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AUGUST 16
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which brother stumbles or is offended or is made
make for peace and the things by which one weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself
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may edify another. Do not destroy the work before God. Happy is he who does not con-
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of God for the sake of food. All things indeed demn himself in what he approves. But he
are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats who doubts is condemned if he eats, because
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with offense. It is good neither to eat meat he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not
nor drink wine nor do anything by which your from faith is sin.
DAY 15: How is unity maintained within the church when there is so much diversity?
Reading through Romans 14:1–12, it is clear that the diversity of the church displays Christ’s
power to bring together dissimilar people in genuine unity.Yet Satan often works on man’s unre-
deemed flesh to create division and threaten that unity. The threat to unity Paul addresses in this
passage arises when mature (strong) believers—both Jews and Gentiles—conflict with immature
(weak) believers. The strong Jewish believers understood their freedom in Christ and realized the
ceremonial requirements of the Mosaic Law were no longer binding. The mature Gentiles under-
stood that idols are not gods and, therefore, that they could eat meat that had been offered to
them. But in both cases the weaker brothers’ consciences were troubled, and they were even
tempted to violate their consciences, become more legalistic under the feelings of guilt, or even to
sin. Knowing that the mature Jews and Gentiles would be able to understand these struggles, Paul
addresses most of his comments to them.
The secret to unity begins with the willingness to “receive one who is weak in the faith”(v. 1).
The Greek word refers to personal and willing acceptance of another. This characterizes those
believers who are unable to let go of the religious ceremonies and rituals of their past. The weak
Jewish believer had difficulty abandoning the rites and prohibitions of the Old Covenant; he felt
compelled to adhere to dietary laws, observe the Sabbath, and offer sacrifices in the temple. The
weak Gentile believer had been steeped in pagan idolatry and its rituals; he felt that any contact
with anything remotely related to his past,including eating meat that had been offered to a pagan
deity and then sold in the marketplace,tainted him with sin.Both had very sensitive consciences in
these areas and were not yet mature enough to be free of those convictions.
Neither one should “despise…judge”the other (v.3).“Despise”indicates a contempt for some-
one as worthless, who deserves only disdain and abhorrence.“Judge” is equally strong and means
“to condemn.” Paul uses them synonymously: The strong hold the weak in contempt as legalistic
and self-righteous;the weak judge the strong to be irresponsible at best and perhaps depraved.“To
his own master he stands or falls”(v.4).How Christ evaluates each believer is what matters, and His
judgment does not take into account religious tradition or personal preference.

No! But He would take note of me.
AUGUST 16 7 There the upright could reason with
Him,
And I would be delivered forever from
Job 23:1–25:6 my Judge.
23 Then Job answered and said: 8 “Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive
“Even today my complaint is bitter; Him;
2
My hand is listless because of my 9 When He works on the left hand,
groaning. I cannot behold Him;
Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, When He turns to the right hand,
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That I might come to His seat! I cannot see Him.
I would present my case before Him, But He knows the way that I take;
4 10
And fill my mouth with arguments. When He has tested me, I shall come
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I would know the words which He forth as gold.
would answer me, 11 My foot has held fast to His steps;
And understand what He would say I have kept His way and not turned
to me. aside.
Would He contend with me in His I have not departed from the
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great power? commandment of His lips;
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