Personal Freedom

Scripture: 20 Do not sacrifice God’s work for the sake of certain foods. It is true that all things are clean, but it’s wrong to eat if you know that eating something will cause offense. 21 It is right for you to abstain from certain meats and wine (or anything else for that matter) if it prevents your brother from falling in his faith. 22 Hold on to what you believe about these issues, but keep them between you and God. A happy man does not judge himself by the lifestyle he endorses. 23 But a man who decides for himself what to eat is condemned because he is not living by his faith. Any action not consistent with faith is sin. (Romans 14:20-13 The Voice) We do have personal freedom to make the choices we make. But if we become aware that those same choices cause others to fall, we have another choice to make. Personal freedom must always give way to corporate responsibility. So many choices we have are certainly personal options, but what makes for a community of justice, peace, and joy should come first. Father, I do not want my personal freedom to become a stumbling block for another believer. Help me to be aware of my choices and how they affect others. AMEN Through each day, I am aware of the Your unfailing love that You pour upon me, Lord. I will pray to You because You give me life. Psalm 42
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