The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 23 August 2023 – TOPIC: THE STRONG AND WEAK DISCIPLES
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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023
TOPIC: THE STRONG AND WEAK DISCIPLES
14:1. Receive one who is weak in the faith, [but] not to disputes over doubtful things.
14:2. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats [only] vegetables.
14:3. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
14:4. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
14:5. One person esteems [one] day above another; another esteems every day [alike.] Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
14:6. He who observes the day, observes [it] to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe [it.] He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
14:7. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
14:8. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
14:9. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
14:10. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
14:11. For it is written: [“As] I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
14:12. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
14:13. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in [our] brother’s way.
14:14. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that [there is] nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.
14:15. Yet if your brother is grieved because of [your] food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
14:16. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
14:17. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
14:18. For he who serves Christ in these things [is] acceptable to God and approved by men.
14:19. Therefore let us pursue the things [which make] for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
14:20. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed [are] pure, but [it is] evil for the man who eats with offense.
14:21. [It is] good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor [do anything] by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
14:22. Do you have faith? Have [it] to yourself before God. Happy [is] he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
14:23. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not from faith is sin.
Also Read: Open Heaven 23 August 2023 – DIVINE BLESSINGS ARE CONDITIONAL
THE MESSAGE:
Apostle Paul in today’s passage reveals how Christians are to relate with one another in matters of opinion, knowing very well that our levels in Christian faith differ. We can discover two types of Christians in this text. These Christians are the ‘’strong’’ and the ‘’weak’’ (verses 1&2). The strong refers to those who have grown spiritually to understand areas of liberty wherein they can act. This set of Christian are those who have been in the faith for a very long period, while the weak refers to those who are new in the faith. These include those who had just spent a short time. It is in this context of matters of opinion that Paul encourages the strong to consider the weak so that their actions will not cause division in the church and make them fall. Also, he charged the weak not to judge the strong of being liberal in those areas where Christians have freedom.
As Christians, there is no restriction to our liberty but we should be very careful in the way we exercise liberty so that those who see us would not fall, through our actions. Remember “… not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (verse 13). We should always be involved in peace-making and things which will edify another (verse 19). It is important we know that we have so many admirers; some of whom are secret. Many people are trying to take after us and have made us their role models. Our actions can make them stand or fall. Therefore, let us watch what we say or do, especially in the public, so that we will not mislead others.
PRAYER: Father, make me a faith builder and not a faith destroyer, in Jesus’ Name, Amen
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