the unique qualities God has endowed everyone with for His purpose and to love, build each other up and create harmony.

When you encounter a believer, whose sandwich isn’t built like yours, appreciate the diverse ingredients that make them who they are in Christ.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado