Liberty and Conscience

Scripture: Romans 14:7-8 - “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
A renowned gospel preacher once declared that if he was ever marooned on a tropical island and could have only one book of the Bible with him, it would be that of Romans. One doesn’t have to read very far into that part of the Scripture to identify with his choice: it is most informative about what it means to be a Christ follower; it contains the famous “Romans Road,” a pathway of verses that even a new believer can use in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:10, 23, 26; 5:8, 5:12; 10:8, 9, and 13) These verses are relatively easy to understand for one whose heart is opened by God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:6) Even so, another seemingly overlooked chapter has become one of my favorite in this wonderful Book: Romans chapter 14.
While there are many specific, rather “black and white” behavioral principles in the Word of God, (e.g., the Ten Commandments, the command to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all of our soul, and with all our mind and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, (Mark 12:29-31), just to name very few), Romans chapter 14 seems to magnify our Lord’s grace in its recognition of the various levels of growth in different individuals’ Christian walk. The Word teaches that each person is to be “fully convinced in his own mind. (v. 5) “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord….” (14:6)
A thoughtful recognition of the different levels and stages of growth within the body of Christ should restrain us from becoming dogmatic about areas of Christian living that are not as sharply defined as those mentioned earlier. There may be some “gray areas,” again where Scripture is not so “crystal clear,” and other Christian believers’ observances may be slightly different from that of our own little group. The bottom line is presented in verses 10(b) and 12: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” and “each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Areas such as what one eats, (Rom. 14:3), what day they’ve consecrated for worship (v. 5), and all of our behavior, should be performed with conscience toward our Savior. The entirety of Romans chapter 14 seems to be summarized in verse 22(b)—Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the liberty Christ Jesus died to give us; only lead us to that place where we consistently live with a Christ-honoring conscience, as described in Your Holy Word. Amen!
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)
A renowned gospel preacher once declared that if he was ever marooned on a tropical island and could have only one book of the Bible with him, it would be that of Romans. One doesn’t have to read very far into that part of the Scripture to identify with his choice: it is most informative about what it means to be a Christ follower; it contains the famous “Romans Road,” a pathway of verses that even a new believer can use in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:10, 23, 26; 5:8, 5:12; 10:8, 9, and 13) These verses are relatively easy to understand for one whose heart is opened by God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:6) Even so, another seemingly overlooked chapter has become one of my favorite in this wonderful Book: Romans chapter 14.
While there are many specific, rather “black and white” behavioral principles in the Word of God, (e.g., the Ten Commandments, the command to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all of our soul, and with all our mind and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, (Mark 12:29-31), just to name very few), Romans chapter 14 seems to magnify our Lord’s grace in its recognition of the various levels of growth in different individuals’ Christian walk. The Word teaches that each person is to be “fully convinced in his own mind. (v. 5) “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord….” (14:6)
A thoughtful recognition of the different levels and stages of growth within the body of Christ should restrain us from becoming dogmatic about areas of Christian living that are not as sharply defined as those mentioned earlier. There may be some “gray areas,” again where Scripture is not so “crystal clear,” and other Christian believers’ observances may be slightly different from that of our own little group. The bottom line is presented in verses 10(b) and 12: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” and “each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Areas such as what one eats, (Rom. 14:3), what day they’ve consecrated for worship (v. 5), and all of our behavior, should be performed with conscience toward our Savior. The entirety of Romans chapter 14 seems to be summarized in verse 22(b)—Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the liberty Christ Jesus died to give us; only lead us to that place where we consistently live with a Christ-honoring conscience, as described in Your Holy Word. Amen!
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)
Archive
2025
January
Prayer For A New Year 2025Prayer for A Heart Like Christ’sA PRAYER FOR HELP WITH OUR FAITHA Prayer of RepentanceA Prayer to Press OnPrayer For a Fragile Next GenerationPrayer For an Open HeartA Prayer For EndurancePrayer of Praise From the RedeemedPrayer For True EnlightenmentA Prayer: God is Waiting in the New YearSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer That Celebrates God’s WorkPrayer To See Things God’s WayPrayer of Thanks for God’s Keeping PowerPrayer When Faith is Tested: Accepting God’s WillPrayer of Dedication to Our LordA Prayer of Appreciation and WorshipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer For Humble LivingPrayer for Greater Faith to Live for GodPrayer Against Our FeelingsPrayer to the ONE Who Knows All ThingsPrayer For Sight in the Midst of LossPrayer to be Better Lovers of All Kinds of PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer of Rekindled PraisePrayer According to Your WillPrayer for the Generations to ComePrayer For the Benefits of PrayerPrayer For a Fresh Awareness of the HOLY SPIRIT
February
The Celebration of Jerusalem’s Deliverance: The Festival of LightsSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WITH Pastor Wayne CockrellThe Gift of ForgivenessGreat Love Requires DisciplineFrom The 2024 Vault: We Must VoteHow Does God Love?Running Our RaceA Prayer of Thanksgiving to GodSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHeart to Heart with GodWill You Be Mine?Birthday Gifts for Pastor Wayne Cockrell.The Discipline of GodStop In the Name of LoveSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellApple of God’s EyeOne Thing NeededStriving Side by SideWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?An Unshakable LoveHis Love and Our WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellAnchored in a Storm by the WordRenewing Your MindI’m Delighted in the LordWe are FamilyFAITH, ALIVE
March
Where is Your Faith?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellGod’s Prayer for MePraise to God in His Holiness and MajestyThank You, But Lord, I Got ThisSound the AlarmBEAUTIFULLY, POWERFULLY, GRATEFULLY RENEWEDThe Imperative to Obey and WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellWeapons for SinBeware the Ides of MarchAn Expectation that Won’t DisappointWhere Does Jesus Say in Your Bible, 'I am God. Worship Me’?Given GiftAre You My Enemy?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellListening for God’s Voice and DirectionsA Good Faith SystemThe Road Not TakenBelieving God’s PromisesLOVE LOVEPraise God for WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellIn Captivity, But Still In His PlansYour Will Be DoneTHE WAY TO THE FATHERLife LessonsI Never Knew YouWhere do You Stand?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellCaregiver, Doulos, Friend
April
FIVE YEARS LATER: Believe and ObeyFIVE YEARS LATER: - More Of HimFIVE YEARS LATER: - Idle WordsAnchored in the Storm by the WordInevitable ChangeSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellLet the Redeemed Say SoAre We 'DONE' Yet?You Better Shop AroundGear Up for The JourneyReviving My Spiritual Temple
Recent
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
May 11th, 2025
Turbulence
May 10th, 2025
The God of All Comfort
May 9th, 2025
Believe in God, Believe God
May 8th, 2025
A PERSONALIZED CALLING
May 7th, 2025
Only One Unique You
May 6th, 2025
EXPECTATIONS
May 5th, 2025
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne Cockrell Copy
May 4th, 2025
Taking Refuge in Our Eternal God
May 3rd, 2025
A Day Without Laughter Is a Day Wasted
May 2nd, 2025
7 Comments
Amen!
Amen
Amen!!
Amen!!
Amen! What a power-filled devotional. Thank you for sharing.l
Amen & Amen!
Amen!