Romans 14:17-18, Serve Christ

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

The believer serves Christ by living a life of holiness before God. This is what counts in God’s sight as Solomon said at the conclusion of his evaluation of life in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

Fear God and keep His commandments is that life of righteousness that the Apostle Paul urges the believers in Rome to cultivate. Put away sin in your lives. Often, judging one another is the believers excuse not to deal with the sins in their own lives. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that a spiritual focus is what is needful to make spiritual progress. When sin is dealt with, peace and joy follow in the believers’ life. The spiritual disposition of a poverty of spirit and a willingness to mourn for our sins goes a long way in allowing the Spirit to bear its fruit.

The psalmist tells us that the people we keep company with will determine whether we make spiritual progress or regress.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Ungodly company of back-biting and gossip one of another robs believers of peace and joy in the Lord. We are to choose our friends carefully albeit “Christian friends”. May believers choose to serve Christ! Amen.