The Wisdom Journey with Stephen Davey Wisdom International

In this episode, Stephen continues our Wisdom Journey through Romans 14, exploring the principle of reputation. While the Bible teaches us about our freedom in Christ, it also emphasizes the importance of guarding our reputation as believers. Stephen delves into Romans 14:16-18, where Paul reminds us to be mindful of how our actions are perceived by others. Using practical examples and biblical insights, Stephen encourages us to live lives marked by purity, peace, and joy, ensuring that our liberty does not become a stumbling block for others. Join us as we learn how to honor Christ in both our freedom and our reputation.

In this episode, Stephen guides us through Romans 14:13-15, where the apostle Paul addresses the challenging gray areas of life. While personal convictions are important, Paul emphasizes the principle of protection, urging believers to avoid placing stumbling blocks or intentional hindrances in the paths of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Stephen shares practical insights and personal anecdotes to illustrate how our actions can either support or harm fellow believers. Join us as we explore how to balance liberty and love in our daily walk with Christ.

Disagreements among believers can arise even when the Bible is clear on doctrine. The greater challenge comes with "gray areas" of life, such as entertainment or education, where opinions vary widely. In Romans 14, Paul addresses the contentious issue of diet among Roman believers, emphasizing that these differences, though significant, should not divide the church. Whether one esteems one day as better than another or considers all days alike, Paul urges believers to be fully convinced in their own minds and to respect each other's convictions. Paul’s advice in Romans 14:5-12 provides a framework for navigating these differences. He highlights the importance of each believer being fully convinced in their own mind, thereby recognizing that personal convictions should be respected. Importantly, Paul reminds believers that whether they observe certain days or abstain from certain foods, they should do so in honor of the Lord, giving thanks to God. This perspective helps maintain unity and prevent judgmental attitudes within the church. Ultimately, Paul underscores that every believer will stand before the judgment seat of God, not each other. Therefore, believers should avoid passing judgment on one another in non-essential matters. Instead, they should focus on living in a way that honors God, recognizing that God will have the final word. This approach fosters unity and allows for diverse expressions of faith within the body of Christ.

In this episode of Wisdom International, Stephen explores Romans 14:1-4, where Paul addresses the delicate topic of navigating gray areas in the Christian life. Using the analogy of foggy roads and uncertain paths, Stephen illustrates how believers must carefully and respectfully handle issues that Scripture does not directly address. These "gray areas" can range from dietary choices to worship practices and personal convictions. Paul's inspired guidance offers believers several steps to maintain unity and love amidst differing opinions. The first step is to start with acceptance. Paul urges believers to welcome those who are weak in their understanding of faith, emphasizing the importance of fellowship over arguing. The second step is to refuse to argue. Paul advises believers to avoid quarreling over opinions, recognizing the difference between doctrine and personal preference. The third step is to adjust our attitude. Paul warns against despising or judging fellow believers, urging humility and grace instead. Both sides in any disagreement must maintain a Christ-like attitude. The final step is to remember who is ultimately in charge. Paul reminds us that we are all servants of the Lord, and it is before Him that we stand or fall. Judging others in matters of personal conviction oversteps our bounds, as we all answer to God alone. Through practical examples and personal anecdotes, Stephen encourages listeners to approach gray areas with a heart of acceptance, a refusal to argue, an attitude adjustment, and a remembrance of God's ultimate authority. By doing so, believers can maintain unity and reflect Christ's love in all their interactions. Tune in to learn how to navigate life's gray areas with grace, humility, and a focus on building up the body of Christ.

In this episode of Wisdom International, Stephen delves into Romans 13:11-14, exploring the Apostle Paul's urgent call to live with an eternal perspective. Reflecting on Psalm 90:12, Stephen emphasizes the importance of numbering our days to gain a heart of wisdom. He introduces a thought-provoking exercise: considering the remaining months of our lives, based on average lifespans, as a way to motivate purposeful living for Christ. Drawing from his own life, Stephen shares the impactful visual of a jar of marbles, each representing a month he has left if he lives to be 75. This tangible reminder encourages listeners to press on for the Lord, making the most of the time they have. As Paul urges believers to wake up and live in the light of their salvation, Stephen unpacks the three tenses of salvation: past (saved from the penalty of sin), present (being saved from the power of sin), and future (will be saved from the presence of sin). He emphasizes that our final salvation is nearer now than ever, and this truth should transform how we live each day. Stephen discusses the necessity of putting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light, highlighting six deeds of darkness—orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarreling, and jealousy—that Paul warns against. He explains how these sins characterize a world in spiritual darkness and contrasts them with the believer's calling to live as children of light. Through practical advice and personal anecdotes, Stephen encourages listeners to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" daily, resisting the temptations of the flesh and living in a way that honors God. By doing so, believers can effectively fulfill their mission to shine the light of the gospel in a world engulfed in darkness. Tune in to learn how living with an eternal perspective can shape your daily decisions, relationships, and ultimately, your legacy for Christ.

As Paul transitions from discussing the obligation to pay taxes in Romans 13, he shifts to a debt that believers must continually pay: the debt of love. Join Stephen as he delves into Romans 13:8-10, exploring the enduring command to love one another and how it fulfills the law. Discover why Paul’s admonition to “owe no one anything, except to love each other” does not prohibit borrowing but emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good reputation and fulfilling obligations. Learn how love, as an ongoing debt, manifests in our actions and attitudes, impacting our relationships and reflecting God’s love. Stephen will unpack how love fulfills the law by preventing adultery, murder, theft, and covetousness, turning us into givers rather than takers. This episode will inspire you to “max out your love limit” and continually pay the debt of love, building bridges for the gospel in your daily life. Tune in to understand how this principle shapes a distinctly Christian testimony in a world that desperately needs to see and experience God’s love.