AN “EDIFIER.” (a devotional thought) To edify, build up and come alongside another is a blessing to both people involved. One is blessed in receiving and the other blessed in giving. There is no way to lose when we are following after the right things. Ruth followed after her mother-in-law whose family was disintegrated by the mistakes of unbelief, deception and bitterness. Yet Naomi was willing to trust God for a new beginning. She was no long willing to stare at the wall, but got up and opened the door to a new tomorrow. She wasn’t the greatest example in everything, but Ruth was willing to follow after her, because she knew Naomi was going to where the God of Israel promised blessing to His people. In Isaiah 51 when we look to where we came from; to Abraham and Sarah and where they came from and we see where we are now by the grace of God, we are called by God to “follow after righteousness.” Those like Abraham who was called alone, and blessed and increased; will enjoy the same fellowship with God when righteousness moves us in the path of God’s leading. We may not see the city yet, but we know that righteousness dwells there and so we follow after it. The Lord’s people in Corinth were told to follow after charity (love) and desire spiritual gifts that would enable them to edify others. That is why gifts have been given to the body and to the church in local areas – that God’s people will be edified. The gifts given and used properly will be to “edification, exhortation and comfort.” Following after love makes happen, what normally wouldn’t happen. Follow the leading of love, and others will be blessed and bless you. Paul knew he was on a course of God’s choosing as he worked and preached and prayed his way across the Middle East and Europe. He followed after that which God had called him and challenged him with. He knew he hadn’t attained to the full accomplishment of his work and the maturity of the work he desired, but he kept at it until the day he died. He in turn, urged Timothy to follow after every one of those attributes that make a child of God what he should be. To follow after righteousness means I follow in the path of righteous Abraham. To follow after godliness will mean I will follow the steps of Paul. To follow after patience will cause me to sit in silence for a week while I empathize with Job. To follow after meekness means I will walk alongside of Joshua as we follow Moses through the testing times of life in the wilderness. All of these will make for peace among us and growth within the lives of each one blessed by an “edifier.”
“O Father in heaven: far too often my steps are following the wrong footprints. Of all the ones that call us to follow, let the voice that makes it happen in my life, be the voice of the One who said, “Follow Me…” I learn from the lives and words of others, but the real learning comes when His yoke is on me. Then meekness, lowliness and all other things that make for peace, will be real in my life. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
V.21-23. It is important that I commit myself to refrain from any action that would lead a fellow Christian to commit sin or compromise his or her conscience. I do not have to abandon my convictions, but because I love the Lord’s people, I need to carefully observe them so I can avoid anything that would negatively affect them. I do not have the right to do what I know is okay if it is going to cause them to stumble. On the other hand, just because others may do something my conscience tells me not to do, I should neither judge them or do what I believe I should not do.
God didn’t create us to be independent but interdependent. What one person does may have a positive or negative effect on others. Faith in Christ and living by faith must be without pride on my part or a patronizing attitude toward others. It is only right to respect, love and be patient with others, and apply self-restraint to myself lest I needlessly offend others.
When something is forbidden in the scriptures and we learn by “rightly dividing the word of truth” the meaning of the matter by the context in which it is found, I know I must not do it. When the word of God is silent on a specific matter, the Spirit of God guides us and Christian courtesy, conduct and consideration, with love as the motivating power teaches us what to do. Our faith in God and His word will lead us to do the right thing when we are willing and obedient. “Whatever is not of faith is sin.”
Believer’s who are strong in faith must be willing to forego their liberty at times, for the sake of demonstrating love to their brothers and sisters in Christ and maintaining unity. Each Christian’s conscience is a guide for what it right or wrong when the word of God does not address a specific matter. We are people who have a free-will and children of God need to respond to the power of their convictions at the same time as they enjoy their liberty in Christ.
ROMANS 15