Consistent Livin'

God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

Romans 14: 17-23 (The Message)

This passage has been on my mind today... There is a lot in it that's worthy of my attention and action. I don't like people who try to tell me what to believe... whether they are Evangelicals or Evolutionists... I don't like being imposed upon! As a result I tend not to impose my beliefs on others. You get my faith as part of the whole of me but I'm not going to ram it down your throat. If you aren't interested then... hey... I'm cool with that! Jesus works for me... and He'll work for you if you give Him a chance... but I have to be sensitive to the fact not everyone is on the journey and I have to live consistently so as not to put people off from joining the travellers on this journey. I am not going to say anything that will interfere with the exchange of love. I love people just because... not because of any agenda or anything... its not about a sales pitch for me... I love people just because they are worth loving. I have to protect this love... and hope I have proved myself worthy of the love by my actions.

Hope this makes sense?!?

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