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OceanSide church of Christ

Read devotionals for October 2026

November 1, 2026

Romans 14:10, 11 – But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Thought: Paul continues his discussion about matters of option or liberty. In other words, one practices one thing, eating of meats; and another practices another thing, refrains from eating meats. Instead of judging one another, these matters need to be left to the true Judge. Paul assures us that all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul quotes Isaiah as the confirmation that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

November 2, 2026

Romans 14:12 – So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Thought: In the previous two verses, Paul taught that all would stand before Christ’s judgment seat. Individuals will not stand there with pride and arrogance. No, they will bow their knees and confess to God. Too, they will give an account of themselves to God. When they stand in God’s presence, He will not be interested in their stories about others. He will only be interested in the thoughts, words, and behaviors of the one directly in front of Him.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

November 3, 2026

Romans 14:13 – Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Thought: Christians often fail to understand the words “stumbling block.” A stumbling block is not someone who offends another. A stumbling block is one who causes his brother to sin in a matter of option. Some believed that eating meats that had been offered to idols was wrong. If they were to eat the meat, their conscience would hurt them. Thus, those who ate meats were not to coax them into eating. If they did this, they became a stumbling block.

1 Corinthians 8:9-13

November 4, 2026

Romans 14:14, 15 – I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus Christ, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Thought: The distinction between clean and unclean food was important in Judaism. Many Jewish converts to Christianity had grown up within the Mosaic system. It was not easy for all of them to drop the food distinctions. Paul plainly reveals that “there is nothing unclean of itself” based on the authority of Jesus. However, some still esteemed some things to be unclean. How are we do handle these individuals? With love, as those for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

November 5, 2026

Romans 14:16,17 – Let not then your good be evil spoken of: for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Thought: In the context, Paul was discussing the eating of meats. He taught that eating meats and refraining from eating meats were acceptable. The key was to uphold the rights of the brother who does differently than you. Paul will mention drink again in verse 21. There he expands somewhat on the topic. Here, he elevates what is important. “…for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Colossians 2:6-17

November 6, 2026

Romans 14:18 – For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Thought: Instead of focusing on issues of option, Paul exhorted these Christians to give diligence to righteousness, peace, and joy. Involvement in these things are both “acceptable to God, and approved of men.” It is troubling how much time Christians invest in debating of optional matters. This often gives little time to the things that truly matter. We become like the Pharisees, focused on the tithing of spices and forgetting the weightier matters of the law.

Matthew 23:23-24

November 7, 2026

Romans 14:19 – Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another.

Thought: Paul points the brethren to two things that are needed within all congregations of the Lord’s people: peace and edification. The words “follow after” can be defined as “pursue, to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire.” Effort, labor, and toil are involved in acquiring and maintaining peace in a church. Too, members need to “follow after…the things wherewith one may edify another.” To edify means “to build up” and to tear down.

James 3:17-18

November 8, 2026

Romans 14:20 – For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Thought: Eating meats is optional. God is pleased with those who eat meats and with those who don’t. Neither group should destroy the work of God over the issue. Sometimes, however, those who are knowledgeable will push their view and will get the weaker individual to participate in that which he believes to be wrong. If this man eats, he eats with offence. Paul says that is evil. Those who eat meat should not be involved in an evil outcome.

1 Corinthians 8:8-9

November 9, 2026

Romans 14:21 – It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is made weak.

Thought: Paul continues his discussion of optional matters. He includes drinking wine in this discussion. The word “wine” can mean grape juice. It can also mean intoxicating wine. Because Paul does not elaborate on the wine in this verse, we can’t be sure of its true application. He does tell us that if eating flesh or drinking wine causes our brother to stumble or to be made weak, we should not eat or drink. Concern for others is vital.

1 Corinthians 8:13

November 10, 2026

Romans 14:22 – Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing which he alloweth.

Thought: Many understood that eating meats wasn’t sinful. God’s word made this clear. Thus, they were eating the meat by faith. However, since it was optional, Paul counsels them to “have it to thyself before God.” They could eat it alone or with others of a like mind. However, they should leave it off when with those who were weak. He did not want them to be condemned for offending another. In fact, protecting others should bring joy.

2 Corinthians 1:12

November 11, 2026

Romans 14:23 – And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Thought: When a person engages in any action, he must do it by faith, that is, he must understand that this is acceptable to God. There are some matters of option wherein the act may be right, but the individual believes it is wrong to do. When some Jews were converted to Christianity, they still believed it was wrong to eat unclean food. If they ate such foods, Paul says they were damned. Why? Because if something is not of faith, it is sinful.

Hebrews 11:6