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Romans 14:5

⁵One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

The apostle Paul understood grace perhaps better than anyone who ever lived. He was a persecutor of Christians, and yet God called him to be an evangelist who wrote a large part of our New Testament. While he clarified for the church many doctrines of our faith, he also cut a wide path for differing convictions on minor details of living out the faith.

There seems to have been a lot of controversy in the early church about which day to worship and whether or not believers could eat food that may have been offered to idols. In regards to how one practiced their faith in these areas, Paul encouraged people to follow their conscience. If you think something is a sin, then don't do it. At the same time, don't make an issue of someone who does not have the same conviction. And don't intentionally tempt a fellow believer who holds a different conviction by exercising your freedom in front of that person. Paul encourages us to limit our freedom so as not to cause anyone to stumble.

Real freedom is being able, for the sake of love, to not do what we really want to do. It is the freedom to walk in the Spirit and demonstrate the grace we have received. Each of us will answer to God for our words and actions. Live in such a way that you can look forward to the account that you will give on that day.

Consider: Fellowship focuses on the things we have in common regarding our love for Jesus and appreciation for what He has done for us. It is the humble soul who will not insist on arguing about minor doctrines and nonessential convictions.