“Wherefore receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (vs7).
The Lord laid down His life to save us from sin, loving us unto the end, and we’re to LOVE each other as the result, glorifying God - “Now the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded, one toward another, according to Christ Jesus: that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ“(Rom 15:5-6).
God isn’t magnified and made great by selfishness and bitterness among saints, but we must do all that we can to encourage and walk in peace - “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another“ (Rom 14:19). We must love each other in spite of petty differences, and we must compromise, giving up our rights, if it offends weaker brethren by what we eat or drink - “For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure: but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak” (Rom 14:20-21).
We are free and loved, but SHOW this by temperance and love for each other - “You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right“ (vs22). If others are offended, abstain in their presence. Enjoy it with God alone or around the like-minded.
We are to serve others, even if it means giving up some freedom to eat and drink because serving others is more important than serving ourselves - “When then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself: but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached You fell on Me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we though patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope“ (Rom 15:1-4). We actually sin in our intemperance, even as believers sin whenever eating or doing something against their conscience - “And he that doubts is condemned if he eat, because he eats not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin“ (Rom 14:23). Let us not offend God by sin in either case, either by selfishly not caring about brethren, or by eating things forbidden in the conscience, just because others do.
By love, demonstrate your maturity, and let us strive together, by love, to honor God.
Many say, “Glorify God, preacher”, but they don’t know they can glorify God by simply loving brethren who differ on frivolities: it isn’t doctrinal preaching but a doctrinal life and doctrinal preaching that He accepts - “Wherefore receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (Rom 15:7).
Let us demonstrate our love in thankfulness to God who saves us from sin.
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