Monthly Archives: May 2020

Asserting rights? Being right?

Fellow-disciples consider…

Arguments abound. Opinions differ. For decades, Paul dealt with people who were convinced they were right about this and that. In the following passage he talks about how I should not allow my opinion to become more important than my brother. Please read and consider how our opinions could be “stumbling blocks”.

“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭14:10-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Some truths upon which to reflect during a time of growing division…

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans‬ ‭12:3-5‬)

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” ‭(Romans‬ ‭15:1‬)

…that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:6-7‬)

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”‭ (Matthew‬ ‭20:26ff)

Here’s a suggestion… put your ear buds in and listen to Psalms 135 and 136…

The M’Cheyne reading plan often has great themes on a given day. These themes show the unity of Scripture and encourage me. Here is what I consider a theme of the deliverer: The Lord!

10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. Zechariah‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ESV

“And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