From The Heart

Read: Romans 14:13-18

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

IN WORD

Nearly all religions, including Christianity, tend to develop rules to guide behavior and practices. We forget that if we are living from a truly transformed heart, rules are unnecessary; and if rules are necessary, the problem is with the heart, not the behavior. The Spirit in us yearns to change us to the degree that we can simply be ourselves—our true selves—without having to be conscious of “oughts” and “shoulds.” When we are truly transformed, we can act naturally and be who we were designed to be.

The problem is that we are in a process of transformation. Sometimes the heart, not yet fully changed, needs to be told what to do. So we develop disciplines and structures and habits, not from within but from external commands and constraints. And slowly, imperceptibly, these external structures become permanent rather than temporary. They form the basis of our lives. We cease to live by the Spirit, by Christ in us, and rely on rules.

Paul reminds us that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking—or any other external, behavioral guideline. Sure, the Spirit in us will impact every area of our lives, but by transforming our nature rather than disciplining our behavior. The Kingdom of God produces deeply internal righteousness, peace, and joy that work their way outward into other aspects of our lives. But it all begins within.

IN DEED

If following Jesus is a constant effort of training yourself in the right behavior, shift your focus instead to your heart—or rather to the Spirit, asking Him to transform your heart. Jesus didn’t come to make us better people; He came to make us new people. If He is genuinely in our hearts, we can live from our hearts. We can be filled up with truth, peace, and joy—the attributes of the Kingdom—and let them overflow.

ADDITIONAL READING: Galatians 5:22-23

Those in whom the Spirit comes to live are God’s new Temple. They are . . . places where heaven and earth meet.

N. T. WRIGHT