…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. Romans 14:6
The issue the writer is discussing here is eating meat previously sacrificed in the name of some idol. Not really a pressing matter for people today, at least not for those in the Western hemisphere.
But the heart of the matter is still very much an issue for us, that is, our rights and freedoms as individuals.
One person thinks nothing of having a glass of wine after dinner, while another believes the practice of consuming any alcohol to be a sin and would never touch the stuff. Some Christians are Republicans, and some are Democrats, and most can’t understand why anyone would join the other party. Examples of expanding or limiting our rights and freedoms go on and on.
But beneath each issue we wrestle with lies a heart redeemed from sin by Jesus Christ. And it is from that heart that our morals and ethics develop and our stances on various issues form. But as Paul suggests, if we follow the Lord in humble obedience, we soon realize that a heart of thankfulness is more critical than our views about anything.
When we have a thankful heart, we can pray for God’s will, submitting our will to His because He knows best.
There is no need to get worked up or agitated when people don’t behave as you wish—because Christ is Lord, and He will prevail. If you feel compelled to preach from a soapbox in the town square, let your message be about the love of Jesus, not about how people who don’t see things the way you do are going to hell in a handbasket.
Voting your way might change a few laws, but only Jesus can change the human heart—thus, the world.
Give thanks today for this diverse and peculiar world wherein we are stewards of God’s grace.