Devotional : KINGDOM LIVING: Prioritizing Righteousness, Peace, and Joy

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We bless God for another beautiful day. Yesterday, we learnt about the topic "Living In Harmony Under God’s Lordship".

As we proceed in the word of God today, may we be blessed in Jesus' name. Amen.


Scripture for Today: Romans 14:13-23 NIV‬

‭ _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. 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. 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. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual_ _edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat,_ _because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin._



 DISCUSSION


These verses give another very important principle. Each believer must learn to live for the good of others and not to please himself. Eating this thing or that, or refusing to eat it, is a small matter in itself. But if it grieves or offends someone else it is no longer a small matter. We must not insist on doing what we want regardless of the effect it has on other believers. Christ died for those believers. Don’t we care enough about them to change any habit which strikes a blow at their faith?


The important thing in God’s kingdom is not being able to eat or drink what one wants, or having personal freedom in all matters of dispute. It is to act in a way that promotes the basic elements of God’s kingdom – righteousness, peace and joy. Doing as we please will promote none of these. 


Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of prioritizing peace and righteousness in our relationships with others. He reminds us that the kingdom of God is not about external practices, but about the internal work of the Holy Spirit, bringing righteousness, peace, and joy.


The heart of this passage is a call to love over liberty. Even though we may be free in Christ to do certain things, that freedom should never come at the expense of another believer’s spiritual growth. To knowingly wound a weaker brother or sister by flaunting our freedom is to sin against Christ .


Paul challenges us to live with eternity in mind, seeking what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding (v.19). Christian maturity means being willing to limit our freedom out of love for others. This is not weakness but Christlike strength. Jesus Himself gave up His own rights for our sake (Philippians 2:5–8).


Keeping the conscience clear and free from accusations of guilt is very important. If we permit ourselves to do something against the warnings of conscience, we sin and make ourselves unclean. If we cannot do something with the assurance that it is all right we must not do it. 


As we seek to live out our faith in a way that honors God, may we prioritize peace and righteousness, and may our lives be marked by joy in the Holy Spirit.


PRAYER


* Heavenly Father, help me to prioritize peace and righteousness in my relationships with others.


* Give me the wisdom to consider the impact of my actions and to build others up rather than tearing them down.


* Let my life be a reflection of the kingdom of God, characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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