Bible Study with Danelle

When I read this passage of the letter from Paul, I am glad to know that even the early Christians disagreed on the little stuff. From reading this, it sounds like there was disagreements even then on what you should and should not do that was not spiritually significant.

As the church, we tend to judge each other on trivial matters that have no significance to our relationship or salvation. This not only happens in daily life, but I see it often between different denominations of the Christian church. And from that, we judge each other for it.

How many times have your heard Baptist drinking jokes? I know I have heard my fair share. And there are many other examples on how we judge each other on trivial matters.

What I believe Paul is saying here is that some of the trivial things (like whether or not to drink alcohol) are things that we should stop judging each other for. Now, especially in this time, we need to be coming together and lifting each other up as Christians.

Paul tells us:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 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 14:17-19

If we are concerned with trivial differences, we miss the point. We lose sight of what God truly wants for His kingdom.

In our Sunday services, don’t quarrel on if you are supposed to kneel or throw up your hands in worshipful song. Or sit quietly taking it all in. God doesn’t care if you dress in a beautiful dress and your best hat or you are in jeans and a t-shirt. That is trivial. That is not what brings relationship and righteousness. God is working on each person that enters that room. Our job is to welcome and uplift each one.

As I am writing this, there is a revival happening that started at Asbury University that has been going on for over a week. Non-stop worship, testimony, and teaching. Praise Jesus! People from everywhere are coming. I heard even today that people from other countries are coming to experience this amazing encounter with the Holy Spirit, and it is spreading to other colleges as well. People are not concerned what denomination you are. Heck, some skeptics are even going just to see what is happening. Paul tells us to welcome them. Even the weak in faith.

I pray for revival to spread to all the churches and to all the people. We need it now more than ever before. Please pray with me for the Holy Spirit to move across this country. That people will be renewed in their spirit.

We don’t know the day or the hour, so we always need to be prepared in our heart for when Jesus comes back for us.

I pray today that you will have a renewal of spirit. I pray that as we move into the Lent season next week, that you will grow even closer to God and your relationship with Him.