Week 61 - Free Weekend Program for Street & Vulnerable Children

Text : Romans 14:6-11

Theme : Living For The Lord

Believers live to please God; it is the delight of every true Christian. Through our individual convictions, we earnestly seek to live for Him because His love compels us to love Him in return. Do you understand what that love truly means? The Holy Spirit describes it this way: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). It is on the cross that we see Christ’s love for us - His bride—the church.

Do not assess the extent of God’s love for you by looking at yourself or your circumstances. Instead, look to the cross, where you will see the passion and love of God toward you. 1 John 4:10 tells us, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

This is why we love God, why we desire to please Him and live for Him—out of appreciation and gratitude for all He has done for us, especially for our eternal souls, where it matters most.

Romans 14:6 is urging us not to judge other believers over matters that are inconsequential. Those who eat all kinds of food do so believing that in Christ they have liberty, and they give thanks to God for the grace He has given us in Christ. Those who abstain from certain foods, though bound by conscience, are doing so in honor of the Lord because they believe He has commanded it.

Both the strong and the weak in faith desire to please God. In our individual conviction, we seek to honor Him with our lives. No Christian lives for himself; we all live for the Lord. Remember, we died to the law and are now united with Him who was raised from the dead so that we may bear fruit for God. Our lives are no longer our own; we were bought with a price, the precious blood of Christ.

It is like paying a bride price; Christ paid with His blood. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.” In the same way, Christ left heaven, came for us, took us out from the law of sin and death, and we are now eternally united with Him. We belong to Him not to ourselves.

We live for Him, we live to do His will, not our own will. We serve God, not ourselves. We live for His kingdom, not our kingdom. His kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We live for the glory of God - the praise of God not for the praise of men. And if we die, we become completely united with Him forever—spirit, soul, and body. Whether alive or dead, we belong to Christ, we are never apart from Him.

David expressed this truth in Psalm 139:7-12, saying, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.”

So we can never depart from God; He owns us, and we are glad He does. He is a loving father who cares deeply for us. Therefore, let us continually submit to the Lord, knowing that we will one day stand before God to give an account of our lives. We will be judged on how we have lived, using our gifts to love and to serve others, especially fellow believers for the glory of God.

More so, God sees every self-serving motive and intent; such labor has no reward, but a life spent for the glory of God will be rewarded. There is a reward that cannot perish even in death: the crown of rejoicing. (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 tells us that our work will be tested; if it stands, we will receive a reward, but if it is burned up, we will suffer loss—though we ourselves will still be saved, as one escaping through the flames.

No believer will be condemned to eternal damnation because salvation is by faith alone, with no works required. However, we will give an account of how we have lived our lives. Are we serving God or ourselves? Are we living for God’s glory or for the praise of men?

Unbelievers will be condemned to hell forever because they did not put their faith in Christ for salvation. Christians, however, are safe from eternal damnation, yet God calls us to bear fruit that reflects His character, and He will judge us for our work, giving rewards to those who are faithful.

Finally, let us not judge other believers regarding disputable matters—such as food choices, Sabbath activities, or head coverings. Our liberty comes from a greater knowledge of Scripture, which God has given, but it should not make us arrogant, condescending, or conceited. Likewise, we should not despise those who exercise their liberty in Christ apart from sin.

We all stand before God through faith in Christ, so let Him be the judge when the time is right. Moreover, He is able to grant us more understanding of Scripture, leading to greater liberty or more fruit of self-control leading to increased love for others