January 25, 2024

January 25, 2024

Have you ever heard of New Orleans-style wings? As a wing aficionado, I was surprised to hear of this flavor recently. If you have spent time in New Orleans, this wing style may come as news to you, too. That’s because this flavor was invented not in New Orleans but in China! It was simply given its name to boost interest and sales.

Several other foods, notes Weilun Soon of the Wall Street Journal, have been given names that do not match their place of origin. The staple Chinese dish General Tso’s Chicken was invented in New York City. Hawaiian pizza comes from Canada, and Canadian bacon is not so Canadian. We can at least trust Swedish meatballs, right? Nope. They come from Turkey. Now I’m even beginning to suspect the provenance of French fries!

As Superbowl dishes begin to appear on the horizon, we can be sure of two things. First, Buffalo wings really do come from Buffalo, New York. Second, sometimes what we think comes from God really doesn’t.

Just as someone might mistakenly associate a food with a certain region, we might associate the Christian faith with practices that do not align with Christ. Consider these passages that call us to truly follow the Lord:

• Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. - Matthew 7:21 CSB
• Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, - 1 John 2:4 ESV
• They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. - Titus 1:16 CSB

Thankfully, when our lives marinate in the things of God, we bear that flavor. Jesus even called His followers the “salt of the earth” – the bringers of a distinct godly flavor. When we face the fires of this life, that flavor becomes all the more apparent. We all know the wonderful aroma of good, authentic cooking, and we similarly share the aroma of Christ with others. Paul writes, “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV).

Christian, does your life reflect the flavor of God’s goodness and Christ’s love? How will you let the Spirit step in, so that the next biting remark, attitude of unforgiveness, or mindset of selfishness is transformed into something that follows Christ?

Your partner in ministry,
Kevin Freeman

 _{https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/chicken-wings-new-orleans-kfc-food-c183592a
[Image Source] Image by 彦 童 from Pixabay.}