Who is Weak in Faith, and Who is Strong?

Scripture: Romans 14: 1-4

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls, and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Scripture Commentary: it is important to take a self inventory to discover where our faith is weak and where our faith is strong

Who is weak in faith, and who is strong?

We are all weak in some areas and strong in others. Our faith is strong in one area if we can survive contact with sinners without falling into their patterns. It is weak in an area if we must avoid certain activities, people, or places in order to protect our spiritual life.

It is important to take a self inventory in order to find out our strengths and weaknesses. Whenever in doubt, we should ask, “Can I do that without sinning? Can I influence others for good, rather than being influenced by them?”

In areas of strength we should not fear being defiled by the world, instead we should go and serve God. In areas of weakness, we need to be cautious. If we have a strong faith but shelter it, we are not doing Christ’s work in the world. If we have a weak faith but expose it, we are being extremely foolish.

Ask yourself, “Am I so strong, I need only myself, or is Jesus my salvation, my Lord?”

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Romans Chapter 14

Spread the Word And They Shall Know That There Hath Been A Prophet Among Them

For they are imprudent children and stiff hearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, thus saith the Lord God. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house) shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Ezekiel 2: 4-5

Commentary:

Are we today any different than the people of the time that God spoke to Ezekiel? I think not. Today, as then, we are not listening to God. We hear only the personality on TV and radio, not what God himself is saying. We are made from the dust of the earth, yet God chooses to plant within us his life and breath and to ask us to serve him, not ourselves. If we become open and obedient, God will fill our spirit and give us the power and strength to do His will.

God doesn’t expect us to understand everything about Him. He expects us to be willing and obedient servants. And to be faithful to what our spirit within us knows is true and right. We are not to be guided by worldly standards, in giving customers what they want. We are called to give God’s message to the people whether they will listen or not. Whether you reach one person or thousands, you are to carry God’s word to as many as you can. Do not look for personal gratification, look for salvation. God will not judge us for how well others respond to our faith, but for how faithful we have been to him.

Actively Honor the Lord

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

Isaiah 29:13

Commentary:

We as the people of this time claim to be close to God. But really we are just going through the motions. We slip into routine patterns when we worship and we neglect to give God our love and devotion. If we are to be people of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be obedient and worship him honestly and sincerely. We cannot be like the people of Judah, who sought advice from everyone but God.

When we are driven by fear, we tend to search everywhere for comfort, advice, and relief, hoping to find an easy way out of our troubles. God is the answer. When we have problems, it is good to seek help, but we must never bypass God. God’s purpose in judging us is not vengeance, but purging. He wants to correct us and bring us back to him. God does not punish us for our sins just to make us suffer, but to make those who are faithful better equipped for a faithful service. When you are building anything you need a firm base.

Do not honor God with only your lips, honor him by living a life that shows the love you have for him. Be that light that burns bright with compassion for your fellow human. Pray to God with all your strength and focus the Holy Spirit has given you. Pray for forgiveness, pray for understanding, and pray for thanksgiving.

God is Your Strength, Your Power and Your Purpose

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the suffering of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-5

Commentary:

When we are in need and no one can help us we turn to God. Why is that? We think we can do anything, fix anything, have all the answers. Then here comes along something we know we can’t fix and we call to God to fix it. Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for God.

We must understand that being comforted is receiving strength, encouragement from God to deal with our troubles. If you are doing God’s work, you can expect Satan to work against you, so be prepared. Remember, Christ suffered for you to comfort others. So back to the question of “Why is that?” Because God will see you through anything, He is your strength, your power, your only purpose, and He is your God.

Don’t Cut Yourself Off From God

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.

Isaiah 1: 2-5

Commentary:

The people of Judah, just like us today, were sinning greatly and refused to know and understand God. God brought charges against them through Isaiah because they, just like us, had rebelled and forsaken the Lord. By these acts, they had broken their moral and spiritual covenant with God. As long as the people of Judah and us, continue to sin, we are cutting our selves off from God’s help and are isolating ourselves. When you feel lonely and separated from God, remember that God does not abandon you. Our sins cut us off from him. The only sure cure for this kind of loneliness is to restore a meaningful relationship with God by confessing your sins, obeying his instructions, and communicating regularly with him. When was the last time you talked to God? God’s line of communication is open 24-7-365, all the time.

