It’s a great day
at Daily Bread. Welcome back, and glad you’re here for another great message
from Paul from his letter to the Romans.
We’re not all the
same. No two things are exactly alike, and no two people are exactly alike
either. The same is true of Faith. Each person’s Faith is different,
individual, personal. Even though we’re unified as Christians, and we’re
encouraged to be of one mind, humanly speaking every person has a separate
understanding and belief, and Paul reminds us to be sensitive to that and
not judge our fellows because of their unique spirituality.
Paul says ...
Welcome those who are weak in the Faith, but not to judge
their beliefs.
Because one person may believe that he may eat all things,
and another, who is weak, eats only herbs.
Those who eat all things, should not belittle those that
eat only herbs
and those who eat only herbs should not judge those who
eat all things,
because God has welcomed him.
Who are you, that judges another man’s servant?
To his own employer, he stands or falls.
Good point. Who are we to judge God’s
servants?
It’s up to the Lord to decide who is righteous and who is not.
Yes, he shall be held up, because God is able to make him
stand.
One man respects one day above another:
another man thinks every day is the same.
Let every man be fully persuaded (be sure about his
beliefs) in his own mind.
He that observes the day, observe it unto the Lord;
and he that doesn’t observe the day, to the Lord he does
not observe it.
He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks;
and he that does not eat (he who fasts), to the Lord he
eats not,
and gives God thanks.
For none of us lives for himself, and no man dies for himself.
Because if we live, we belong to the Lord; and whether we die, we die for
the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end (this purpose) Christ both died, and rose, and lived again,
that He might be Lord both of the dead and living.
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
For it is written,
As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.
Isaiah 45:23
So then every one of us shall give an explanation of his deeds to God.
So let us not judge one another any more,
but instead, decide this,
that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall
in his brother's way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus,
that there is nothing unclean of itself:
but to the person that regards any thing to be unclean, to
him it is unclean.
(Because he BELIEVES it to be unclean and you receive what
you believe.)
You get to choose.
If you think eating meat on Friday during lent is wrong, then if you do it,
it’s wrong, but if another person doesn’t believe that it’s wrong, then they
can eat meat on Friday during lent and all is well. But if that person who
believes it’s okay, finds themselves in the presence of one who believes
it’s wrong, they should abstain also. Paul explains:
But if thy brother be troubled by what you eat,
don’t forget to walk in love.
Don’t offend a person that Christ died for with your menu.
Don’t let your good, acquire a bad name.
Because the kingdom of God is not about eating and
drinking,
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost.
For he that serves Christ in these things,
is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
So let’s follow after the things which make for peace,
and things in which one may edify another.
Don’t destroy the work of God for meat.
All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man
who eats to offend another.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine,
nor any thing by which your brother stumbles, or is
offended, or is made weak.
Do you have Faith? Have Faith in yourself before God.
Happy is he that doesn’t condemn himself in the things
which he allows.
This is reinforcing what Paul said earlier, Let every man be fully
persuaded (be sure about his beliefs) in his own mind.
And he that doubts is condemned if he eat, because he eats
not of Faith:
for whatever is not of Faith is sin.
