Insignificant Baggage

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.  – Romans 14:5

All travelers have to determine the amount of luggage they will require for the trips they make. They may take a cup of coffee or a bottle of water as they make their way to work. A day trip may require a small bag but, if the time extends over a longer period of days or weeks, the amount of baggage could be weighty.

Sometimes a person may bring a different kind of “baggage” into a relationship. Unresolved issues may cause a person to respond to their friend’s actions or words in a negative manner. Someone’s upbringing usually affects how they relate to others or interpret various situations.

Now think of the backgrounds of the followers of Christ. This new “Way” accepted all kinds of people into its midst – the rich and poor, the highly educated and the illiterate, the sick, feeble, or slave and the strong centurion, Jew, or Gentile. What a mixture of people… all with different backgrounds, but now all believing in Christ, their Savior to redeem them from sin! The apostle Paul instructed them to hold on to what was right and true but to not let matters of insignificance, that are neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture, not cause strife in the community of believers.

It is no different today. Be aware of your actions so you do not cause another to stumble in their faith. The faithful believer should not live for self, but for the Lord (Romans 14:7-8). Ask the Lord to enable you to glorify Christ in your daily life, helping others to see His love and saving grace. Pray that those in the spotlight of leadership would also remember who they serve and be the guiding light for others.

Today’s Verse: Romans 14:5

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Romans 14:1-8, 13-19

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 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.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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