Thrive Creative Journaling Devotional Bible - Flipbook - Page 32
ROMANS 15 . . . page 1414
10 So why do you condemn another believer*? Why do you look down on another
believer? Remember, we will all stand before
the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare
allegiance to God.*’”
12Yes, each of us will give a personal account
to God. 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.
14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in
and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone
believes it is wrong, then for that person it
is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting
in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin
someone for whom Christ died. 16Then you
will not be criticized for doing something
you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of
God is not a matter of what we eat or drink,
but of living a life of goodness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit. 18If you serve Christ
with this attitude, you will please God, and
others will approve of you, too. 19So then, let
us aim for harmony in the church and try to
build each other up.
20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over
what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something
if it makes another person stumble. 21It is
better not to eat meat or drink wine or do
anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.* 22You 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. 23But
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.*
Living to Please Others
We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about
things like this. We must not just please
15
ourselves. 2We should help others do what
is right and build them up in the Lord. 3For
even Christ didn’t live to please himself.
As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those
who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”*
4Such things were written in the Scriptures
long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give
us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
5 May God, who gives this patience and
encouragement, help you live in complete
harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6Then all of you can
join together with one voice, giving praise
and glory to God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, accept each other just as
Christ has accepted you so that God will be
given glory. 8Remember that Christ came as
a servant to the Jews* to show that God is
true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9He also came so that the Gentiles
might give glory to God for his mercies to
them. That is what the psalmist meant when
he wrote:
“For this, I will praise you among the
Gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.”*
10And in another place it is written,
“Rejoice with his people,
you Gentiles.”*
11And yet again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
Praise him, all you people of the
earth.”*
12And in another place Isaiah said,
“The heir to David’s throne* will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him.”*
13I pray that God, the source of hope, will
fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Reason for Writing
14I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and
sisters,* that you are full of goodness. You
know these things so well you can teach each
14:10 Greek your brother; also in 14:10b, 13, 15, 21. 14:11 Or declare praise for God. Isa 49:18; 45:23 (Greek version). 14:21 Some
manuscripts read to stumble or be offended or be weakened. 14:23 Some manuscripts place the text of 16:2527 here. 15:3 Greek
who insult you have fallen on me. Ps 69:9. 15:8 Greek servant of circumcision. 15:9 Ps 18:49. 15:10 Deut 32:43. 15:11 Ps 117:1.
15:12a Greek The root of Jesse. David was the son of Jesse. 15:12b Isa 11:10 (Greek version). 15:14 Greek brothers; also in 15:30.
