Romans - Week 32

We Belong to the Day

READ

Romans 13:13-14

13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Paul appeals to believers to live decent lives that others can see. He tells what to avoid as well as what to do. He tells them what not to do in public as well as what they should do in private. Believers should live as if Jesus is present with them because He actually lives inside of them. Always conscious of the power of the mind, Paul tells Christ-followers not even to be thinking about how they might indulge their evil desires.

REFLECT

How are you doing with the list Paul gives? Are you heeding what he says not to do in public and what he says to do in private?

RESPOND

As you conclude looking at the 13^th chapter of Romans, talk with your disciple about what you have learned about this chapter. Keep each other accountable by asking specific questions of each other.

Weak in Faith

READ

Romans 14:1-2

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.

In Romans 14 Paul is writing about “questionable” matters. They are not matters that the Bible has spoken clearly for or against; instead, they are questions that fall into a gray area of secondary issues. The passage also deals with not trying to force a person to go against his conscience. The important question as Paul was writing was, Is it acceptable to eat meat that has been first sacrificed to idols and then put on the market place for sale? This would include the best meats (see 1 Corinthians 8). Another question could be about Jewish believers who thought it was wrong to eat certain foods.

REFLECT

Are you careful when differing with another believer not to try to get him or her to go against their conscience?

RESPOND

Talk about the conscience with your disciple. Read 1 Timothy 1:18-20 about those who go contrary to their conscience.

Dietary Matters

READ

Romans 14:3

3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

The one who feels free to eat anything is the “strong” believer who knows about Christian liberty. Those who yet do not believe they have such liberty are not to judge, those who do. Plus, those who have the liberty are not to look down on those who do not.  God has accepted both groups so these people should not be judging or looking down on one another.

REFLECT

Have you had a problem with either situation? Are you one who judges other believers or looks down on some?

RESPOND

Talk to your disciple about this problem of judging some believers or looking down on others. Check your own hearts to make sure this is not happening.

Stand and Receive

READ

Romans 14:4

4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

Paul views the world as a household run by God, the Master. Each servant is responsible only to the Master and not to fellow servants. One believer, therefore, should not be sitting in judgment on another believer because both will have to someday give account to the Master. Paul adds that with the Lord’s help they will receive approval.

RELECT

Read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 that tells about the time when each believer will give account to Jesus.

Honoring God

READ

Romans 14:5-6

5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

Special days were a problem with the early Christians. Those from Jewish background were still thinking of the Sabbath being a more holy day than any other day of the week.  Believing Gentiles considered all days to be holy, although they worshipped on Sunday, the day of the resurrection of Jesus. Paul also mentions the differences over food in this passage. Here is seen the custom of giving thanks before eating.

REFLECT

Do you consider one day to be holier than others or all days alike? Do you also give thanks for the food you eat?

RESPOND

Read Colossians 2:16-17 about Paul, a former Pharisee concerned about Jewish laws, said after his conversion to Christ.