Scripture to Read: Romans 14:1
This week, God will challenge us on how we judge each other as believers. God had Paul begin by writing this in Romans 14:1, "Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.” So, God began laying out how to deal with those who were weak in faith. There are two types of people within God’s family who are weak in faith. The first type is those who are brand new believers, and because they are new believers, they are infants in their walk with Christ. These people need time to grow and mature in their faith. The second type is believers who have remained infants because they have chosen not to grow in their intimacy with our Lord and His Word. God never wants us to remain infants due to our lack of fellowshipping with Him and not reading, studying, and memorizing His Word. God used Paul to lovingly rebuke the believers in Corinth for choosing to remain infants in Christ, in 1 Corinthians 3:1–2, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able.” Both types of believers are weak in faith, but even though they are weak, God had Paul tell us not to argue over differing opinions. Arguing only reveals our ugly fleshly nature and we must crucify that.
Challenge & Application
· We know we are to come alongside those who are weak in their faith, so how are you helping others mature in Christ?
· We know disagreements happen among Christians, so how do you guard what you say so you don’t argue over opinions?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!