October 29, 2018

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO RECEIVE EACH OF US

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 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. 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.

We all have our own opinions. We all have our own quirks. We also all have our own weaknesses. Unfortunately, that brings with it a whole lot of judgement of others. When someone has a different opinion than we do, or when someone does things differently than we do, we criticize that. Criticism is a form of rejecting. When it comes to spiritual issues, some people just don’t know better. Some have not been taught any different. Some people just have a different perspective. The Bible is our final authority, and the truth of God’s Word is not debatable, but there are some religious opinions and preferences that differ. God says that we should receive those that are of like faith, but not to argue and debate with each other constantly.

In this passage, some apparently felt is acceptable to eat certain things that other people did not think was acceptable. The difference is that if a God receives them, who are we not to? Verse four says, “who art thou that judges another man’s servant”. God is saying that other people do not answer to us. They are not our servants. God is who other believers answer to, not us. God is able to receive them, and God is able to make them stand. If a brother or sister in Christ is wrong about something, God will take care of it. It is God’s responsibility and right to do so. We should still love and care about each other because we are part of the same family. We might feel differently about some things. We are all probably right about some things and wrong about some things. Either way, we all serve and answer to God, not each other. If God is able to receive someone, shouldn’t we?