Coffee With The Lord

Romans 14:13-23: Limiting “my freedom” for the sake of a fellow Christian

Several statements in this passage haunt me! Here they are…

“Resolve never to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in the way of a fellow Christian”

“If your brother [or sister] is grieved because of… you are no longer walking in love”

“Do not let your good be spoken of as evil”

“Pursue things which make for peace and the things by which we may edify [build up] one another”

“Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of (several things might be named) …”

“It is good neither to … do anything by which a fellow Christian stumbles or is offended or is made weak”

The point? The “law of love” demands that I be willing to limit my “freedom” for the welfare and benefit of a fellow Christian! I must be willing to do that… AND I WILL!!!

Sometime in our lives we will all face things that are terrifying to us – a situation that produces dread in our hearts.

Isaiah 33 raises that issue for God’s people Israel… The “destroyer” in this passage was probably “Assyria”. Assyria, in the ancient world, was the early purveyor of “shock and awe.” Their methods of warfare were notoriously cruel. They raped, pillaged and tortured their victims. God allowed them to be the agent of judgment upon His people for their sin…

In the face of that terrifying situation Isaiah voices a prayer on behalf of a righteous minority in the nation… He cried out, “O Lord, be gracious [merciful] to us!  We wait for you!  Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble!” (Isaiah 33.2 ESV).

Those words give voice to a prayer that I will need to pray someday in a terrifying situation! Perhaps you’re facing something like that right now! Perhaps it is a dreadful situation of your own making … Perhaps it isn’t. Doesn’t matter… PRAY THE PRAYER!! God will help you! He will sustain you!! He will be “your strong arm each day and your salvation in times of trouble!”

I read the story of Joseph in the Bible again this morning and his experiences in Potiphar’s house and in prison – as a slave and as a prisoner – a person who was treated unfairly and accused unjustly (Genesis 39).

Joseph is person who illustrates the adage “YOU CANNOT KEEP A GOOD MAN OR WOMAN DOWN!” Here is someone who shows us what it means to live with integrity and enjoy “THE FAVOR OF THE LORD”!! Here are some of the key phrases in the story [Check ‘em out in Genesis 39)…

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did… Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did… From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake… But the Lord was with Joseph in prison and showed him His faithful love… The Lord was with Joseph and caused everything he did to succeed.” (New Living Translation)

I WANT TO LIVE THAT WAY!! I want to deal with whatever life brings with such devotion to God and integrity that “the Lord MAKES me to prosper” and I enjoy “the favor of the Lord”!! I want to live my life daily in such a way that not only I am blessed but that others are blessed because of me… don’t you?