For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:17-18

The first thing you might be thinking as you read this passage is why would people be so concerned with food. Well, it's actually not about food at all…shocker I know. Paul is talking to new Christians in Rome who were being told they needed to follow old, pre-Jesus laws about unclean food to be a follower of Christ. In terms I understand better, “now that you are a Christian you need to follow these rules to keep in good standing”.

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How many of us have church hurt somewhere in our lives from someone telling us we need to dress a certain way, or speak a certain way, or sing only certain songs. The laws, apart from grace, become the most important thing.

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In today’s text Paul upends this. He says the rules we used to follow, the religious things we did to try and make ourselves good enough to God, are nothing but fluff.  Paul is saying there has to be a mind change, a viewpoint change.

We have been asking the question, “God who are you?” It might be very easy to put in the answer that he requires us to “do all the good things, to say the right things and act the right way then you can join the club, fix yourself and act right then I’ll show you who I am.” I feel there is a lot of time where we can confuse religious activity with knowing a God who wants a personal relationship with us. The text today says, “set your mind on the work Jesus did, make peace wherever you go, spread the joy God has for you, and invite Holy Spirit to come.”

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I remember the first time I stepped in the doors of my first station as a rookie firefighter. I thought I knew all there was to know; I thought I knew how to act. Fast forward a couple of years, and when I looked back at the rookie who was blind to how he acted, I shook my head. The longer I was in the fire service the better I got to know it, to understand it, and to live the mission of it.

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When we change our viewpoint from one of fear, hoping to do enough to keep God happy with us to one of confidence that we are chosen by God and that he partners with us in his ministry right where we are, we begin to see the world through the eyes of Christ. Not only do we see the mission he has set out for us, we actually see more of God himself.  When we start to see the world through the eyes of Christ, our prospective changes, our hearts change, and he shows us who he is.

Father, thank you for giving us the most amazing gift of righteousness. Thank you that you don’t need us to move your kingdom forward, but you choose to work through us. Father, give us your eyes for the world around us, to continue to draw us close and to show us who you are. Amen.