Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 3
Monday


RESOLVE TO
RESOLVE

READ:
Romans 14:1-13
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Resolve this, not to put
a stumbling block or
a cause to fall in our
brother's way.
__Romans 14:13
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I haven't made any New Year's resolutions since 1975. I haven't needed any new ones__I'm still working on old ones like these: write at least a short note in my journal every day; make a strong effort to read my Bible and pray each day; organize my time; try to keep my room clean (this was before I had a whole house to keep clean).

This year, however, I am adding a new resolution that I found in Paul's letter to Romans: "Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way" (14:13). Although this resolution is old (about 2,000 years), it is one that we should renew annually. Like believers in Rome centuries ago, believers today sometimes make up rules for others to follow and insist on adherence to certain behaviors and beliefs that the Bible says little or nothing about. These "stumbling blocks" make it difficult for followers of Jesus to continue in the way of faith that He came to show us__that salvation is by grace not works (Gal. 2:16). It requires only that we trust in His death and resurrection for forgiveness.

We can celebrate this good news of Christ in the coming year by resolving not to set up hurdles that cause people to stumble. __Julie Ackerman Link

```````````````````Thank You, Lord, that You sent the Holy Spirit`````````````````
``````````````````````````to do the work of convicting.```````````````````````
```````````````````May I be content with my own assignment:```````````````````
```````````````````to do what leads to peace and edification.```````````````````
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Faith is the hand that receives God's gift,
then faith is the feet that walk with God.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 14:1-3******************************

1 Receive one who is weak
in the faith, but not to
disputes over doubtful
things....

5 One person esteems one
day above another; another
esteems every day alike. Let
each be fully convinced in
his own mind. 6 He who
observes the day, observes
it to the Lord; and he who
does not observe the day, to
the Lord he does not
observe it. He who eats,
eats to the Lord, for he
gives God thanks; and he
who does not eat, to the
Lord he does not eat, and
gives God thanks. 7 For
none of us lives to himself,
and no one dies to himself.

8 For if we live, we live to
the Lord; and if we die, we
die to the Lord. Therefore,
whether we live or die, we
are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ
died and rose and lived
again, that He might be
Lord of both the dead and
the living. 10 But why do
you judge your brother? Or
why do you show contempt
for your brother? For we
shall all stand before the
judgement seat of Christ.

11 For it is written: "As I
live, says the LORD, every
knee shall bow to Me, and
every tongue shall confess
to God." 12 So then each of
us shall give account of
himself to God.

13 Therefore let us not
judge one another anymore,
but rather resolve this, not
to put a stumbling block or
a cause to fall in our
brother's way.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:9-10) is believed
to speak of a time in the future when followers of Christ will be held
accountable by the Savior for their lives lived in His name__resulting
in either receiving rewards or losing rewards.


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