“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 he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. 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. 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.”
Romans 14:2-4 MSG
“One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”
Romans 14:2-4 NIV
It is neither our job to hold contempt of another or judge them. Our single calling is to love. What we do not realize is that to place love as our foremost priority requires our self awareness of how we are viewing others choices.
Paul gives us such a simple example here. An example that any of us could be faced with today. When we learn to not condemn or judge based on something as simple as what each other eats, we are able to grow in our capacity to accept others no matter the circumstances.
We must always remember that the correcting is not for us to do. We are instructed to open our arms to one another. When we correct, we end up pushing others away. Our righteousness takes center stage and pushes God out of focus.
When our focus is on obedience we are able to bring more people to the table with us. People want to accept the invitation when they do not feel condemned or judged. Let us be the vessel that guides others to Christ and leave the correction and changing of hearts and minds to Him.
Considerations for your planner:
- Do you find it difficult to keep your opinions to yourself? Write out what it would look like to simply be present with others.
A Prayer for Our Community:
Father, help us to be aware of how we are with others. We want to be obedient to Your calling of opening up our arms to everyone. Help us to be mindful of our opinions and choose our words more carefully. We want to be a blessing to others and show that we trust in You to do the changing. Amen.
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