JMD Devotional 243 Romans 14:6, 10-16 Not Just Food but Attitude

Vs 6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Vs 10-16 Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.]

Is food really the core issue here? Could a ‘Church-approved menu’ have solved the problem? Behind these divisive actions are arrogant and prideful thoughts; the insensitivity betrays a deeply rooted selfishness and un-tempered egos. We have a competitive streak, and we flaunt our ‘knowledge’ and ‘superiority’ at the expense of others. It is self-exaltation when the exercise of our ‘liberties’ exceeds our commitment to unity and to the nurturing of our fellow believers. Humility is emphasized in the scriptures because the Church cannot possibly function without it. I have met many a man who professed belief in God and the Bible, yet who had no use for the Church! (For which Christ died!) We forget, it’s all about our Lord and not us; we are not to be autonomous, independent individuals, cut off from the primary fellowship of God’s Kingdom. How can we ‘abide in Christ’ and despise His family?

Dear God,
The cancers of lust, hate and selfishness run deep. I lop off the tops of the weeds, but they quickly grow back from their roots. Changing my behavior is good; but it is only a superficial solution to my sin problem. I have been forgiven, the debt has been paid in full; but I want to be free of its influence, too. Lord, please continue to heal me, to purge out the sin, to make me better. Only as I abide in Christ Jesus can I possibly express true righteousness; ‘yoke me up’, Master. Help me to love the Church as You do, and to put the needs of others first. Make my love genuine.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
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**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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