Week 11 | Day 5 – MAKE EVERY EFFORT – Romans 14:19-23
Romans 14:23 lands with holy weight: “anything that does not come from faith is sin.” In disputable matters, the issue isn’t the menu or the calendar—it’s the motive. If I act against a doubtful conscience, I’m not trusting Jesus but my own preferences and tolerances. The phrase, “From faith,” means choices rooted in surrendered confidence that align with God’s Word and will (see Colossians 1:9–10). So, I am called to “make every effort” to orient ordinary decisions toward Jesus, refusing Pharisaic nitpicking, that I might be a stepping-stone—not a stumbling block to others—by offering truth in love and accountability with mercy while trusting the Spirit to change hearts.
APPLICATION
1 - Check the “unto the Lord” Test
If you can’t thank Jesus for it beforehand and afterward, don’t do it (see Romans 14:6, 23).
2 - Let Love Limit Liberty
Freedom serves people; it never steamrolls their conscience. Choose restraint when your liberty could wound a brother or sister. Being righteous is more important than being right in “gray” matters.
3 - Honor Your Conscience—and Theirs
Neutral things become sinful when done in unbelief or against conscience. Walk gently with differing convictions.
4 - Keep Scripture and Surrender Together
Seek what pleases the Lord, not what merely permits (see Colossians 1:9–10). Ask—Does this align with God’s will or with my preferences?
5 - Be a Stepping-stone, not a Stumbling Block
Offer truth with tenderness, accountability with mercy, and let the Holy Spirit do the convincing, convicting, and converting—remember that you are not the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, today help me make every effort to act from faith—with a clear conscience, a grateful heart, and a posture of surrender. Guard me from the little Pharisee within me who enjoys majoring on the minors. Teach me to let love limit my liberty, to handle gray areas with grace, and to speak truth in tenderness. Make me a stepping-stone to Your grace, never a stumbling block, and let Your Spirit do the deep work I cannot. Amen.
APPLICATION
1 - Check the “unto the Lord” Test
If you can’t thank Jesus for it beforehand and afterward, don’t do it (see Romans 14:6, 23).
2 - Let Love Limit Liberty
Freedom serves people; it never steamrolls their conscience. Choose restraint when your liberty could wound a brother or sister. Being righteous is more important than being right in “gray” matters.
3 - Honor Your Conscience—and Theirs
Neutral things become sinful when done in unbelief or against conscience. Walk gently with differing convictions.
4 - Keep Scripture and Surrender Together
Seek what pleases the Lord, not what merely permits (see Colossians 1:9–10). Ask—Does this align with God’s will or with my preferences?
5 - Be a Stepping-stone, not a Stumbling Block
Offer truth with tenderness, accountability with mercy, and let the Holy Spirit do the convincing, convicting, and converting—remember that you are not the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, today help me make every effort to act from faith—with a clear conscience, a grateful heart, and a posture of surrender. Guard me from the little Pharisee within me who enjoys majoring on the minors. Teach me to let love limit my liberty, to handle gray areas with grace, and to speak truth in tenderness. Make me a stepping-stone to Your grace, never a stumbling block, and let Your Spirit do the deep work I cannot. Amen.
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Archive
2025
September
