Saturday
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
(Romans 14:13-21, NIV)
The letter to the church in Rome is by far Paul’s most systematic theological treatise. Its recipients were predominantly non-Jewish, although some Jews were a part of the congregation. Paul’s elaborate discussion of God’s plan of redemption is carefully laid out in this long letter and the relationship between Jews and non-Jews is openly addressed.
In a pattern Paul established for most of his letters, the sections on Christian doctrine are followed by practical instructions concerning how to apply the doctrine to everyday life. Today’s verses are from the part of Paul’s letter where he describes how righteousness or justice should be put into practice. First he discusses it in the church (chapter 12), then in the world (chapter 13), and finally among individual Christians, both weak and strong.
In the midst of his advice concerning how to handle differences among Christians over what food was “clean” or “unclean” (a matter of great concern in the early church), Paul offers a definition of the Kingdom of God – it is a Kingdom “of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (v. 17). Then, as noted in yesterday’s verses, Paul goes on to encourage the Roman Christians to work for peace and mutual affirmation. Peace is not just an abstract theological concept for Paul, nor a vague attribute of God. It is a way of describing God and summarizing the ministry of his Son. Peace should also be a way of life for God’s people.
His description of the Kingdom of God is repeated nowhere else in Scripture. Although the message of the Kingdom of God is central to the preaching of John the Baptist and then Jesus, neither ever defined the Kingdom, but rather assumed their listeners knew what they meant. Paul’s helpful insight beautifully weaves together peace, righteousness (or justice), and joy. These facets of the Kingdom remind us of Old Testament prophecies concerning shalom, prophecies that Paul was thoroughly familiar with.
This is why Paul often ended his letters with rich descriptions that bring together various aspects of the Kingdom in different combinations. Here is an example that will encourage you: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Prayer
Almighty God, we praise you for your Kingdom, which is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. We know that you want us to live in shalom. Help us in our daily lives “to make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” of other Christians. Amen.