Romans 14:13–18 (ESV) —
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
NOTE: The kingdom of God is not a matter of many things that people somehow think it is. In fact, some people are still struggling with sins because of their past involvement. Those sins do not change overnight -- at least in most cases. I am amazed at what the Holy Spirit can do in a person's life in a short period time. But I know others who struggle with various sexual sins whose progress is slow and uneven. The kingdom of God is available to anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus for salvation from his sins. That's it. There is no standard of works which follow belief that has to be attained. Salvation is by faith alone, but a person who has truly been saved will experience the new creation that comes when the Holy Spirit enters your life upon belief. And that person's life will begin to change from the inside to the outside.
PONDER:
- Do I judge people by what I see of their behavior?
- Do I truly know the person, what he has gone through and what he is still going through today?
PRAYER: Father, we need to show grace toward other brothers and sisters in the faith. We, ourselves, have our issues too. You are still working within us. Our sins might seem "less" ugly, but in your eyes, sin is sin, whatever it is.
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