Romans–Passionate Christian Theology
Romans 14, “one bite at a time”, The Message
“What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.”
My mom was extremely overweight most of her life. She ate wrong things for her, she cheated on her diet, she ate right things but too much of even the right things. She seemingly had no control over what went into her mouth. Her doctors repeated told her that her heart cannot take this abuse. Finally, she committed to going each week to “watching her weight” with a group of others.
I was still living at home but working my way through college. I got home before she did from her work so it was my job, with dad’s help, to begin preparing dinner, specifically and strictly according to the new diet. That way, she was not near the food that would hurt her while it was being prepared. Even her lunches were prepared and put into boxes. She came home, then, to a completed dinner. After a year of this adhering strictly to this new way of life for her. She took off one hundred pounds…another person so to speak, that she was literally carrying around for years. The burden was gone. She lived a healthier life. Her self-esteem was at it’s highest level in years. She accomplished a lot of her dreams, of “I wonder if…”. We were very proud of her.
What was the most important through all of this? Keeping Holy days, holy to God. Mom never missed giving glory to God every time the church doors were open. It wasn’t so much the diet itself, but God helping her to be healthier so she could give even greater testimony about the God who helped her. We gave all the glory to God for He helped all of us help her to help herself. Her consistent testimony was declared to all…”He helped me, He can help you, too!” I remember her smile even now as I remember her telling anyone and everyone who had a few pounds to lose, you can do it, too…God will help you! Teach your family to help you!
So, it isn’t so much what you put in your mouth as Who you thank and worship for helping you decide what is best for you. Keep Holy Days as pure worship with grateful hearts to the God we love and Who loves us best, for HE is the One and Only who can make us holy before Him. Keep it for GOD”S sake.
Dear Heavenly Father, We love you back with all our hearts, minds and souls. We need You every hour of every day, but we will stop our daily work to rest and give You praise on this Holy Day with grateful hearts for bringing us this far. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for Your Holy Presence in our lives. Thank you for your unconditional love, mercy and grace. We realize it is not so much what we put into our mouths but with what we fill our hearts, minds and souls. O Lord, fill us now, we pray.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Singing…
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord
There are sweet expressions on each face
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord
Sweet Holy Spirit… sweet heavenly dove…
Stay right here with us
Filling us with Your love
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise
Without a doubt we know
That we’ll have been revived
When we shall leave this place
Attend a Bible teaching place of worship this morning with this song on Your heart and You will be blessed…
