Today’s passage: Romans 14:1-12
Helpful thoughts:
- There have been and there will be differences of opinion and conviction for brothers and sisters in Christ. And though there is “strong” and “weak” faith, and though “eating meat” and “esteeming all days alike” is acceptable and good, we have no authority to judge others or treat them as if they are inferior if they disagree.
- The way this was written, the believer who would hold to a stricter conviction would have the “weak” faith and tend toward being judgmental. The believer who did not restrict meat or hold one day higher than any other would have the “strong” faith and would tend toward despising (Or looking down on) their brother or sister in Christ.
- It is interesting to see that both sides, as soon as they start comparing themselves to others, think they are doing better than the other.
- We have a Master and Lord. We answer to Him. We are to be fully convinced in our mind and do what we do to be pleasing to Him.
Questions to consider:
- What are we to be fully convinced in our mind about? What standard (Or whose standard) are we to concern ourselves with? How easy is it for the opinions of man to creep into our thinking? How can the immediate consequences of the expected responses of people impact our decisions and convictions?
- If people do not have to answer to us as their judge, what is our role in encouraging our brothers and sisters in formulating their convictions? How can we encourage each other, even when we might come to different conclusions? What might we expect Paul to address as this passage continues?
- Why can Christians think about the judgment of God and yet look forward with eager expectation? What did Christ do for us that allows us to worship Him freely and seek to be pleasing to Him?