Romans 14
My parents put us kids in public school growing up, which is something they’d say they never regret. And us kids, too, had a really positive experience.
There seems to be two outlooks, as Christians, for the choice of school; whether it’s private, public, or homeschool. Either you feel God’s calling and conviction for your kid to be a light in that school, where you pray they’ll be a good influence and create more followers of Jesus.
Or you’re protecting your children, keeping them safe and secure from the Sodoms of this world. Either way, these parents are following God’s calling and conviction for their lives.
Have you noticed how difficult it is to appreciate, or even understand, someone else’s conviction?
Paul knew this, which is why he wrote to the Romans:
“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:4 ESV
My older sister, Nicole, seems to really excel at this. While most of us have a fiery passion fueling our own opinions, she has always entered every conversation, with no partiality. She could be the expert on a subject or hold strong convictions but you wouldn’t have any idea. How refreshing it is, to have someone to trust to walk with you, in love, for where you are at.
And that’s the beautiful thing about what Paul is saying here, not that everyone’s convictions are right, but that even if you are stronger in your faith and someone else is weaker, it is not beneficial to force them into your own convictions, “Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
Romans 14:18-19 ESV
I really struggle with understanding how God could lead me to conclude one thing, so undeniably, as if it is written out in the Word itself, yet someone else moved in a completely different direction.
But the key is that the Holy Spirit is personal. He is not just some point-blank conscience for us to obey and pursue. He is unique and individual to each and every one of us.
I don’t know about you, but Romans 14 really did a number on me this morning. It’s taught me to stop spending so much time concerned with the convictions of others, and just trust that God is working on their heart, too. It may just look different than it does to me, and thank God for that. He knows better than I do.
“The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.”
Romans 14:22 ESV
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