“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, ESV).

This eating and drinking, is about how people viewed different things as lawful or not. Paul was determined that love would rule the day, and he wouldn’t offend by what he ate even if he knew it was lawful for him. But our verse says those rules aren’t the kingdom of God; that’s not what it is about.

The kingdom of God is of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we are walking in the kingdom, that’s what our lives should look like: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Our lives should be marked with joy; a joy that’s there even in the trial. Our lives should be marked with peace; a peace that sleeps in the middle of a storm. Our lives should be marked with righteousness; the righteousness of Christ Himself, not only in His cleansing, but in His sanctification, His cleansing us and making us more and more in the image of Jesus, leading us to choose what is right.