Today’s scripture: Romans 14:13-23 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (E’sha Cooper):
v.19 — Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.
How do you determine what you’ll eat when you go hang out with friends or family? How about what you’ll wear in the same settings? In today’s scripture passage we’re asked to look at what we eat (consume in our lives as food, activities, etc.,) in relationship to how it may affect our brother or sister in Christ.
When Paul wrote this letter there were so many Jewish and Gentile converts coming into the Body of Christ. People from all different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds were getting saved. One big dilemma was the eating of meat. Many of the tender conscience Christians of that day knew that the meat purchased in the market place was more than likely dedicated to a pagan god, so they refrained from eating meats, while other Christians who knew and understood that nothing was unclean in of itself, because God has made all things good, continued to have their barbeques and cookouts. Unfortunately this led to rifts in the church. The vegetarians felt like the “meatetarians” were sinning and the meatetarians felt like the vegetarians were being to sensitive and judgmental. So here is how Paul settled the dispute,
v.21 — It is better not to eat meat or anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
In our day I would parallel this to Christians who believe drinking is wrong and those that feel it is okay.
So hear is the question: When I see that what I’m eating, drinking. etc., has a negative effect on a fellow member of the body of Christ, do I refrain? Do I wait till I’m in the privacy of my own home to indulge in what I believe is okay? We are called to walk in love and do only those things that build up the Body of Christ. Are you going to eat right?
Prayer for the day: Lord GOD, may I base my choices daily on what pleases you and lifts up my brother or sister in Christ. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.