Leading The Way - Week of October 30, Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef

Leading The Way - Week of October 30

October 30, 2023

October 30, 2023

Consider Your Neighbor

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Christ has given us tremendous freedom that we might follow Him wholeheartedly. For, if we are constantly worried about following a rule to make ourselves acceptable to God, we have nullified the power of grace. God wants us to be people who, because of the grace and love they have received, will follow Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, which means we must learn how to live righteously even in situations where there is no clear path of obedience.

Paul’s advice to the Corinthian believers gives us a clear principle to consider as we seek to live out our freedom: “[W]hatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). In first-century Corinth, what you ate and drank communicated quite a bit to the watching world. Unbelievers would have expected Christians to abstain from eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Similarly, new converts might be confused by a Christian brother’s freedom to eat such meat (see 8:9-13).

In both cases, the best thing for a believer to do is put down the fork. Paul wants us to be free to exercise our freedom but especially free to not exercise that freedom. We should be able to sacrifice our own desire if it means we will uplift our fellow believer and bring God glory. If we can remember, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others,” we will honor God and love our neighbor in every area of our lives.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I am free to live righteously before You. Help me to use my freedom to lift up my brothers and sisters in Christ. May the way I live reflect Your supremacy in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World, Part 14: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW

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About Leading The Way

Along with partners committed to changing the world, Dr. Michael Youssef is leading the way for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ. By passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth through print, web, television, and radio, this international team of experts is uniquely providing hope that is revolutionizing lives at home — and around the world.

What began as a small local radio ministry in 1988 has grown into an international ministry reaching millions for Christ — including a vast audience in the Muslim world seeking Truth in closed countries. Leading The Way's television and radio programs are broadcast in more than 28 languages to audiences across six continents. Leading The Way also produces DVDs, CDs, books, a monthly devotional magazine, solar-powered Navigators, and daily e-devotionals to spread the light of Christ. In 2009, the ministry launched its own 24/7 satellite TV channel, reaching the Muslim world with Gospel programming in English, Arabic, French, and Indonesian. Leading The Way utilizes field teams to evangelize and disciple viewers in closed countries and help persecuted Christians on the ground.

Dr. Youssef and the Leading The Way staff are committed to sharing the Gospel with the lost and equipping believers to grow into a deeper walk with Christ. Learn how you can partner with this unique ministry today.

About Dr. Michael Youssef

Michael Youssef, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, a worldwide ministry that leads the way for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ through the creative use of media and field ministry teams. His weekly television programs and daily radio programs are broadcast more than 13,000 times per week in multiple languages throughout the world. He is also the founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Youssef was born in Egypt and lived in Lebanon and Australia before coming to the United States. In 1984, he fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. Dr. Youssef holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney, Australia; Fuller Theological Seminary in California; and a Ph.D. in social anthropology from Emory University. He has authored more than 50 books, including popular titles Saving Christianity?, Hope for This Present Crisis, Life-Changing Prayers, and Never Give Up. He and his wife reside in Atlanta and have four grown children and 11 grandchildren.