You Are a Branch in Need of a Vine

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15: 1-4

Commentary:

Are you dried up, or are you moist with the Holy sap of God’s word in you? Are you going about spreading the nourishing Word of our Lord? You must be purged.The old life must fall away so the new self can bring forth fresh fruit? We must put our self in God’s hands so He can reshape us, to place us in fertile soil so we can be fruitful.

Cut away the old self , if not, then you will not bear anything that will be acceptable to God. If you are a follower of Christ, then you are a fruitful branch, and a true believer. Who by our living unions with Him will produce much fruit.Those who are unproductive, those who turn their back from following Christ after making superficial commitments, will get cut off from the vine and cast in the fire. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the vine? If not, you are missing a gift He has for you.

Apply Your Heart To Wisdom

Scripture: Psalms 90: 10-12

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Scripture Commentary: Life is too short not to use your time wisely

What are you doing with the time God gives you? We exist as humans only a certain number of days; how do you apply your time? Every day he gives you a glimpse at his creations, but you cannot understand the perfection of his creations. God knows our future, but if we walk with him, we will know where we are going.

Realizing that life is short helps us use the little time we have more wisely. Take time to number your days by asking, “what am I doing for my Lord Jesus Christ? What steps can I take to spread his Word?” We want God’s work to count, to be effective and productive.

God is Omni-temporal. We are not. Don’t be discouraged if your troubles seem prolonged. God knows what you are doing, and that the seeds you are planting take time to grow.

Moses reminds us that a thousand years are like a day to the Lord. Because he is eternal, we can depend on him. God wants us to view what we have with the right perspective. Use your God-given gifts before it is too late.

Ask yourself this question, “What do I want to see in my life before I die?” Is your answer, “Jesus Christ.”

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Psalms Chapter 90

Follow the Truth

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became goals and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1: 18-22

Commentary:

Why is God angry at sinful people? They substituted the truth about him with a fantasy of their own imagination. They have stifled the truth God naturally reveals to all people in order to believe anything that supports their own self centered lifestyle.

God cannot tolerate sin because his nature is morally perfect. He cannot ignore or condone such willful rebellion. God wants to remove the sin and restore the sinner to his kingdom. He is able to, as long as the sinner does not stubbornly distort or reject the truth.

The Lord’s anger erupts against those who persist in sinning. Repent. Make sure you are not pursuing a fantasy rather than the true God. Don’t suppress the truth about him merely to protect your own life style.

You are given the choice of either accepting or rejecting God. Don’t be fooled. No excuses will be accepted when God judges your response to him. Begin today to give your devotion and worship to him.

Trust in the Lord

Scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-7, 12

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Scripture Commentary: ‘Lean not unto thine own understanding’ means that you trust in the Lord for all things

For three years a man did something that he felt was a good investment for himself and his family. He waited and waited and no return on the investment came.

From the beginning he put it in God’s hands, but God had to show him something. Even though he put it in God’s hands, he thought it would produce immediately. The lesson he learned was that God’s time is different from his own.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding.” The man did not follow this.

God answered the man in his own time. God knows what is best for us and when is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than even we are. We must trust him completely in every choice we make, and not be wise in our own eyes. He will make your path straight and protect you.

Proverbs Chapter 3

Don’t Live Like the Gentiles

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 17-19

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Scripture Commentary: Living the christian life is a process

“Futility of their thinking” refers to the tendency of humans to think in their way instead of God’s way. Intellectual pride, rationalizations, and excuses all keep people from God. People should be able to see a difference between Christians and non-Christians because of the way Christians live.

Living the Christian life is a process. Christians don’t automatically think all good thoughts and express all right attitudes. Continuous obedience to God means continuous change.

Do you see a process of change for the better in your thoughts, attitudes, and actions? Although change may be slow, it comes as you trust God to change you. Put yourself in God’s hands and leave the flesh out. See the true light of our Lord Jesus Christ in your life.

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Ephesians Chapter 4