15-16 If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!

17-18 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

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16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(A) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(B) but of righteousness, peace(C) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(D) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(E)

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