None Live or Die to Themselves Romans 14:7

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind”, and he added, “He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks.” In chapter fourteen and verse six of Romans, Paul asked the believers, “none of us lives” or “dies to himself” where we read:

For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.

The verse begins, “For none of us lives to himself, ...” Paul began with the words, “for none of us” which means “not one person among Paul, his companions or his believing readers” “lives” or “breathes, enjoys real life, is active, blessed and is full of vigor” “to himself” which means “to their own self”. Paul recognized how no one really “enjoys life and is active” alone.

The verse continues, “... and no man dies to himself.” Paul added the words, “and no man” which means “not one person among Paul, his companions or his believing readers” “dies” or “expires, perishes or experiences death” “to himself” which refers to “to their own self”. Paul shared how there is an interconnection between people even when they “die”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how people are connected to one another, and this is especially true with believers in Jesus Christ. Though they may have different preferences or personal convictions concerning “eating” and “special days”, they all belong to the family of God. Each person is valuable to God, and He died for them all. The common denominator is receiving Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and afterward there is a connection that includes “life and death” for the believers for which no one needs to be alone.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “whether we live, we live unto the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.