Scripture to Read: Romans 14:14–15
God has been showing us that we cannot hold on to the traditions of men and give them the same value as God’s Holy Word. That is why God had Paul write in Romans 14:14–15, “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. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.” God had Paul declare that nothing is unclean, and of course, God had Paul refer to different kinds of animals since some Jews were still hanging onto portions of God’s Law that had been completely fulfilled through our Lord Jesus Christ. But though certain animals were not unclean, if some of the weaker Jewish Christians still thought those animals to be unclean then don’t, for selfish reasons, eat that meat and hurt the heart of a brother or sister in Christ. If we hurt any brother or sister in Christ, though we know something is acceptable to God but we also know that we are causing hurt to the spiritual walk of our weaker brother or sister in Christ, then we are being selfish and hateful toward them. God says (in Romans 14:15) that we are “no longer walking according to love.” Loving others above ourselves means we willingly cast aside the things that we know cause our weaker Christian brothers and sisters to hurt. Loving others is always a priority over our wants.
Challenge & Application
· What has God revealed to you about your walk with Him that you still need to crucify so that you don’t cause others to stumble?
· What examples have you seen where others loved you by crucifying things in their lives so you did not stumble?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!