Paul may have understood grace better than anyone else who ever lived. Christians were killed because God called him to be an evangelist. He wrote a lot of the New Testament. He made clear to the church many of the core beliefs of our faith, but he also left room for people with different beliefs about small aspects of living out our faith.
People in the early church didn’t always agree on things like which day to pray and whether Christians could eat food that may have been given to idols. Paul told people to follow their feelings when it came to how they lived out their faith in these areas. Don’t do something if you think it’s wrong. Don’t make a big deal out of someone who doesn’t share your beliefs, though. And don’t use your freedom in front of a fellow believer who has a different belief on purpose to tempt them. We should limit our freedom so that we don’t trip anyone else up, says Paul.
For love’s sake, being able to choose not to do what we really want to do is real freedom. It gives us the freedom to walk in the Spirit and show the kindness we’ve received. God will judge each of us for what we say and do. You should live your life so that you can look forward to the account you will give that day.
Think about this: Fellowship is based on the things we share, like how much we love Jesus and appreciate what He has done for us. It is the humble soul that won’t keep arguing about small ideas and unimportant beliefs.
Romans 14:5
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
