Romans 14:13,20,21

“Therefore let us not pass judgement on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Do not, for the sake of food destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”

I read these scriptures this afternoon and I’m reminded of my friend who was an alcoholic. One day she was drinking and partying for pure enjoyment and then God interrupted her life and she stopped drinking. It was indeed a work of God!!! He worked in her a greater thirst for Jesus than her thirst for alcohol! It was miraculous to witness and a joy to have had a ringside seat to this transformation. As I read these scriptures today I think of my friend’s new roommates. Before my friend moved in it came to her attention that the girls kept wine in the house. Now, it is not evil or even sinful to keep and drink wine UNLESS it would be a stumbling block for someone. As my friend brought this up with her potential roommates they informed her that they had already made the decision WITHOUT HER EVEN ASKING that if she moved in they would no longer keep alcohol in their house.

These young ladies put their money where their mouth is. These young ladies were not just hearers of the Word but doers of the Word! They were willing to set aside their own freedoms to ensure that their new roommate would not stumble.

I think of this song: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” (written by Peter Scholte)