Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

At the wise old age of 18, I was serving in the student ministry at the church I grew up in. As I began to understand the call God had placed on my life to serve the local church, convictions of what I believed the church should and should not look like began to develop in me. Of course, I had it all figured out by that time in my life, so naturally I got a little brash with those convictions. Thankfully, I had a pastor in my life then who helped me see my convictions had no right to cause division in the people I served. It’s a good thing, too, because admittedly, those convictions have changed many times over in almost 18 years of ministry in the local church.

As we said yesterday, the letter of Romans is written to a local church made up of a diverse group of believers with different backgrounds and starting points. Which means they are naturally going to approach all sorts of topics with differing convictions, even topics like what to eat for dinner.

Some believers felt free to eat anything, while others were convicted to abstain. Convictions that came from generations of following Jewish dietary restrictions. These differences, though secondary, were creating unnecessary division. Here is what I love about Paul’s response: he never says who is right or who is wrong. Instead, he leads them to a much more important place of personal inspection.

Look back at verse 13: “Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather DECIDE never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

That word decide carries weight. It implies intentionality. It means that living in unity isn’t accidental—it’s something we choose. Every day, we’re faced with decisions: What will I say? What will I post? What will I wear? What freedoms will I exercise? Paul challenges us to filter all of that through a higher lens: people over preference.

This doesn’t mean we abandon our convictions or core truths. It means that when it comes to disputable matters—areas where Scripture gives freedom—we choose love over liberty. We decide that our brother or sister’s faith journey is more valuable than proving a point or asserting our personal rights.

In other words, we’re not here to win debates about diet, days, or dress codes. We’re here to build each other up in Christ. And sometimes that means choosing to lay down something we can do for the sake of someone who can’t yet.

So today, what will you decide? Will you choose judgment or grace? Will you fight for your preferences or your people? Let’s decide—intentionally, prayerfully—not to place obstacles in anyone’s way. Let’s pursue what leads to peace and mutual upbuilding (v.19), choosing people over principle, just like Jesus did for us.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
  
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
  
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
  
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
  
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.