Monday, January 15, 2007

Beautiful Sunday Sermon

Rom 14:1

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.

Rom 14:2
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Rom 14:3
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Rom 14:4
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Rom 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Rom 14:6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Rom 14:7
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Rom 14:8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Rom 14:9
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Rom 14:10
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Rom 14:11
For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Rom 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Rom 14:13
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

Rom 14:14

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.

I've talked with Mike about this many times, but never knew the scripture. If something feels wrong for me to do (or not do) then it's wrong for *me* to do or not do.

Please understand that I'm not talking about rationalization here. I don't think I get to say that I feel it's wrong to watch the ballgame. ; ) Or that it felt "wrong" for me to clean that day. I'm talking about real heartfelt convictions. I believe they are there for a reason.

And I don't believe that my convictions have to be your convictions. I believe that something can be wrong for me, and not wrong for you. I'm not sure why this is, but I believe it.

Our preacher talked on this yesterday. About the stumbling blocks we, sometimes even unknowingly, try to put in others paths. How we judge them. Or how the only "right" way is our way.

It really made me think.

When I stand before God am I going to be worried about what music my neighbor listened to? Or about the guy who cut me off in traffic? Am I going to be thinking about others sins and transgressions?

Not likely.

I worry for those that think their way is the only way. That they have the secret key for everyone. Those that think they have it figured out for everybody else.

We all have to find our own way. And if we're doing it to the glory of God, then I believe that we are on the right path.

I welcome anyone that feels differently to give scripture backing for their thoughts.

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