In Honor of the Lord
“The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
Romans 14:6
Lived Faith
Romans 14 speaks to the way faith is lived in everyday life. It encourages us to respect personal conviction and reminds us that faithfulness is not about everyone doing the same thing, but about each of us walking in obedience before God.
To live this out, we must be faithful to our own convictions and approach one another with love, curiosity, and humility.
God created each of us as individuals, with different weaknesses, sensitivities, and callings. For some people, conviction shows up around food or drink. For others, it appears in habits or addictions that quietly pull them away from God.
Some things are clearly opposed to God’s commands, such as adultery. Other things are not as clearly laid out, yet can still be sinful for a person at a certain time, depending on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit in salvation to bring peace, protection, and direction toward the will of God. And salvation brings stories of redemption. When someone is saved, they often reflect on what they were saved from and God’s gift of strength to overcome weakness. Each of us carries different vulnerabilities and walks through different struggles. Through faith, we learn how to honor God within our own story.
Personal Reflection
For many years, I struggled with idolizing food, my body, and clothing. These struggles shaped how I saw myself and how I moved through the world. I worried constantly about what was available to eat and felt nervous being around other people. My energy was depleted, and I lacked excitement for connection and community.
There has been tremendous healing in my life. I have grown in the direction God has been leading me, though there are still moments when I feel weak. Through faith, I find strength.
When I notice myself drifting toward anxiety, I remind myself that the Holy Spirit is greater than I am. I return to Jesus’ words in Luke 12:23: “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”
God’s design is intentional and good. I want to live with the energy and patience to love the people around me, to hear God in quiet moments, and to study His Word.
Honoring God
One of my personal convictions now is to no longer live by restriction. I once idolized rules and self-discipline, believing I needed to follow everything I heard perfectly. Over time, I learned that even good things—like caring for our health—can become sources of stress and self-reliance when they are separated from trust in God. We live in a fallen world, and perfection is not something we are meant to achieve.
God has taught me discernment. I have learned to seek wisdom from trusted voices that align with what I truly desire: energy, fertility, and strength to serve others, love well, be present, and laugh freely.
There is joy in living abundantly and trusting that God provides abundantly. There is joy in choosing thanksgiving over scarcity and allowing His design to lead us. Caring for the gift of the body God has given us through nourishment, gratitude, and rest is an act of worship.
Grace and Discernment
We were created to live for God and to live in Christ, yet each of us faces different spiritual battles. Because of this, our walks with God will look different. That difference is not a problem to fix, but a gift to receive. It allows us to learn from one another, grow together, and practice love in real ways.
As God continues to shape us, our convictions may change. This requires humility and trust. Faith in God rather than in comparison, control, or the approval of others. Faith in God is choosing to honor Him in the ways He is calling each of us personally.
Romans 14 reminds us that whether we eat or abstain, act or refrain, we are invited to do so in honor of the Lord. When our choices are grounded in faith and thanksgiving, even the ordinary moments of life can become acts of worship.
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