Weekly Devotional - November 16th

For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do

not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 

Romans 14:16-18

This represents a shift from not discouraging those who are weaker in faith to stressing that those who are stronger must ensure that their freedom does not negatively impact a weaker brother or sister, for whom Christ died. We often have a tendency, in our fallen nature, to misplace priorities, elevating minor issues above major ones. In light of this, Paul is reminding his audience that the kingdom of God transcends the trivial matters of life, such as eating and drinking. Instead, it centers on our union with Christ through the Holy Spirit. The phrase that Paul refers to in verse 18 is singular, implying faith. Thus, he who serves Christ through faith, rather than through works, is both acceptable to God and approved by others.