Thursday, July 31

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014

2 Chronicles 29:1–36

Romans 14:1–23

Psalm 24:1–10

Proverbs 20:12

 

 

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.  All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.” (Romans 14:19–21)

 

 

In Romans 14, Paul sets forth the Christian ethical principle of mutual edification:  thinking of others’ best interests, particularly related to growth in the Kingdom, ahead of our own pleasure.

 

In the previous chapters, he discussed the freedom that comes through receiving Christ into our lives.  This freedom from the reign of sin and death has birthed us into a new covenant of freedom, where we may experience our full personhood under the Lordship of Christ.  In Chapter 6, he provided the term of becoming a “slave to righteousness.”  Perhaps more appropriately, however, we become committed to righteous through a joyful, grateful willingness.  As John Piper writes, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”  Our greatest “satisfaction” comes through a living Kingdom relationship with Christ and becoming submitted to His will for our lives.

 

In this chapter, Paul urges his readers not to employ their freedom as a stumbling block for their brothers and sisters in Christ.  In other words, we ought not to allow worldly matters to cloud another believer’s relationship with God:  “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.”

 

What types of stumbling blocks might we place for others?  It might involve the food or beverages we consume, the movies we watch, or the Internet sites we discuss.  For some women, certain images will not provoke temptation; for men, however, these images might cast us on a rocky course.  While each person does well to guard our hearts, we have a crucial responsibility of guarding others’ hearts and minds so that we may refrain from impeding their relationships with Christ.

 

In v. 7, Paul explains:  “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.”  This statement flies in the face of our modern, individualistic culture, which places each person in isolation.  Individual autonomy often trumps community responsibility.  As the Body of Christ, however, we must look out for one another and not allow our “strength” to crush another in his or her point of “weakness.”

 

Jesus intended for His disciples to live in community and summarized this bond of unity in John 13:35 and 15:9–14:  ” By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another….  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.”  The Lord Jesus anticipates that unity will come in the midst of believers who are committed to following His commands (righteousness) and to loving one another.  May it be true of us!

 

One final note on the last phrase in Romans 14:23b:  “… Everything that does not come from faith is sin.”  This phrase cuts me to the heart, as I consistently struggle with worry.  I recognize that my worry comes from seeking to control my own circumstances and not trusting the God Who provides.  Intellectually, I understand God’s sovereignty, power, justice, and mercy.  Yet, viscerally – in my gut – these truths do not bear themselves out on a day-to-day basis.

 

As a reminder (mostly for me), praise God for the truth of His Word in Proverbs 3:5,6:

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

                lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways, submit to him,

                and he will make your paths straight.”

 

 

Lord God, guide us and direct us to think first of others’ growth in the Kingdom ahead of our freedom.  Help us to see our brothers and sister as precious in Your sight.  Build within us a trust and confidence in Your providence and goodness, and strip away our desire for control and tendencies to worry.  Be exalted in our hearts and minds, our Lord and King!  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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