Study Desk

In the Scriptures God says, "I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise my name!"

And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.

The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit.

God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit.

If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people.

Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat.

What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts.

God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ.

Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.

I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came,

so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say, "I will tell the nations about you, and I will sing praises to your name."

I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

But I have spoken to you plainly and have tried to remind you of some things. God was so kind to me!

He chose me to be a servant of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles and to do the work of a priest in the service of his good news. God did this so that the Holy Spirit could make the Gentiles into a holy offering, pleasing to him.

Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God.

Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing.

Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit.

I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.

Then God, who gives peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet. I pray that our Lord Jesus will be kind to you.