Good evening friends! I trust you’re having a good week so far. Even if it seems longer (thanks to the time change) you’re halfway there!
When it comes to your spiritual lives, I’d like to offer some advice, if I may. Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For example, one person believes that it’s fine to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience may feel that it is only right to be a vegetarian. Those who feel free to eat anything should not look down on those who don’t. And those who believe that certain foods should not be eaten shouldn’t come down on those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to criticize someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let Him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive His approval.
In the same way, some people think one day is more holy than another day, while others think that each day is just another day (they are all alike). You should be 100% sure in your own heart whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor Him. Those who ear any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. Likewise those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. Remember, we don’t liver for ourselves nor do we die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s also to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, the bottom line is we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and the dead.
So why would you criticize another believer? Why would you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before God to be judged. The Bible says:
“’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” (Is. 45:23)
Yes, each us us will be personally accountable to God. So let’s stop criticizing each other! Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, your are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating habits ruin someone that Christ died for. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let’s aim for harmony in the church and try and build each other up.
Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe that there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. At that point you are not following your convictions. After all, if you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
Have a wonderful evening everyone!
Paul
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