Nice to “Meat” You

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-23; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8

I sat down at a table lavishly spread with traditional Romanian foods. And that was the day I began eating meat again.

Years ago, at age sixteen, my best friend and I ordered steak sandwiches while on a school trip. Our meals arrived undercooked. Even though the staff remedied the problem, we decided afterwards to try being vegetarians for a week. We lasted a year on this plan together. Then my buddy chose to return to eating meat while I continued down the vegetarian path.

Over six years later, I was preparing for a year of ministry with college students in Romania. During our two-week briefing in Hungary, I sensed the Lord nudge me to abandon my vegetarian ways. As a visitor, I wanted to enjoy meals with Romanians, to eat what they ate and what they served us. By the time I entered Romania, I’d decided to give up being a vegetarian.

About a week later, a Romanian family invited me and my three ministry teammates to an extravagant lunch at their apartment. One of the dishes they served included pork. I dug in, ate some of everything, and thanked them for hosting.

To connect with people from Romania, I made a decision about my diet, wanting to exalt Jesus instead of my own preference. Our Savior renounced more than a simple lifestyle choice so He could minister to people on earth. Even though He is fully God, Jesus humbled Himself, laid down His rights, and took on the weakness of being human. When we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ by trusting in Him, believing that He died and rose again to provide forgiveness and eternal life, we’re called to live as He did. And He walks alongside us every step of the way. Through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to take on the Christlike nature of a servant so we can point others to Him. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Have you ever laid down your own preferences to connect with another person or group of people? What was it like? How could an experience like that point you and others to Jesus?

• Sometimes, people choose to eat vegetarian because of certain values, which can be a beautiful thing. And some people have health needs that require a special diet, such as avoiding gluten or dairy. As Christians, how can we be respectful of each other’s eating choices and needs?

• If you feel like God may be leading you to change the way you eat, who are trusted Christian adults in your life who can help you discern His guidance, such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, or counselors?

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…Philippians 2:5 (NIV)