Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 285

October 12;      Romans 14:17;       131/260(III);        ‘Righteousness, Peace & Joy’

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Religion, is a tool of the devil to keep someone busy, but going nowhere of any true spiritual value.  Disputes concerning what someone eats and considering one day of more importance than another, exist and need not be argued over or majored upon.  Paul tells us that the kingdom of God is not what you eat or drink, rather it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  The kingdom of God is in us right now.  It is the life of God and His blessings manifested in our lives right now.  Why get bogged down in trivial things, when the kingdom of God is so dynamic.  First the kingdom of God is righteousness.  We have right standing with God the Father because the Lord Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross and gave us His right standing.  Our sins were cleansed and we are free to live our lives without guilt, shame or condemnation.  Next the kingdom of God is peace.  The peace of God is not like the world’s peace.  We have the peace of God regardless of circumstances.  The Word teaches us not to be anxious about anything, but to pray and thank the Lord He is bigger than our situation and trust Him to see us through.  God’s peace is ‘vertical’ between the Lord and ourselves.  Finally we have joy in the Holy Spirit.  Joy is unlike happiness.  Happiness requires good things to be happening in our lives.   Joy is based on our walk with Jesus.  He is always there helping us, regardless of circumstances we face.  Joy disregards stuff.