“We can always go deeper in the Lord and God will always bring us to points of illumination and choice. God just always want us to experience more love and freedom. He wants us to worship Him extravagantly and bring life and freedom to others.” –my wonderful mother.
I was really struggling through a few things this weekend and after lots of conversations and prayers I came to the conclusion that God is amazing, my mother is wonderful, and I have really great friends.
God brought me to Romans chapter 14 this morning as I was doing my devotions. This chapter could not be more enlightening and helpful; exactly what I needed to hear.
Basically, the chapter says
“Accept those whose faith is weak. Don’t judge them where you have differences of opinion. The faith of some people allows them to eat anything. But others eat only vegetables because their faith is weak. People who eat everything must not look down on those who do not. And people who don’t eat everything must not judge those who do. God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? Whether they are faithful or not is their own master’s concern. They will be faithful, because the Lord has the power to make them faithful. Each person should be absolutely sure in his own mind. Give thanks and honor to the Lord in everything you do.
We don’t live for ourselves. And we don’t die all by ourselves. If we live, we live to honor the Lord. If we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Now then, who are you to judge your brother or sister? Why do you look down on them? We will all stand in God’s courtroom to be judged. “You can be sure that I live,’ says the Lord.’And you can be just as sure that every knee will bow down in front of me Every tongue will tell the truth to God.’ So we will all have to explain to God the things we have done. Let us stop judging one another. I am absolutely sure that no food is “unclean” in itself. I say this as one who belongs to the Lord Jesus. God’s kingdom has nothing to do with eating or drinking. It is a matter of being right with God. It brings the peace and joy the Holy Spirit gives. So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build each other up. No matter what you think about those things, keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who do not have to feel guilty for what they allow. But those who have doubts are guilty if they eat. Their eating is not based on faith. Everything that is not based on faith is sin.”
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to all do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. We need to learn not to judge others for where they’re at with their personal faith, but to encourage them and uplift them. Everyone is on a journey. Each person is growing in the Lord in their own way. Our love must be sincere and we must love like Jesus loved us.
