MORNING MEDITATION
Glean the Word:
Romans 14:1-23
Glimpse of Glory: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (v. 17)
The priority concern in our Christian walk is that of the inner life, for the kingdom of God is within. We live in an world that is hostile towards God, and the very atmosphere we breath unfits us for His kingdom. We walk on a spiritual battlefield, every day we are at war, from without and within; and the only way we will be conquerors is by character, not by force. How we live is of utmost concern, because the single aim of our life is God and His kingdom, and not ourselves. Who we are and what we do, as Christians, is meant to above all bring glory to God. Pleasing God, and not ourselves is to be our greatest priority and pursuit. Jesus provided the supreme example of living in this realm that is not our home. His whole life was one of absolute dependence on, and obedience to, the will of the Father. "My food...is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work" (John 4:34). As His followers, we must be careful not to get distracted by the insignificant matters of life and ministry, but to remain focused on the more important matters of the kingdom of God.
As believers, our priority is our intimacy with the Lord. Yielding to the Holy Spirit and cultivating a godly life are essential to the building up of the body of Christ. We are to grow in knowledge of the Lord so that we can minister in love to our brothers and sisters, as we seek to build up and edify one another in the faith. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:19). Our ministry is in righteousness to God, in peace to our brothers and sisters, and in joy in the Holy Spirit to ourselves. "Because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men" (v. 18). As we pray, let us look for ways to build each other up in the faith and to do those things which lead to greater harmony. May we all look within rather than looking around us, and seek to dedicate our lives more fully to holy living and godly service so that the body of Christ can be strong and the heavenly Father glorified in our unity! "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I" (Isaiah 58:6-9a).
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