Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Devotions: Ps 87, 90. 136; Gen 29:1-20; Rom 14:1-23; Jn 8:47-59

Jerusalem, God’s city, stands on the holy mountain. It’s a privilege to be born in Zion, to be a citizen of God’s home town—this fact is noted in the Book of Life. Yerushalyim is the fountainhead of song and dance! God, You have been our Dwelling Place from the beginning; You Are before heaven and earth. We mortals are dust, and You sweep us away like dust in dreams, but we spring up again, like grass in the desert. We are consumed by Your wrath, blessed by Your steadfast love. Teach me to number my days, that I may obtain and keep the heart of wisdom. Make me rejoice as many days as I have wept; let Your works be manifest to all Your servants. Let the favor of YHWH our God be upon us, and Lord, establish the work of our hands! We give You thanks, Lord, for You are good! Your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever, and they sustain us moment by moment. You are the Wonder-worker; you made the heavens and the earth, the lands and seas, the heavenly bodies. He brought Israel out of Egypt, smiting all the firstborn of the oppressors; He opened the sea before His people, and shut it on the hosts of Pharaoh. He guided His own through four decades in the desert; He drove out peoples and kings before His people and settled them in the Land of Promise, for their eternal heritage. He remembers me in my low estate; He has rescued me, too, from all my enemies. I give You thanks, Lord of heaven, for Your steadfast love endures forever.

Jacob arrived in Mesopotamia, and saw a well in a field, with three flocks nearby; the well’s floor was stopped by a large stone. He inquired after Laban bar-Nahor. They told him Laban was well, and that his daughter, Rachel, was arriving with one of his flocks as they spoke. When she arrived, Jacob went to the well and moved the large stone, and watered Laban’s flock. Then he kissed Rachel and wept aloud, telling her that he was her father’s nephew, Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. Laban ran out to meet Jacob, embraced and kissed him and brought him to Laban’s home. Jacob recounted his situation, and Laban welcomed him to stay. After a month, Laban offered Jacob wages to work for him. Jacob was already smitten with Rachel, and he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’ Laban agreed: ‘Better I give her to you than a stranger; stay with me.’ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel; they passed as if a few days, because he loved her so.

Paul’s instructions continue: Welcome those whose faith is weak, but don’t dispute with them over opinions. Let God be the Arbiter and Master of all. Some observe dietary restrictions, others don’t. One esteems a particular day over others, another sees each day as equivalent. Let everyone conduct themselves according to their own conscience, and do whatever they do to the Lord’s honor. None of us lives to himself or dies to himself; we live or die to the Lord—we are His. So don’t judge your brothers and sisters in the faith. We will all stand before God at the judgment and give account for ourselves, not for others. Decide never to put a stumbling block in the path of other Christians. Jesus persuaded me that nothing is unclean in itself, but anything one believes to be unclean is so for that person. If you abuse your liberty by practicing what your brothers or sisters see as ungodly, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t ruin the faith of one for whom Christ has died. The kingdom of God is not about food and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves the Messiah is acceptable to God and approved by men. So let’s pursue what makes for peace and edification. Everything indeed is clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make others fall by what he eats. Abstain if you need to do so to protect your brothers and sisters. The faith you have, keep between yourself and God. Happy is the one who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves. But one is condemned if he does what his scruples oppose: he does not act from faith, and whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Jesus taught: Whoever is of God hears God’s word; when one does not hear or understand, it is because that person is not of God. The Jews replied, ‘Aren’t we right to say that you are a half-breed and have a demon?’ Jesus answered, ‘I have no demon; I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. I don’t seem My own glory; there is One Who seeks it and He will be the Judge. Truly, truly I tell you, if any one keeps My word, he will never see death.’ The Jews said, ‘Now we know that you are demon-possessed. Abraham died, as did all the prophets; yet you say, “If any one keeps my word, he will never tasted death.” Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham who died? Or the prophets who died? Who do you claim to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father Who glorifies Me, of whom you say He is your God. But you have not known Him; I know Him. If I said I do not know Him, I should be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he was to see My day; he saw it and was glad.’ The Jews said, ‘You are not even 50 years old—and you have seen Abraham?’ Jesus said, ‘Truly, truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I Am.’ The Jews took up stones to throw and Jesus, but He hid Himself and went out of the temple.