Romans 14:3-9
"3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living."
But truthfully, what I really see in this scripture is comparison. This is a subject that I've struggled with for a very long time and has been especially heavy on my heart this last year. God has been doing some major work on me in this area. I touched on it a bit in my post After the "After and Before Photo", when I talked about it taking hold again as the #250kchallenge was coming to an end. Comparison can sneak its way in so easily for me. And this unfortunately is not limited to fitness but trickles down into every area of my life . I know that God does not desire for me to compare myself or my life to others. He desires for complete obedience to Him!
Certainly God gives us clear commandments in which we are all to obey but outside of that He has also created us uniquely for His glory. He often gives us convictions that are for each of us individually. These convictions are never contrary to His commandments but evidence that He cares for us as His unique children. He know us and He knows the things that keep one from fully devoting themselves to His worship, does not hinder another.
In times that I have continually looked at others and compare myself or my life to theirs, by the end of the day I have found that I was so exhausted and overwhelmed. Why wouldn't I? It waists so much energy! And this alone takes my focus off of God. But look what Romans 14:5-6a,7-8 says again:
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord..........
7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.
Our culture heavily implores us to the comparison game. We are constantly surrounded by social media and consumer ads telling us how we should live our lives.
Have you been lured in by the social media version of Super Mom or by the new fashion trends of your friend groups (you know what I mean)?
Oh, me too!
Though individually these things may not be intentionally harmful, social media has its way of trapping us into comparison if we allow it.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Social Media is bad or wrong. But, what I am saying is ,if it's a trap for you, it might be something you more carefully consider. Though, this might look differently to one as it does another. It is also a perfect example to what Romans 14:3 says as I previously stated , "The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them".
So what might it look like if we were "fully convinced in our own mind" in today's culture? Well I can only tell you this from my own experience that as I draw closer to the Lord and as I know Him more intimately I can not only find what He does desire for me but also what He doesn't desire for me. As I do this I am able to stand firm on His word in which I can judge more accurately what God desires of me. In the New International Version (NIV) Bible "stand firm" is listed 34 times. You may know Ephesians 6:14:
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place."
STAND FIRM RUBIES, be fully convinced in your own mind! Let us encourage each other to NOT be lured by the "Comparison Game" but live in the purpose God gives each of us!
Blessings,
Melissa