Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Don’t Be A Stumbling Block" David Restrick for Wednesday, 5 July 2017 - Romans 14:5-18 |  |
Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Don’t Be A Stumbling Block" David Restrick for Wednesday, 5 July 2017 - Romans 14:5 One person considers some days more holy than others, while someone else regards them as being all alike. What is important is for each to be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a day as special does so to honor the Lord. Also he who eats anything, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; likewise the abstainer abstains to honor the Lord, and he too gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives only in relation to himself, and none of us dies only in relation to himself; 8 for if we live, we live in relation to the Lord; and if we die, we die in relation to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord — 9 indeed, it was for this very reason that the Messiah died and came back to life, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You then, why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For all of us will stand before God’s judgment seat; 11 since it is written in the Tanakh,
“As I live, says Adonai, every knee will bend before me,
and every tongue will publicly acknowledge God.”[Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23] 12 So then, every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let’s stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment — not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother’s way. 14 I know — that is, I have been persuaded by the Lord Yeshua the Messiah — that nothing is unclean in itself. But if a person considers something unclean, then for him it is unclean; 15 and if your brother is being upset by the food you eat, your life is no longer one of love. Do not, by your eating habits, destroy someone for whom the Messiah died! 16 Do not let what you know to be good, be spoken of as bad; 17 for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, shalom and joy in the Ruach HaKodesh. 18 Anyone who serves the Messiah in this fashion both pleases God and wins the approval of other people. [Complete Jewish Bible]-------
In almost every sport, whether amateur or professional, there are rules against tripping opposing players. It doesn’t matter whether the trip is accidental or intentional; tripping an opponent is not permitted, and if caught, a penalty is incurred. Tripping is something that just is not done!
In Romans 14, Paul cautions us against tripping, or putting a stumbling block, in the way of a fellow believer. As with sports, so it is in our Christian lives–putting a stumbling block in the way of another just is not done! Yet how often do we see this happening around us, and how often are we guilty of doing it? Paul reminds us that we are not all the same. Some are farther along in their faith journey than others. We are not all of the same culture. We have different perspectives on various issues, and yet we may all love the Lord and seek to serve Him. Love must take first place. Love makes us sensitive to our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we love, we will not judge, and we will not allow our freedom in Christ to become a stumbling block in the way of another. "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee" by Washington Gladden 1. O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free; Tell me Thy secret, help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care. 2. Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear, winning word of love; Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the Godward way. 3. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee In closer, dearer company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong. 4. In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future’s broad’ning way, In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live. Thought for Today:
The person who keeps loving his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him that could make him trip.[1 John 2:10].
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Lesotho.
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