Wednesday November 19, 2009 BUILD UP OR PUT DOWN?
All of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God. So let's stop criticizing each other. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make other Christians have doubts or lose their faith. The Lord Jesus has given me the knowledge and conviction that no food is unacceptable in and of itself. But it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is. So if what you eat hurts another Christian, you are no longer living by love. Don't destroy anyone by what you eat. Christ died for that person. Don't allow anyone to say that what you consider good is evil. God's kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God's kingdom consists of God's approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people. So let's pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other. Romans 14:12-19 Have you ever spent some time just thinking about what it will be like to sit with God in front of a book that registers the account of your life? I really don't think that there will be too many entries in the area of what we eat or drink. I think the major categories God is concerned about are our love walk with Him and others. Of course, we know another category is how we spend our time. We all know that Paul's teaching is not limited to what we eat or drink. Some people think that it's wrong to have cable in your home. Other people think that it's wrong to go see movies. The list of wrongs goes on and on. However, instead of focusing on what's wrong in a person's life we need to start focusing on what's right. The General Manager of the radio station I once worked for is a Pentecostal. One day we were talking about the hair and make-up issues that once pervaded his denomination. I shared with him how for so many years I just thought they were nuts. He simply laughed with me and talked about how wonderful it is now to see women actually looking better and being free. Freedom in Christ will happen only if we stop looking at other people and start looking at what God wants to change about us. He wants us to live lives of goodness, peace, and experience joy. We can't have joy if we are constantly fault finding. Now, the hard part is applying this in our homes. If we can really look at the people we live with in an attitude of acceptance and love we will have homes radiating with harmony and that will naturally flow over into our church lives. Take the time today to encourage at least one person that you once thought needed to change something in their life. Find one good thing you can share with them that will give them hope. I truly believe this will please your Father. Lord, sometimes I just don't know how You put up with our pettiness. I praise You and thank You for the grace that covers all my sins. Now, remind me that the same grace You cover me with also covers those I think need to change so much. Every time I hear a song today with beautiful harmonies let it remind me that You want that same harmony in Your Body! O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=.
