Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.
Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801, Swiss theologian, mystic)
Romans 14:16-18 (HCSB)
Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves the Messiah in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men.
In these verses we find the kingdom of God defined as what it is and what it is not. I find that Paul chose to first define what it wasn’t, and it wasn’t satisfaction of the flesh. He says that those things that make the flesh happy, and eating and drinking certainly make Baptist’s happy, were not the secret for everlasting peace and contentment.
So what does he define as our greatest source of strength, joy and answer to our daily needs? The Holy Spirit of God, and he tells us what things will lead us to contentment in the Holy Spirit. They are these, righteousness, which means letting God’s Word define “Right Living” for you,and I, which will lead to peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Paul doesn’t list “Peace” first, for peace is a product of kingdom living. He doesn’t list “Joy” first for it is also a product of “Walking in God’s Word.” He listed righteousness first because without it neither peace, nor joy can exist. The only lasting peace and joy that will be real joy in the street, and real peace inside your heart, comes only from walking according to God’s Word…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William
Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801, Swiss theologian, mystic)
Romans 14:16-18 (HCSB)
Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves the Messiah in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men.
In these verses we find the kingdom of God defined as what it is and what it is not. I find that Paul chose to first define what it wasn’t, and it wasn’t satisfaction of the flesh. He says that those things that make the flesh happy, and eating and drinking certainly make Baptist’s happy, were not the secret for everlasting peace and contentment.
So what does he define as our greatest source of strength, joy and answer to our daily needs? The Holy Spirit of God, and he tells us what things will lead us to contentment in the Holy Spirit. They are these, righteousness, which means letting God’s Word define “Right Living” for you,and I, which will lead to peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Paul doesn’t list “Peace” first, for peace is a product of kingdom living. He doesn’t list “Joy” first for it is also a product of “Walking in God’s Word.” He listed righteousness first because without it neither peace, nor joy can exist. The only lasting peace and joy that will be real joy in the street, and real peace inside your heart, comes only from walking according to God’s Word…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William
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