Romans 14:20–23 (ESV)
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
20 Do
not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith
that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from
faith is sin.
Don’t let differences in opinion over food ruin a person’s relationship with God. I would really be mad at myself if someone with a weak faith walked away from God because
of something I might have said about their food or eating style. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. The Lutheran Study Bible states: “Paul continues to deal specifically with first-century controversial issues among Jewish
and Gentile Christians (foods and holy days). Paul knows all foods are clean, but flaunting his freedoms will give offense in the presence of Jewish Christians who still observe OT food laws. In a similar manner, we should not engage in behaviors that would
cause other believers to stumble in their faith. When we commit actions against our own Spirit-informed Christian conscience, we sin. Freedom in Christ is not simply freedom from the Law, but freedom given for a purpose, to serve others in love (Gal 5:13).
God’s kingdom (14:17) has been given to us through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.”
I pray: Father, thank You for the freedom You give me
in the kingdom of Your Son, Jesus. May I enjoy my freedom by using it to serve others. Show me when I ought to limit my freedom for the benefit of my brothers and sisters in the faith. Amen.