Whether Or Not

"That’s my job – mercy and kindness."

GOD IS a God of specific details. He is NOT a God of trivial ones. The apostle Paul expresses this in Romans 14 where he says basically, eat what you want and don’t criticize those who disagree. He applies this to days of worship as well. Some worship on these days but not those days. God just says not to argue over it.

We want God on our side. Totally on our side, seeing everything like we do, and we’re tight. Problem with this mentality is we start pooh-poohing everyone who disagrees. Going back to Romans 14 … before the flood they ate vegetables and after the flood God said to eat meat. Then there’s Peter’s dream that all things were edible. Yet today, we’re throwing seed oil and Red Dye #40 at each other.

Each man has his own convictions. We are to love them whether we agree or not and are not to condemn them for what they’ve decided. There ARE certain things considered ungodly in the Word of God, but here’s the truth, even in those, we are not to hate people and use their habits, likes and dislikes, as weapons. If I talk with someone who swears like a sailor, do you know how much I desire to correct them? I don’t. Conviction comes from the Spirit who needs me to love that one and pray for them because I love them. That’s my job – mercy and kindness.

The truth is when we create divisions, we are acting like the devil. Whether they are legitimate things we consider sinful or those trivial things we attribute to God. Stop drawing conclusions FOR Him and draw them FROM Him.

“If you know that your brother or sister is struggling with such issues and you purposely, in front of them, eat foods that upset, worry and distress them, you are not acting in love toward your brother or sister. Or if you invite your brother or sister to your home and serve them food offered to idols, knowing they are still fearful of such things, you are not acting in love toward your brother or sister. Do not, by the use of food, place in your brother’s or sister’s way barriers to compliance with God’s healing plan. Don’t practice what you know is good in such a way that it lends itself to be easily misconstrued as evil.” (Romans 14:15-16, Remedy)

“Therefore, let's keep on pursuing those things that bring peace and that lead to building up one another.” (Romans 14:19 ISV)

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com