Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 10:28, “And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.’”
Chick-fil-A does things a little differently from most of the other fast food restaurants. For starters, their name includes a capital “A” instead of the traditional spelling of filet. This twist is intentional, though, meant to communicate the company’s commitment to serving grade A food to its customers. Also, the employees all have a particular response whenever a customer tells them “thank you.” Rather than the dismissive “No problem” that is so common, or the traditionally polite “You’re welcome,” Chick-fil-A employees will respond with their patented “My pleasure.” And, the most blatant difference in the way Chick-fil-A does business is in not opening on Sundays. For us church-goers, not being able to head there for lunch after the service can be quite frustrating at times, but remaining closed on the Lord’s day has not stopped them from being one of the most successful chains in the country. Being closed on Sundays, or not being able to open for business until a certain time of the day, used to be quite common. The restrictions fell under something called the Blue Law. These ordinances, named for the blue paper they were written on for the state of Connecticut back in 1781, forbade certain activities and limited various types of businesses from opening at all, or before a certain time on Sunday. I clearly recall my mom not being able to go to the grocery store and drug store until they were allowed to open after church.
But now, businesses proudly proclaim they are open seven days a week. I recently drove past a supply store whose sign by the road simply bragged, “Now open on Sunday.” In North Carolina, the only real restrictions that still exist limit buying alcohol and hunting with a gun until after noon. But the instructions of God, the way we are commanded to be and not be, they have not changed. Social media hasn’t made it alright to be obnoxious or insulting. Society’s decay doesn’t grant us freedom to blame and judge. And even a pandemic doesn’t mean we can now worry and be anxious. God hasn’t changed, nor should the character and behavior of His children. Keep on walking in grace and being the shining example of truth and peace.
As we seek Him today, don’t let a changing world make you into something you’re not meant to be.
Have a great Thursday and weekend, and I will be with you again on Monday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
