02/15          Romans 14:17-18 

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 

CARE

The Lord cares for people.  It is important for us to understand that our call is to care for people.  The Lord cares for us and we are His hands and feet in caring for others.  People count.  You count.  Serve. 

02/14          Romans 14:14-16 

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.  15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 

DEBT
We owe each other love from a pure heart and a committed mind.  When we do for others we are serving Jesus.  When we care for our neighbor we are caring with the hands of God.  

02/13          Romans 14:12-13 

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 

SERVE

Serve the Lord with gladness and love one another.  People need love.  People need people who care.  

02/12          Romans 14:10-11 

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister ? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  11 It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” 

JUDGE

Do not judge.  When we point one finger of judgment at others there are three fingers pointing at us.  We never know what a person is dealing with and we are never without guilt.  We cannot judge with complete knowledge and/or without bias.  Love the Lord.  Love one another.  

02/11          Romans 14:7 -9

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 

FREE

We are free from slavery when we have Jesus.  He sets us free from all the things that condemn us.  We are strong in Jesus.  Weak in self. 

02/10          Romans 14:5-6 

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.  6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 

HARMONY
When we bend the knee to God, giving thanks for all things we discover how important gratitude is in our view of who we are.  We are His children and as such will act more like Jesus every day.  God is love and He is calling us to love one another.  

02/09          Romans 14:4 

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 

CAREFUL

Be careful what you think and say.  First take it to the Lord.  Is it kind?  Is it proper?  When criticize someone we are elevating ourselves and saying I’m better than them because ….  We are children of God and as His child we love one another and lead humble, unassuming lives.  Love the Lord and love His people.  

02/08          Romans 14:1-3 

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.  2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

PEOPLE

GOD loves people.  He calls us to love people.  All people.  People count with God and they should count with us.  Make sure you are treating others the way you would like to be treated.  Jesus is Lord.  

02/07          Psalm 5:11 

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. 12 For you bless the godly, O LORD ; you surround them with your shield of love.

REJOICE

We can rejoice every day for our Lord Jesus lives.  He lives forever.  All that He does is right.  Jesus said He and the Father are One and indeed He is the mighty God worthy of all praise and honor and He loves us.  

02/06          Psalm 5:9-10 

My enemies cannot speak a truthful word. Their deepest desire is to destroy others. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with flattery. 10 O God, declare them guilty. Let them be caught in their own traps. Drive them away because of their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 

REBELLED

It is easy to see who has rebelled against God.  They ignore His commandments and destroy the value of people.  Everyone is fair game for destruction to them.  Tragically, even though they mistreatment many, they will not escape judgment from the Lord.  God’s way is perfect.  Man’s way is destruction.