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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
May 2
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday Paul gave the first reason why Christians should not look down on other believers who have a different view of their liberty in Christ: since God has accepted them, we should too. In verse 4 Paul gives a second reason: other believers are not responsible to us, but to God. I am not the judge of other believers in areas where the Bible is silent. There is a time when judgment is necessary, for Jesus said to "judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). However, that would only apply when the Scriptures clearly teach on the issue. Steven Cole wrote,
"The Bible is clear that we are to hold to sound doctrine and condemn false doctrine. We are to make moral judgments on matters where Scripture gives commandments. We must speak out if a matter threatens the truth of the gospel or the spiritual health of a church or an individual. But there are many issues where the Bible either is silent about what to do."
In these matters judgment belongs to God alone. My fellow Christian is not my servant, therefore he is responsible only to his Master. And his Master will help him to stand just as He helps me to do so.
In verse 5 Paul changes the issue, and then adds a principle for helping to determine right from wrong in questionable areas. First, he moves to the matter of keeping the Sabbath and other special days. Albert Barnes wrote,
"This was the case with the Jews, who regarded the days of their festivals, and fasts, and Sabbaths as peculiarly sacred, and who would retain their former views, even after they became converted to Christianity."
The Gentiles, on the other hand, did not hold to these opinions. Paul then says that in determining what decision to make concerning "special" days, each person ought to be fully persuaded in his own mind as to what he should do. This is the first of several points that Paul is going to make in this chapter that will help us in our decision making. If a man isn't completely convinced that something is the right thing to do, he shouldn't do it. Remember, this principle only deals with questionable issues, and not with things that are clearly spelled out in the Scriptures. If it is an area where the Bible is silent, then the individual had better know for sure that his action is the one that God wants him to take. We shouldn't make the choice simply because others are pressuring us. Are you convinced of the correctness of the decisions you are making? If you're not fully persuaded, then you better spend some time finding out what God wants you to do before you make your choices.
In verse 6 Paul gives a second principle for making decisions: make sure your choice is based upon your desire to please the Lord. There are people who make the decision to eat meat because they believe that this will honor God. There are people who choose not to eat meat because they want to honor God. At this point, the issue is not which choice they make, it is the motivation for the choice. The questions I need to ask myself are these: am I making my decision based upon what God wants, or on what I want? Am I pleasing the Lord or pleasing myself? I Corinthians 10:31 says,
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
If I'm eating meat because it's tasty and I enjoy it, but have never considered what God would want me to do, then that is wrong. Likewise, if I choose not to eat meat for certain reasons, yet never give God's will any consideration, then I am wrong there as well. Every man should only choose to do the things which he is fully persuaded that the Lord wants him to do based upon his knowledge of the will of God.
What choices are you making, and why are you making them?
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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