Week 1 | Day 1 – BOUGHT, BELONGING, AND BOUND TO CHRIST – Romans 1:1-7Week 1 | Day 2 – EAGER TO STRENGTHEN, EAGER TO SHARE – Romans 1:8–15Week 1 | Day 3 – UNASHAMED: THE POWER AND THE PATH OF FAITH – Romans 1:16–17Week 1 | Day 4 – WHEN TRUTH IS PLAIN – Romans 1:18–20Week 1 | Day 5 – WHEN WE TRADE GLORY FOR CONTROL – Romans 1:21–32Week 2 | Day 1 – NO PARTIALITY: TRUTH THAT LEADS TO REPENTANCE – Romans 2:1–11Week 2 | Day 2 – WHEN LAW AND CONSCIENCE SPEAK – Romans 2:12–16Week 2 | Day 3 – INSIDE-OUT FAITH – Romans 2:17–29Week 2 | Day 4 – WHEN PRIVILEGE MEETS THE PLUMB LINE – Romans 3:1–8Week 2 | Day 5 – SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR – Romans 3:9–20Week 3 | Day 1 – BUT NOW… GRACE – Romans 3:21–26Week 3 | Day 2 – RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY FAITH ALONE – Romans 3:21–27Week 3 | Day 3 – THE PROMISE OF ABRAHAM – Romans 4:1-15Week 3 | Day 4 – GRACE GUARANTEES THE PROMISE – Romans 4:16–25Week 3 | Day 5 – JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE – Romans 5:1-5Week 4 | Day 1 – GOD’S LOVE ON FULL DISPLAY – Romans 5:6-8Week 4 | Day 2 – HOW MUCH MORE – Romans 5:9-11Week 4 | Day 3 – FROM ADAM’S RUIN TO CHRIST’S RESCUE – Romans 5:12-21Week 4 | Day 4 – STATE AND STANDING: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE TO GOD – Romans 6:1-4Week 4 | Day 5 – DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO GOD – Romans 6:5-10Week 5 | Day 1 – LIVING FREE, LIVING OFFERED – Romans 6:11-15Week 5 | Day 2 – SET FREE TO SERVE – Romans 6:15-23
October
Week 5 | Day 3 – RELEASED TO BELONG – Romans 7:1-6Week 5 | Day 4 – A MIRROR AND NOT A LADDER – Romans 7:7-13Week 5 | Day 5 – FEEDING THE RIGHT KING – Romans 7:14-25Week 6 | Day 1 – FREEDOM—NOT CONDEMNATION – Romans 8:1-4Week 6 | Day 2 – RISEN THINKING OR STINKING THINKING – Romans 8:5-11Week 6 | Day 3 – ASSURED AND ADOPTED – Romans 8:12-17Week 6 | Day 4 – LIVE EXPECTING AND LIVE SENT – Romans 8:18-21Week 6 | Day 5 – HOPE THAT HOLDS US STEADY – Romans 8:22-25Week 7 | Day 1 – HELP, HELD, AND MADE LIKE JESUS – Romans 8:26-30Week 7 | Day 2 – GOD IS FOR US – Romans 8:31-34Week 7 | Day 3 – INSEPARABLE – Romans 8:35-39Week 7 | Day 4 – A BURDEN FOR THE LOST – Romans 9:1-5Week 7 | Day 5 – PROMISE OVER PEDIGREE – Romans 9:6-13Week 8 | Day 1 – CHOSEN TO CHANNEL MERCY – Romans 9:13-18Week 8 | Day 2 – PLANNED GRACE—PERSONAL FAITH – Romans 9:19-29Week 8 | Day 3 – SOVEREIGN STUMBLING BLOCKS – Romans 9:30-33Week 8 | Day 4 – A BURDEN FOR TRUTH – Romans 10:1-4Week 8 | Day 5 – A GOSPEL FOR EVERYONE – Romans 10:5-13Week 9 | Day 1 – GO AND TELL – Romans 10:14-15Week 9 | Day 2 – HEARING BUT NOT HEARING – Romans 10:16-21Week 9 | Day 3 – A HOLY REMNANT – Romans 11:1-10Week 9 | Day 4 – A GRAFTED CHURCH – Romans 11:11-24Week 9 | Day 5 – GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES – Romans 11:25-32
November
Week 10 | Day 1 – A DOXOLOGY – Romans 11:25-32Week 10 | Day 2 – OUR HIGHEST ACT OF WORSHIP – Romans 12:1-2Week 10 | Day 3 – THE BODY OF CHRIST – Romans 12:3-8Week 10 | Day 4 – CHRISTIANITY IN MOTION – Romans 12:9-21Week 10 | Day 5 – CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP – Romans 13:1-7Week 11 | Day 1 – LOVE OVER LAW – Romans 13:8-10Week 11 | Day 2 – ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD – Romans 13:11-14Week 11 | Day 3 – LOOKING AFTER ONE ANOTHER – Romans 14:1-12Week 11 | Day 4 – IT’S THE POWER OF LOVE – Romans 14:13-18Week 11 | Day 5 – MAKE EVERY EFFORT – Romans 14:19-23Week 12 | Day 1 – BEAR EACH OTHER’S BURDENS – Romans 15:1-13Week 12 | Day 2 – FULFILLING ONE’S CALLING – Romans 15:14-22Week 12 | Day 3 – GOING THE EXTRA MILE – Romans 15:22-33Week 12 | Day 4 – YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME – Romans 16:1-16Week 5 | Day 5 – BE GRATEFUL YET ALERT – Romans 16:17-27Week 1 | Day 1 THE ADVENT OF CHRIST Matthew 1:18:2:12 | Luke 2:1-22 | John 1:1-14Week 1 | Day 2 THE BAPTISM OF JESUS Matthew 3:1-17 | Mark 1:1-11 | Luke 3:1-23Week 1 | Day 3 THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS Matthew 4:1-11 | Luke 4:1-13Week 1 | Day 4 THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES Matthew 4:18-22 | Luke 5:1-11 | John 1:35-51Week 1 | Day 5 THE WEDDING AT CANA John 2:1-12Week 2 | Day 1 THE FIRST TEMPLE CLEANSING John 2:13-25Week 2 | Day 2 JESUS MEET WITH NICODEMUS John 3:1-21Week 2 | Day 3 THE WOMAN AT THE WELL John 4:1-42Week 2 | Day 4 THE BEATITUDES Matthew 5:1-12 | Luke 6:17-23Week 2 | Day 5 TEACHINGS FROM THE MOUNT Matthew 5:13-48 | Luke 6:24-36
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