Thursday, February 26, 2015

Two ways to make a mess...

Romans 14:13-18 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 
In the big picture here, Paul is talking about the transformation process into Christlikeness (beginning in chapter 12).  He wants to use each one of us to minister to one another and build up the whole body.  But that is not always easy.  We all still struggle with our own sins; we all have our own opinions; we all easily fall back into that comparison game.  Let us not throw those stumbling blocks in each other's way - by judging others by our extra-biblical convictions, or by living selfishly, doing those things which are in themselves not sinful, but which we know offend a brother or sister in Christ and stunt their growth.  Let us live in love to serve one another and become more like Him.

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