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1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with - even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. 2 For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. 3 But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. 4 Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help. 5 Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience. 6 What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. 7 None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. 8 It's God we are answerable to - all the way from life to death and everything in between - not each other. 9 That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. 10 So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly - or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. 11 Read it for yourself in Scripture: "As I live and breathe," God says, "every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God." 12 So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. (Romans 14:1-12 The Message Bible)
Dear Friend, I thank God for you and your prayers for all who have asked prayers from us. Nellie and I were able to go visit Catalina and her parents this morning and the baby is looking and feeling much better. The doctor came in and said she is responding well to the medicines and she should be going home in a couple of days. Please continue to pray for Catalina Ramirez and her mom and dad. May the Lord bless you for taking time to pray for her and many!
If you're wondering if there ever was a peaceable time for Christian believers, the answer would be a simple no. Two or more people who gather to worship may soon, if left to themselves, will soon find out if there is difference between them. If you remember my devotional based on weird hymns, a friend and colleague shared a story from early in his ministry. He was assigned to a small church and he had selected a hymn and when it came time for the hymn, the church got strangely quiet, when finally the organist said, just loud enough for everyone to hear, "That song is NOT in the organ." He writes, "I looked at her and by the grace of God made the correct decision to not make a big deal of this, smiled, and said, 'Well then, why don't you pick one for us that IS in the organ.' We got along fine after that."
The times for the Apostle Paul were no different, except maybe a bit more serious and lethal. The problem for some Christians in Rome was that a lot of the meat markets in the capital city would buy their meat after it had been sacrificed to idols and false gods. Some believers said they would not eat meat if it was first offered up in that way. Still others would say, "Meat is meat, and being a carnivore, I'm eating meat and it matters not to me where it was first." And that became a problem big enough for Paul to address it. He basically said, when it comes to eating, welcome all people regardless of their attitudes or opinions. Not everyone will agree with you and don't go jumping on those who don't agree with you. Some will seem strong in their opinions but weak in their faith. Paul says take time to fully understand the other person, because we usually don't know their history. Paul says, all are visitors at Christ's table and must treat each other as guests because we have all been invited by the Lord Himself to join Him at the table, and who do we think we are to begin crossing people off the guest list, or trying to run interference on God's welcome? God is capable of handling His own business.
These believers even quarreled about which days were truly holy. Yes, even today some say Saturday is the real sabbath, others Sunday. Paul says to follow your own conscience, but please hold a day sacred for God's sake. And if you eat meat, do it for the honor and glory to God, and even eat prime rib. If you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables for the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. We should respect each other and not insist on our own way; we are to answer only to God from the cradle to the grave. After all, Paul asks, where does conflict truly leave us? We're all headed to the same judgment, maybe even kneeling next to each other, each facing God. Our criticism does not help our situation. God asserts in His word, "Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God. We must tend to our knitting because we've got our hands full just taking are of our own life before God."
Paul's message in this passage encourages us to foster an environment of acceptance and love within the faith community. Paul reminds us that unity in Christ is not dependent on uniformity of beliefs and practices but on our shared commitment to honor and serve God. As we seek to live out our faith, may we do so with humility, grace, and love for one another, knowing that we are all accountable to our loving and merciful God.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the reminder that we are all guests at Christ's table, welcomed by Your grace, and that our differences should not divide us but rather draw us closer together in love. Help us, O Lord, to extend the same grace and acceptance to one another that You have shown to us, in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Love one another.
Receive my blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
