June 15, 2020
Romans 14:19-21
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
New International Version (NIV)
You have surely heard of the man who was marooned on a desert island.  When he was rescued, the members of the crew were surprised to see all that he had built.  Three really nice structures.  Out of curiosity they asked him about the buildings.  The first he identified as his house.  Pointing to the second he said, “That is my church.”  “But what about the third building?” they inquired.  Indignantly he answered, “That is where I used to go to church.”

Paul wrote to Jews and Gentiles in the church at Rome.  Their differences in background led to disagreements in the church.  They argued over whether to eat meat (likely meat sacrificed to idols.)  At other times they debated over whether sabbaths and Jewish festivals were binding on all believers.  Paul forbids them more than once from judging each other over these matters.  All of them belong to the Lord.  We all stand before God with “soul competency.”  Each of us is responsible to God for our own lives and choices.  We will answer to God.

Paul shifts the argument in 14:15 to say, even though we don’t judge each other, we are responsible to help each other.  We should go out of our way to help each other.  The Kingdom of God is not finally about special observances of days or about what we eat or drink.  The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, not the mere keeping of rules.  Peace requires effort from each of us. 

Thankfully we have (mostly) moved beyond conversations of sabbath and food.  Nevertheless, the enemy still finds a way to divide believers in each generation.  Think about the pandemic.  Early on, some were angry that churches took services on-line.  Still others are concerned that churches are opening up while the virus still runs rampant.  Some are pro-mask, others anti-mask.  Some feel freedom to hug, others, not so much.  If we are not careful, the anxiety gives way to anger.  Old prejudices cause new pain.  This chapter of Romans is as relevant as if Paul wrote it to us today. 

What will we do today to work for peace?  Pride puffs up, but love builds up.  The Psalmist wrote in 34:14,  “Seek peace and pursue it.”  Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.”  Peace demonstrates our relationship to the Father.  Whose children are we?
Pray with me:         
Father, you know how we love to cluster.  Deliver us from our divisiveness.  Let the peace you have put in our souls govern our actions toward each other.  Help us to give each other grace and room to disagree.  Protect our unity with your perfect peace, we pray.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 6:3-4
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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