In honor of the Lord

As I read this passage, today it was verses 5-9 that strike me.

In telling the Romans not to quarrel about things that are not a matter of God’s word, but a matter of conscience, Paul says,

One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same.

Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.

Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:5-6)

Here we see the phrases over and over.

“For the honor of the Lord.”

“For the Lord.”

When we observe a day like Christmas, we do it for the honor of the Lord.

When we eat something, we honor him by giving him thanks.

If we abstain from eating something because we feel that’s what God wishes for us, we also honor him.

In short, our whole lives should be for one purpose: to honor God.

And so Paul says,

For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.

If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.

Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. (7-9)

Everything we do should be for the honor and glory of God. Not just in our eating or celebrating of special days. But in all that we do at home, at work, at church, or wherever we are.

Even when we have free time, that should be honoring to God, for rest is from him too.

How about you? When you look at all that you do each day, do you think God would be pleased?

Who are you living for?

For yourself?

Or for him?