1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: the calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:21,579 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:26,689 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,430 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: we will reflect on tonight's Scripture and Romans chapter 14. 6 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:45,150 Speaker 1: Tonight's scripture is written and read by Kyle Norman. Romans 7 00:00:45,510 --> 00:00:52,330 Speaker 1: chapter 14. Welcome those who are weak in faith, but 8 00:00:52,370 --> 00:00:57,090 Speaker 1: not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe 9 00:00:57,110 --> 00:01:01,970 Speaker 1: in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those 10 00:01:02,010 --> 00:01:05,590 Speaker 1: who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those 11 00:01:05,630 --> 00:01:08,970 Speaker 1: who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat, 12 00:01:10,110 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass 13 00:01:14,420 --> 00:01:17,940 Speaker 1: judgment on servants of another? It is before their own 14 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: Lord that they stand or fall, and they will be upheld, 15 00:01:22,459 --> 00:01:26,569 Speaker 1: for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some 16 00:01:26,709 --> 00:01:30,130 Speaker 1: judge one day to be better than another, while others 17 00:01:30,250 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully 18 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,940 Speaker 1: convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day 19 00:01:38,100 --> 00:01:42,140 Speaker 1: observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, 20 00:01:42,380 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks 21 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:50,390 Speaker 1: to God. Those who abstain, abstain in honor of the 22 00:01:50,430 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live 23 00:01:55,140 --> 00:01:58,850 Speaker 1: to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If 24 00:01:58,890 --> 00:02:02,030 Speaker 1: we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, 25 00:02:02,170 --> 00:02:05,610 Speaker 1: we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live 26 00:02:05,790 --> 00:02:08,609 Speaker 1: or whether we die, we are the Lord's, for to 27 00:02:08,650 --> 00:02:12,220 Speaker 1: this end Christ died and lived again, so that he 28 00:02:12,260 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: might be the Lord both of the dead and the living. 29 00:02:16,780 --> 00:02:19,620 Speaker 1: Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? 30 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? 31 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,740 Speaker 1: For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 32 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, 33 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,899 Speaker 1: every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall 34 00:02:34,940 --> 00:02:38,670 Speaker 1: give praise to God. So then, each of us will 35 00:02:38,690 --> 00:02:43,970 Speaker 1: be accountable to God. Let us therefore no longer pass 36 00:02:44,050 --> 00:02:48,060 Speaker 1: judgment on one another, but resolve instead, never to put 37 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:50,980 Speaker 1: a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. 38 00:02:52,540 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that 39 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,500 Speaker 1: nothing is unclean in itself. It is unclean for anyone 40 00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:04,810 Speaker 1: who thinks it unclean. If your brother or sister is 41 00:03:04,870 --> 00:03:08,690 Speaker 1: being injured by what you eat, you are no longer 42 00:03:08,790 --> 00:03:13,090 Speaker 1: walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause 43 00:03:13,210 --> 00:03:18,139 Speaker 1: ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not 44 00:03:18,180 --> 00:03:21,300 Speaker 1: let your good be spoken of as evil. For the 45 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:25,609 Speaker 1: kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness 46 00:03:25,730 --> 00:03:30,190 Speaker 1: and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one 47 00:03:30,230 --> 00:03:33,490 Speaker 1: who thus serves Christ is well-pleasing to God and has 48 00:03:33,570 --> 00:03:37,470 Speaker 1: human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace 49 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:43,140 Speaker 1: and for mutual edification. Do not, for the sake of food, 50 00:03:43,820 --> 00:03:48,460 Speaker 1: destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but 51 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: it is wrong for you to make others fall by 52 00:03:51,260 --> 00:03:54,980 Speaker 1: what you eat. It is good not to eat meat 53 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,980 Speaker 1: or drink wine or to do anything that makes your 54 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,290 Speaker 1: brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have 55 00:04:02,370 --> 00:04:06,890 Speaker 1: as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who 56 00:04:06,950 --> 00:04:10,730 Speaker 1: have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. 