Weekly Devotional - October 19th

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his

opinions.  One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats

vegetables only.  The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.  Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;  for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with

contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,

And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.  I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 14:1-14

Verses 5 and 6 continue the theme of distinguishing between law and gospel, a concept present throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The emphasis is on maintaining a clear separation between the two and, above all, avoiding any combination of them. In this context, Paul addresses how some believers regard certain days as sacred while others do not, emphasizing that neither perspective should lead to discord within the church.

It is important to note that Paul is not referring to the fourth commandment, which instructs us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Instead, he focuses on self-imposed observances based on tradition or personal preference regarding specific days dedicated to honoring the Lord.

Thus, if your Christian brother or sister chooses to celebrate Christmas, Advent, Lent, Passover, Thanksgiving, or any other significant day or season to reflect on the grace God has bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ, it should not be viewed with disdain..