Follow after Peace (Part 1 of 4)

God's desire is for His children to be pursuing peace with each other.

July 1, 2020

"For the Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and thing wherewith one may edify another."

Romans 14:17-19

Part 1

In Romans, chapter 14, Paul is writing to believers instructing them in how to get along with “the weaker brother” (Romans 14:1-12).  In the last half of the chapter, he is imploring believers not to live in such a way as to be a “stumbling block” to other believers in the area of “doubtful things” (Romans 14:13-23).  Our verse for today is in the context of this second part of the chapter.  The Lord would have us understand what is most important.  It is the spiritual over the temporal things.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink.”
We know from Jesus’ teaching that the Kingdom of God[1] is spiritual rather than a temporal, physical kingdom.  Jesus said,

“…My Kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My Kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).

Jesus said it clearly.  But, why do we Christians keep emphasizing by our lifestyle, and by our daily, weekly, monthly, and annual calendar planning, that this world is of so much greater importance than the Kingdom?  You might think, “That’s not true, believers always focus on the spiritual and the eternal!”  If that were so, why did the Holy Spirit have Paul remind us that the Kingdom has nothing to do with material things like food and drink?  Our lost world has gone crazy over the accumulation of stuff!  For the testimony of the Kingdom’s sake, how should we who know Jesus Christ focus our lives?  How involved are we in building the Kingdom?  Believers need to be living with Kingdom priorities in mind.  The days are short!

Since this Kingdom isn’t about material things, what are the main concerns of the Kingdom?  Come back tomorrow, and let’s look into these priorities.

 

Quote: “Safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.”[2]

 

 

 

[1] The Kingdom we refer to is this present “Kingdom of God,” from the time of Jesus’ teaching until He returns.
This spiritual Kingdom is not the future millennial reign when Jesus will rule from David’s throne.
[2] Source is unknown. Downloaded: Monday, June 29, 2020.
From: https://bible.org/node/13163.