57 00:04:12,490 --> 00:04:15,990 Speaker 1: But those who have doubts... They are condemned if they 58 00:04:16,150 --> 00:04:20,330 Speaker 1: eat because they do not act from faith. For whatever 59 00:04:20,450 --> 00:04:28,780 Speaker 1: does not proceed from faith is sin. It's so easy 60 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: to live our lives in the spirit of competition. The 61 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,130 Speaker 1: world tells us to view other people as peers we 62 00:04:36,170 --> 00:04:39,490 Speaker 1: need to judge our accomplishments by or rivals we need 63 00:04:39,529 --> 00:04:43,030 Speaker 1: to best. When others look at us in admiration or 64 00:04:43,700 --> 00:04:46,380 Speaker 1: speak well of our lives, our deeds, or our faith, 65 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:53,290 Speaker 1: we view ourselves positively. We feel upheld and supported. But 66 00:04:53,310 --> 00:04:57,150 Speaker 1: what happens when others don't speak well of us? What 67 00:04:57,190 --> 00:05:01,609 Speaker 1: occurs when we are on the receiving end of criticism, complaint, 68 00:05:02,130 --> 00:05:08,020 Speaker 1: or challenge? Well, often our esteem comes crashing down. It's 69 00:05:08,060 --> 00:05:12,150 Speaker 1: not that we feel bad or angry anymore. We devalue ourselves. 70 00:05:12,270 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: We feel rejected or dismissed. And if this happens often, 71 00:05:16,740 --> 00:05:22,659 Speaker 1: then it becomes a narrative that controls our lives. Romans 72 00:05:22,660 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: 14 reminds us of an invaluable truth. We don't live 73 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:34,339 Speaker 1: for ourselves, for the maximization of our accomplishments, credentials, or power. 74 00:05:35,410 --> 00:05:37,869 Speaker 1: But nor do we live for others, to be seen 75 00:05:37,930 --> 00:05:40,770 Speaker 1: in a positive light, to be spoken well of, to 76 00:05:40,810 --> 00:05:45,589 Speaker 1: be admired or adored. We live for Jesus Christ. His 77 00:05:45,690 --> 00:05:50,330 Speaker 1: delight is all we seek. His voice, spoken over our lives, 78 00:05:50,730 --> 00:05:54,830 Speaker 1: is the only thing that matters. And what does Jesus 79 00:05:54,890 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 1: speak over us? The one who serves Christ is well-pleasing 80 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: and blessed. We are wrapped in grace. Christ's gracious arms 81 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: and we are inheritors of the kingdom this is the 82 00:06:08,420 --> 00:06:11,980 Speaker 1: truth of our lives none of our accomplishments merit it 83 00:06:12,339 --> 00:06:16,870 Speaker 1: none of our misdeeds discredit it this declaration is spoken 84 00:06:16,930 --> 00:06:21,130 Speaker 1: by God over us and it is proved unalterable in 85 00:06:21,210 --> 00:06:25,690 Speaker 1: Christ's blood as you enter your time of rest tonight 86 00:06:26,529 --> 00:06:30,230 Speaker 1: allow your reflections to center on this truth you are 87 00:06:30,270 --> 00:06:33,729 Speaker 1: the beloved child of God You are redeemed in Christ's 88 00:06:33,790 --> 00:06:38,070 Speaker 1: precious blood. You are well-pleasing in his sight and blessed. 89 00:06:39,410 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: Living your life from this truth is what pleases him 90 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: the most. Gracious Jesus, I thank you for your steadfast love. 91 00:06:51,660 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: For it is a love that sticks with me no 92 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,300 Speaker 1: matter what my life looks like in this moment. In 93 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,460 Speaker 1: times of great accomplishment and personal happiness, your love is there. 94 00:07:02,670 --> 00:07:06,950 Speaker 1: In times of disappointment, loss, grief, or sin, even there 95 00:07:06,990 --> 00:07:10,910 Speaker 1: your love is expressed to me. Lord, you know I 96 00:07:10,950 --> 00:07:13,470 Speaker 1: can be tempted to live for the approval of the 97 00:07:13,530 --> 00:07:16,410 Speaker 1: crowds around me. I can listen to the voice of 98 00:07:16,450 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: the world more than I listen to your gentle voice 99 00:07:19,620 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: of grace and mercy. And when I do, I not 100 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:26,260 Speaker 1: only lose touch with you, but I lose touch with 101 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:30,020 Speaker 1: the truth of my life. So help me to keep 102 00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:33,580 Speaker 1: listening to you, O Lord. Give me discernment in all 103 00:07:33,620 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: my dealings. Help me to live for you and you alone. 104 00:07:38,540 --> 00:07:44,130 Speaker 1: This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. How does tonight's 105 00:07:44,150 --> 00:07:47,830 Speaker 1: scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Your 106 00:07:47,910 --> 00:08:00,230 Speaker 1: Nightly Scripture forum discussion. Thank you for listening to Your 107 00:08:00,330 --> 00:08:05,380 Speaker 1: Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture was read from the New International 108 00:08:05,460 --> 00:08:12,350 Speaker 1: Version by Biblica. All rights reserved. Be sure to follow 109 00:08:12,550 --> 00:08:17,110 Speaker 1: our sister show, Your Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. 110 00:08:18,310 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: By following Your Daily Bible Verse and Your Nightly Scripture, 111 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,660 Speaker 1: you can be sure that your day begins and ends 112 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: centered on the Word of God. Thank you.