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Romans 14:19-23
As the Apostle Paul has been teaching about the need to be encouraging to one another and not discouraging, he now concludes this chapter with a little explanation of his teaching. He states in Romans 14:19 (NKJV), “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” His desire for the Church at Rome, and all Christians everywhere, is to pursue peace with one another in Christ Jesus as is the life of a Christian to be. The sinful nature, in which we are fleeing from as Christians, is what makes us quarrel amongst one another as is the way of Satan; he is always picking at us in his attempt to destroy us and our relationship with one another in Christ Jesus, which in turn also destroys our relationship with our Savior Jesus whom we are striving to please.
This is a command to not do things which will be discouraging to our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus as it may cause them to fall away from Christ Jesus in their weaker state of faith in Him.
This is the struggle that Paul speaks of in Romans 7:15 (NIV), “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” This is the struggle that goes on within each of us each day. This is the struggle that one can only overcome through the salvation that Jesus provides through our faith in Him as He has already defeated sin, death, and Satan once for all (Romans 6:10). The Apostle Paul is teaching, through his own experience, of the need we have for Jesus in our hearts to change our thinking and living that it would no longer be reflective of the old sinful nature but of our Creator God through putting our faith in Christ Jesus to help us overcome Satan in our lives – and He will if you will put your faith in Him.
Dear LORD,
As Christians, Satan does not stop his trying to pull us away from You and our faith in Jesus as our Savior. Please help us to be encouraging to our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus that we would strive to build each other up in our faith in Jesus and strive together to be to the praise of Your glory working through us – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.