Tighten Your Resolve

Resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Romans 14:13

J. Wilbur Chapman, a powerful evangelist of an earlier era, formulated what he called “my rule for Christian living.” He said, “The rule that governs my life is this: Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.”

We can also add: “Anything that hurts my testimony or stunts the growth of another Christian is likewise wrong.”

There are many issues, habits, and convictions that differ among Christians. The apostle Paul deals with these “gray areas” in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10, and he warns us against allowing our Christian liberty to become a stumbling block to ourselves or to others. If we practice our Christian liberty in such a way as to tempt others to violate their consciences or to engage in activities that may for them be doubtful, we are not exercising our freedom in a wise or loving way.

Is there an area in your life that needs to be tightened? Is there an activity that needs changing?