Following your own convictions while thinking about others in the process

whats up guys! I hope this encourages you but also leads to growth in one area or another in your life! <3

Romans 14

Verses 1-2 says:

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.

Accept one another!

Quit arguing about silly things. 

We all have our own walk with Jesus!

And you’ll notice how it says FOR INSTANCE. 

This chapter is about so much more than what you eat. 

It is so much deeper than that.

It’s about having a sensitive conscience. 

Caring about other people. 

And growing in your Faith.

While also allowing others to grow as well…. at their own pace. 

Everyones Faith and convictions are different than yours(different than mine) 

Same with their sensitivity. 

And that’s okay! 

God loves us regardless of where we are at. 

All He asks is that we come to Him. 

AS WE ARE! 

So wherever you are, right now, you can come to your Father. 

You haven’t prayed this week, this month, this year. 

It doesn’t matter.

He is always waiting,

with his arms open wide. 

That’s s so encouraging!

And when your sensitivity to your conscience and to the Holy Spirit grow, your Faith grows with it. And your relationship with the Father grows with it. 

And with sensitivity comes vulnerability. 

Which we all know that vulnerability can take you to a whole new level in any relationship.

Because when you can open up to someone or get vulnerable with someone, you have to trust them, you have to be close to them.

That’s are whole goal isn’t it? To grow closer to the Father? 

We should be growing closer to God every day… 

That means transformation is happening every day. 

So something that might not have convicted you 4 years ago, might convict you now. 

That’s growth!!

The closer you get to God,

the more you start to:

want what He wants

and love what He loves! 

This chapter is about accepting each other with where we are at

Loving others.

And living a life for God. 

We see further down in Chapter 14! 

Versus 7-8

 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

And when you chose to live this way, I do believe there will be things in your life that you will choose to give up or part ways with. 

The closer you get to Jesus, the further away you get from whatever it is that keeps you from him. 

Verse 13 is says:

13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

We HAVE to keep in mind that everyone’s walk with Christ is different.

It is completely different than yours, it is completely different than mine. 

It’s our job to live a life LIKE Christ. 

We are going to mess up and get it wrong… its okay. no one is perfect. 

But it is our job to try to be more like Christ every day.

So what does that mean?

That means we LOVE PEOPLE where they are at. 

(We are always growing guys, this is a never ending thing… we always need encouragement and we always need to be encouraging)

Your friends, your volunteers, those you hang out with...

they should be able to be real around you. 

And vice versa. 

We aren’t here to be fake.

We aren’t here to have it all together.

We aren’t here for the biggest house and nicest car.

None of that matters if we aren’t close to our Father.

None of the matters if we aren’t loving one another and growing with one another.

We HAVE to love each other BETTER. 

So personally….

There are things that I have given up/chosen not to do. 

Not because I think they are sinful. 

Not because I think they are right or wrong. 

My decision was based solely on the fact that I FELT CONVICTED. 

There are worldly things that I used to love to do…(and if I’m being honest, still want to do) but I truly believe the closer I got to Christ.. its like my love for him became greater than my love for those things. 

I know when I say this, you guys are instantly thinking drugs and alcohol.

But it’s so much more than that… people struggle in more than those areas. 

People struggle with more than that.. people struggle with lust, shopping addictions, pornography, depression, anxiety, or jealousy… 

So when I’m talking about being careful not to tempt someone or cause someone to stumble, I’m not just talking about drugs and alcohol. 

There are people I wouldn’t ask to go shopping with me. Not because I don’t want them too. But I don’t want to be the one responsible for putting them in a situation where they may spend money they shouldn’t, or leave feeling discouraged. 

And there are things I wouldn’t watch with certain people if it has scenes that might make them uncomfortable, uneasy, or feel a certain way afterwards.

People struggle with all sorts of things. and I just try to be mindful of that. And I try to be intentional with what I do, how I act, and what I say.. because my daily prayer is to be used by God. 

And I really mean it… I want to be used by God. 

Because God doesn’t want people to feel that way, He doesn't want them to feel discouraged, or to stumble. He wants people to grow, to come closer to Him. To feel loved and accepted. 

And that’s what we as Christians should be doing. 

My husband and I have struggled(we all have in one area or another) and have many friends who have struggled in all different areas of life… and we have chosen to live our lives (the best we can) to not cause anyone to stumble.

And please know….

We aren’t perfect.

We mess up.

Please believe me when I say, I mess up. 

But always remembering God’s Grace is enough. 

He loves me. 

He forgives me.

And you can’t let one mess up or minor set back hold you back from what God is calling you to do or how God is calling you to live. 

Versus 22-23

22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

We gotta follow our own convictions guys. 

You don’t have a shopping problem, awesome! 

But be careful who you are going with.

You don’t have a drinking problem, awesome!

But be careful you are doing it with.

You don’t have a lust problem, awesome! Go watch 50 shades of grey… 

But be careful who you are watching it with!

Just think about others. Life isn’t about us. It's about loving others. It's about serving others.

And of course, if you have any doubts about what you are doing, pray about it! 

Growth isn’t always easy, but it's so worth it!

So as always, I hope this encourages you.

I hope it challenges you. 

It challenges me. 

I love you guys!

Let’s be the best friends to each other that we can be!

And I would encourage you guys to ask God each morning this next month to help you be intentional with everyone you talk to/hangout with this month… and to use you to Glorify Him and to make aw difference in someones life! 

I hope you guys have a great day/week/month/year!

I'll see you next time!! 

Peace!