(Rom 14:23) “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  This world needs an example of self sacrifice in the face of weakness of conscience. Such love may open the heart of the lost to hear the truth regarding all things.

(Rom 14:22) “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” Keep the context in mind. It is not sin for that which you eat or enjoy by faith with clear conscience. It becomes sin when you put that thing before the conscience of another, putting self before others.

(Rom 14:21) “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” Others before self, true sacrificial love, loving our neighbors as ourselves: this verse puts all that into practice.

(Rom 14:20) “For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.” Destroy in what way? The soul put off by our action; the harmony among the church. The thing which is not in itself a sin becomes a sin for us, for our freedom is to do as we ought rather than as we please.

(Rom 14:19) “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”  “Follow after the…things wherewith one may edify another.” If we have offended another person’s conscience through something we allow into our life, they will resent us and therefore not listen to godly instruction from us. If we are to edify, build them up spiritually, we will have to first cast aside the thing that offends them. Is their soul’s good worth it?

(Rom 14:19) “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Some have mistaken this to mean it was all right to overlook doctrine. No, that is God’s. Context: self’s desires. Put away self’s desires for the sake of peace, the soul that needs Christ Jesus.

(Rom 14:18) “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”  Men may choose to stand against the doctrines of the Lord, but find themselves hard pressed to speak against the person who puts them before himself. That same person should point them to Jesus: “Jesus put you first dying for your sins on Calvary’s cross.” 

(Rom 14:18) “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”  Does what things? Puts others before self for the sake of their souls and the testimony of the Lord. In putting others first, we are in reality acknowledging our God as our Lord.

(Rom 14:17) “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”   I am afraid so many of us never enter into this area of blessing – “joy in the Holy Ghost”. Our lives should be filled with joy, not from the things of this world, but from the Holy Ghost prompting us to rejoice in our Savior and the life He has given us.

(Rom 14:17) “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”   “Peace” of soul knowing we are in the very hands of God Himself: (Joh 10:27) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”