Today’s Reading:
Romans 14:14-22
“I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet If your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let your good 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 serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:14-22 NKJV)
In our Reading Today, Apostle Paul assures us that for any one in Christ, dietary laws of the Old Testament do not really matter anymore (Mark 7:19; Acts 10). What is important is that a more matured Christian, must not through careless behaviour do anything that would hinder the faith of a weaker Christian. Jesus told Martha that, Mary has chosen to do the more important aspect of the kingdom which cannot be taken from her – listening to the teaching of Jesus (Luke 11:38-42). Then he goes on to analyse what the kingdom of God entails.
The kingdom of God is a higher realm for matured Christians where love is more important than our liberty, and relationships are more important than obeying laws and regulations. This does not give us the liberty to disobey the laws of God, but the emphasis is that LOVE is more important to God. God’s name is LOVE, because we share in the nature of God, we must exhibit His love. Jesus himself answered the teacher of the law that there are two great laws, (i) You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (ii) You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Matt. 22:36-40). On these two laws hangs the law and the prophets. A wholehearted devotion to God is the core of the Old Testament Law and is also the teachings of Jesus Christ. When we have a right and cordial relationship with God, definitely, we will exhibit a relationship of love towards others, even in the community of faith. We must join together in our actions to edify, and to build the body of Christ. We must maintain peace and harmony. We are not to destroy the work of God with our personal opinion which always cause disagreement among ourselves. We are not to do shameful things that will discourage others whose faith is still weak.
Another aspect of the kingdom is the reign of God within our hearts (Luke 17:21; Jn 3:3). The kingdom of God is the realm of God’s sovereignty, and definitely, His Will is supreme. To please God, we are to relate with others in a way that promotes harmony and edifies or builds others up in maturity. As redeemed of God, who is seated in Christ at the right hand of God, we need to operate from the realm of the kingdom to be able to exercise dominion in Christ over all the works of God’s hand (Ps. 8:3-8). And be able to exercise authority over powers of darkness (Matt.16:14-19; Eph. 6:12). We are to walk with God by faith, anything short of this is sin, which results in our missing out of the aim and plan of God for our lives. (v. 23).
Our Christianity is not external, but eternal. And so, we are not to hold on to the systems and cultures of the world – getting hooked with things that are tangible like food, drinks, habits or clothing. The stomach is not the most important organ of our body, but the heart is. This is why the Scriptures ask us to guard our heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of our lives (Prov. 4:23). Whatever we allow to enter and stay in our hearts, if not carefully guarded and evaluated very well, will be expressed in our lives and our actions.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
O Lord our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens.
Father by your mercy, empower me to dedicate all my years to You, in whatever state I find myself, in Jesus name.
Father, create in me a pure heart, renew a right and humble and teachable spirit within me, in Jesus name.
Lord fill my heart with Your love, Joy and peace to overflowing, in Jesus name.
Holy Ghost fire ignite my heart to the glory of God, in Jesus name.
Father, empower me to uplift the kingdom in my heart, that I might not make the weaker ones fall, falter or fail, in Jesus name
O Lord fill every Christian home with your love, joy and peace that Your kingdom may begin in our homes, in Jesus name.
O Lord show our children, youths, young adults Your paths of life, and keep them away from the path of the destroyer, in Jesus name.
Lord fill the body of Christ with your love, boldness, and unity of purpose to proclaim Jesus, the Truth, the Way and the Life, in Jesus name.
Lord grant our leaders your love and boldness and empower them to move the nation forward to the glory of your name, in Jesus name.
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