Oh the wondrous cross that bids me know that I can die and truly live.
”It is good and right to begin with the cross – because that is where your real life was reborn. My plan though, goes back to the beginning and all the time the cross was like a beacon of hope for a lost world. It represents my total commitment to my creation so that each one of you may know to what extent my love goes. It goes to the very end in death, it takes new wings in a life that happens after that. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and My cross and your hope will remain alive.”
We continue today with the overall theme of what the transformed life of 12:1,2 looks like. The overall theme is love, which is the basic standard of the new life. We must also remember that, while God is intensely involved and interested in each one of us individually, His bigger plan is the bringing of His kingdom into this world. The church represents the visible part of His kingdom and is also the main means that He uses to achieve this purpose. How we interact is therefore an important part of the church’s witness to the world. The “grey” areas of food and drink and keeping special days may seem of little importance, but may also represent a major source of conflict in a church congregation.
We continue with ch 14, please read Romans 14:13 – 21. We have already seen that we are all under God’s judgement and belong to Him.and therefore will be held accountable by Him.
In v 13 Paul takes on a more positive attitude, urging the reader to actively consider how their actions and words in these grey areas may affect the weaker brother and therefore be prepared to adapt ourselves and our behaviour so as not to offend the weaker brother. He goes on to make his own position very clear vv 17,18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the HolySpirit. But follows that with the earnest appeal in vs 19 to make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. Underlining so strongly how important this is by saying the readers could destroy God’s work by not giving heed to what he has been saying.
So ultimately, if there are a group who feel strongly about these things they should keep it to themselves and not go around condemning those who don’t think like they do. He ends the chapter with the cardinal rule that everything that does not come from faith is sin. So really he is calling us out to sort our thoughts out with God to whom we owe all, and not to stir up the congregation and cause divisions.
So then we actually come back to the fact that the rule of love covers all these things. If in doubt ask yourself the question “how does what I do and say represent God’s love to the other person/people and to the world that is watching.”
May you all have a blessed week and long weekend break.