COMMUNION WITH THE SPIRIT - PART 2

THURSDAY 08 DECEMBER 2022

Paul the apostle started Romans chapter 14, by urging us to welcome with open arms, fellow Christians who don't see or do things exactly the way you do, bearing in mind that they have their own foundational background to deal with. Therefore, accommodate and treat them with love.

Reference: Romans 14:17 New International Version (NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Let me give a brief explanation about the circumstance that motivated Paul to pen the matter of eating and drinking. A Christian, who has been in Christ for a while might well be convinced that he can eat all food items on the table, while another, from another race or with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. In another way, one person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, who seems weak in the faith department, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not. Also, the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

So Paul had to strike a balance in such situation by saying, since both (those who eat everything and those who don't), are born again Christians, they are all one and so, are all guests at Christ's table of salvation. Therefore it would be terribly rude if one group of people starts criticizing what the other eats or does not eat? Got it? Remember that Galatians 3:27-28 says, "And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus" (NLT).

This Scripture (Galatians 3:27-28) is so remarkable because, regardless of what we eat or where we come from, as long as we are born again, and we serve God in spirit and in truth, we are all one in Christ. For this reason, what's important is that if someone accepts to eat everything, they should do so by faith in the name of the Lord. If one keeps a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if one enjoys eating meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for every food item; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for the Spinach and Broccoli. Simply put, Paul is addressing that none of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these trivial and unweighted matters. It is God we are answerable to, as long as we make such decisions by faith.

For me, I personally understand Paul's mental or analytical wisdom regarding this topic, in this way: As long as we can never fathom the depth of Christ's sufferings and death on the cross for each one of us, we must never be critical or judgmental while considering the things others Christians eat or accept by faith, especially those who don't do things exactly like we do, simply because we have a different opinion about those things they accept. Forcing them to eat what we eat, or observe what we observe is like adding pressure to their spiritual understanding, instead of allowing them to picture the vastness and magnitude of Christ's love, which He demonstrated on the Cross on behalf of everyone. When we come to this knowledge, we stop criticising others for whom Christ died, and instead dignify and embrace each other in love. Therefore, by taking every explanation into account, tolerate other Christians in Christ.

In summary, the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness, peace and joy point to the divinity of God's nature, and therefore, our Christian life is to be modelled upon the three realities, as we walk in step with the Spirit. However, we must make a voluntary decision inspired by the Holy Spirit to continually walk in righteousness, and to sustain divine peace and joy as the Spirit prompts, instead of being carried away by matters concerning what we eat or drink, thereby distracting the work of God and the move of the Spirit, for the sake of food. Stay tuned for more insight into the communion of the Spirit in Part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1-2; Romans 8:26-27; 1 John 1:3.

Exuberant Declaration: The Spirit of God dwells and reigns in me, through me and by me. Therefore, I have faith which works by love, and causes me to accept and accommodate fellow born again Christians, regardless of their race, background and interest. Glory to God!