Author: Scott

For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. Romans 15:27 On my way to my first AA meeting years ago, I was terribly nervous. This is apparently, a pretty common experience for anyone new to AA and those in…
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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 When suffering from depression or anxiety, most of us have prayed, asking God to take it away. Then, when God doesn’t take it away and…
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Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” Romans 15:2-3 In my first year of residency, while on call, I had to go to the ER to see…
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We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1 A few times lately, I’ve found myself being critical of others. It’s not bad enough that I’ve had critical thoughts though. I’ve also shared those thoughts out loud. Twice recently, those whom I’ve…
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But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Romans 14:23 I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ve always found it terribly hypocritical that a half hour into a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, the group will take a 10-minute…
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Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Romans 14:20-21 A few years ago, I sat listening to two guys, one of whom confessed the struggle…
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For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 It’s always been my nature to live as if I had this question in mind, How much can I get away with and still be forgiven? I may not…
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So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12 In addiction medicine, I frequently have the opportunity to interview alcoholics and addicts as they attempt to work towards change, sobriety, and recovery. Deep down, they all want their lives to be different, but getting there is the problem. Part…
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For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:7-8 The addict likes to think that he’s in…
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One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Romans 14:2-3 Every once in a while, I’ll find myself in…
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