No Obstacle and Not Being Unequally Yoked
Two verses jump out to me today. One is verse 3 that tells us that Paul's ministry was not designed nor can it be justly accused of putting an obstacle in anyone's way. The Corinthian Christians could falsely accuse him of anything they wanted, but when it got down to it, there was no justification in the accusation. In verse 4-10, Paul gives a running list of the things that his ministry has endured from sleepless nights, beatings, and imprisonments. They are treated like impostors and liars yet they are truthful. They were able to endure all of this through "truthful speech and the power of God."
The second verse that hit me was a reminder that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corithians 6:14). This didn't mean we could not speak to non-believers to them. But think of a connection that people have be they friendships, marriage, business. Christ followers submit to God understand that God's grace saved us for reconciliation. An unbeliever is not linked to Jesus, which is why they are an unbeliever. You can't charge an iPhone with a cordless phone jack. They would be unequally connected and the same applies to our lives. You have that connection with Christ so the closest people to you that are yoked (or linked) to you should also be connected to Christ.
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Passing Judgment
I love the saying of "small potatoes" as it has meant something is not a big deal. In Romans 14:1-11, we are looking at some "small potato" issues such as day of worship of the Lord and type of food you eat. The food one eats may be due to a dedication to the Lord and that should not be judged by one who eats differently. Both should be eating to honor the Lord which would mean not over or under eating for selfish or worldly reasons (like body image comparisons). Just like no one should judge another for the day they worship God. We are also to accept those at different levels of faith, especially the weaker. The weaker may have not been taught well, may be new in their faith or may be like the Pharisees with legalism. There is a different between weak and rebellious, let the holy spirit guide you.
W
e also need to check ourselves. We do not do it based on what makes sense to us, but we use scripture to gauge what we need to do. We are not to cause others to stumble by subjecting them to the things that they struggle with (Romans 14:13). If you like to have a drink but you you know your friend cannot control themselves with alcohol, then do not drink around them. do not do this out of love for them. This is an example of putting others before yourself. That also means that if there is a potential argument about eating steak and your friend thinks steak is unclean, then just have the steak later after the friend has gone.
Ultimately we all have to give an account to God as Romans 14:12 states. God knows what we have vowed to Him and what we have dedicated to Him for His honor. We must remember that was we encounter others who are also believers and have different dedications to the Lord. Their vows to God are not our business to judge.
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