19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Right in the middle of this passage about the kinds of diets we keep, religious diets that is, Paul puts this summary statement. This summary statement could be put in the middle of almost any discussion about anything dealing with the fellowship of Jesus followers. We must be willing to put down our pet hobby-horse and ride in someone else’s saddle. Our own stubborn ways must be yielded to the good of the whole body. It might be the color of the carpet, or the composition of the music, or the metal piercings, or the colors of the hair, or under-skin beauty treatments (tattoos or Botox). We can make something out of nothing, can’t we? The question really becomes, does this person accurately reflect Jesus life and work in the present moment? There are some things that Jesus objects to in an individual’s life. Are we willing to let Jesus do His job and allow Him to speak on the issues to that individual? Or do we feel He is being too slow in pointing out what is obviously to us a sin? Are we willing to let Jesus be quick in pointing out our sin to the body? Does our self-righteous garb really cover our nakedness? When we try to do what only Jesus is qualified to do, we mess it up. Let’s work at taking the huge blinding obstacle out of our own spiritual eyes. Then Jesus can work in us and through us.
The Arnold Journey 