Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rom 14:1, 2 and following. Indeed, the book of Acts showed us how difficult it was for Christians who had left Judaism to free themselves from the forms of their religion. There are still many believers in Christianity today who attach importance to external practices: abstention from meat, observance of feasts… Let us be careful not to criticize them! I have no right to doubt that a Christian acts “because of the Lord” (Rom 14:6) of whom he is a responsible servant. Generally speaking, the willingness to judge others is always proof that I know little about my own heart.
For if I am truly seized both by the horror of myself and by the feeling of God’s grace that supports me, every spirit of superiority disappears from my thought. Can I set myself up as a judge when I will soon appear on my own behalf before God’s tribunal (Rom 14:10; although already justified)? Not only do I not have to judge the motives of a brother’s behavior, but I must be careful not to scandalize him with mine. I am urged to refrain from what could destroy (the opposite of edifying) another believer. For in Rom 14:15 the apostle gives the decisive argument: this brother is “he for whom Christ died.”
This term “weak” in no way refers to believers who, in their march, show let go or even infidelity. Rather, they were of exaggerated delicacy of conscience, anxiously strove to please God by observing the ancient Jewish ordinances, and sought to find the rest of their souls. The old things having been ordained by God, they had difficulty grasping the new position of the believer in Christ, the risen Man. On the other hand, believers who had come out of paganism had recognized that the whole idolatrous system from which they had been delivered was a bad work of the Enemy; that is why they were not in great danger of maintaining certain pagan practices. How, then, should such people be treated as “weak in the faith”? Should these external things become a cause for disagreement?
Should the weak be despised and repelled? No; surely! Today as in the past, the natural heart is inclined to act in this way, but love is not. The danger that threatened Christian witness in its early days remains and, even today, we encounter, in one form or another, the: Do not touch, do not taste. Many believers act as if they were still living in the world,” subject to all kinds of ordinances. They do not know true “freedom,” which makes the believer able to look for the things that “are above” and think about them. The apostle begins his teaching with these words: “But as for him who is weak in faith, receive him; not for the decision of dubious questions.” He thus removes from this delicate question its sharp side: Receive, he says, and not reject, condemn.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Spiritual Growth, Examples
Young Samuel 1 S 2:26 Young Samuel continued to grow, and he was pleasing to Jehovah and to men.
-John the Baptist Lk 1:80 Now, the child grew, and strengthened himself in spirit. And he remained in the deserts, until the day he appeared before Israel.
Jesus as a child Lk 2:40 Now, the child grew and strengthened. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was upon him. Lk 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and grace, before God and before men.
Paul Acts 9:22 However, Saul was becoming more and more strengthened, and he confused the Jews who inhabited Damascus, demonstrating that Jesus is the Christ.
-Thessalonians 2 Thes 1:3 We must continually give thanks to God, brethren, for you, as is right, because your faith is making great progress, and the charity of each of you towards others is increasing more and more.
- Providence sustains the weak
Ex 19:4 You have seen what I have done to Egypt, and how I have carried you on eagle wings and brought you to me. Dt 33:27 The God of eternity is a refuge, and under his eternal arms is a retreat. Before you he cast out the enemy, and he said: Exterminate. Ps 18:36 You give me the shield of your salvation, Your right hand sustains me, and I become great by your goodness. Ps 91:12 They will carry you on your hands, Lest your foot hit a stone. Isa 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Do not walk with worried looks, for I am your God; I strengthen you, I come to your rescue, I support you with my triumphant right. Isa 46:4 Until your old age I will be the same, Until your old age I will support you; I did, and I still want to carry you, support you and save you. Isa 63:9 In all their distress they have not been helpless, and the angel who is before his face has saved them; He himself redeemed them, in his love and mercy, and constantly supported and carried them, to the old days.
- Examples of Recognition
Ps 68:32 Great ones come from Egypt; Ethiopia rushes in, its hands stretched out to God. Ps 119:62 In the middle of the night I rise to praise you, because of the judgments of your righteousness. Dn 2:23 God of my fathers, I glorify you and praise you for giving me wisdom and strength, and for making known to me what we have asked of you, for revealing to us the king’s secret. Lk 17:16 He fell on his face at the feet of Jesus, and gave thanks to him. He was a Samaritan. Acts 28:15 From Rome came to meet us, to the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns, the brothers who had heard of us. Paul, seeing them, gave thanks to God, and took courage. 1 Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 2 Co 9:15 Thanks be to God for His ineffable gift! 1 Tim 1:12 I give thanks to him who strengthened me, to Jesus Christ our Lord, for what he deemed me faithful;
- Divine property of human souls
Dt 32:6 Will you blame the Lord for it, foolish and unsenless people? Isn’t he your father, your creator? Wasn’t he the one who trained you, and who strengthened you? Ct 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his; He grazes his flock among the lilies. Ez 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the son as well as the soul of the father, both are mine; the soul that sins is the soul that will die. Rom 14:8 For if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So either we live or die, we are in the Lord. 1 Co 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you, that you have received from God, and that you do not belong to yourselves?
From all the above, the above verses continue the subject of our relationship with other believers. In addition to the warning not to scandalize them, we find positive recommendations: first, to continue “the things that tend to peace and… to mutual edification”. However, critics tend to the opposite result. Then, to carry essentially through prayer, the infirmities of the weak (which in no way means to be indulgent for sins), remembering that we also have the greatest need for the support of our brothers and sisters for our own infirmities. For the presence in the assembly of Rome of a large number of believers who were once Jewish was, as we have already recalled, a source of many difficulties; understandably, the contrast between the Jewish elements and those of the nations easily led to disagreement. Believers, who had come out of Judaism, accustomed from their youth to strictly observe certain days, to abstain from certain foods, etc., had difficulty renouncing these things. On the other hand, for Christians who had emerged from paganism, this difficulty did not exist. There were, it seems, in Rome, many believers who were compelled by their conscience to observe certain Mosaic ordinances, while others, who had recognized in Christ the end of the law and found, in his death, deliverance from all legal servitude, walked in the freedom in which Christ had placed them. The apostle names some “weak”, others “strong”. Our prayers sustain you all in your efforts to walk in the freedom of Christ.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on Paul’s ministry: The Apostle’s travel plans. “
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.