After driving to Heniker to get some money out for my stay, I drove down by the river that ran through town. For those who don’t know me, spending time around rivers, lakes, and oceans is one of the things that brings me peace.
I found a place in the center of town where I could park and just sit and enjoy the view of the river, which was both beautiful and peaceful. And I just took some time to be still.
And as I looked at the flowing water, there was ice on the rocks and on the sides of the riverbanks. As I was taking in the view, I noticed a small pocket where the water was kind of swirling around. It seemed to be caught in that area, stuck and stagnant.
Looking further into it, I noticed that there was ice on the downriver side that had formed and jutted out into the river, blocking the water from freely flowing.
For this ice to flow freely again, the ice that was blocking it would have to be broken up. Looking downriver, there were other pockets of ice which threatened to trap water, but in many of these cases the water found a different route to get where it was going.
And as I was thinking about this, God brought to mind the “why” question that is implied in 1 Cor. 10:31-33…
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Cor. 10:31-33 NASB
Why do we do the things we do?
Why do we do the things we do? I am not thinking of the big picture, what could be called the meta-narrative, but the smaller day-to-day things. For those who are Christians, we know that we were created by God and for God (Col 1:16-17).
But what about the little things?
What about the places we go and the things we do? What about the things we choose to eat and drink (or things we choose to avoid)? What about the things we watch and read? What about the people we spend time with?
In the smaller things, are we thinking about this call to do all things for the glory of God?
God’s plan in our lives
I would like to think that those who are followers of Jesus would know God has a plan for our lives (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 2:10, etc), but do we think about the smaller things. Do we think about the things that we do that don’t even seem to bring us pleasure but just take time away from other things we could be doing?
“All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Cor. 6:12 NASB
As our church goes through its series on “Being Fit in ‘26,” I am being reminded that fact. Just as all things are not beneficial for us (Paul is sharing about things of a sexual nature in this passage), I think that sometimes we get wrapped up in things that will not be of any benefit to us or the Kingdom of God.
Re-examining our lives…
As we get into the new year, I wonder how many of us need to re-examine our lives to see what things we are doing (in all aspects of our lives) that are permissible but not beneficial. Maybe it is things we are eating and drinking? Maybe it is things we are doing that are taking up time but offering little to no benefit.
As we dig into the coming year, may we look to better live by that verse in 1 Cor. 6, “All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”
Along the Multicolored Road 
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