Rom 14.5-13

Psg: Rom 14.5-13 (http://biblia.com/bible/gs-netbible/Ro14.5-13)
Date: 4/29/12

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14:5 One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike.* Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. 14:6 The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The* one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. 14:7 For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself. 14:8 If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 14:9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

14:10 But you who eat vegetables only – why do you judge your brother or sister?* And you who eat everything – why do you despise your brother or sister?* For we will all stand before the judgment seat* of God. 14:11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.”* 14:12 Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.*

14:13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.*

Record

Don’t pass judgment on others, because we will all be judged. Rather, everything we do or choose not to do (especially the things that tend to be judged) should be done or not done for the Lord, so that he is Lord of everything.

Reflect

• The things we do (or choose not to do) are for one judge only - the Lord. We have no need to seek the approval of others (which is not the same thing as accountability).
• When dealing with a brother over an issue that we’re tempted to judge, our goal with them should not be whether or not they engage in the behavior, but is their behavior something they are earnestly doing for the Lord. How can we spur one another on to do or to abstain only for the Lord?
• There are, of course, clear times when people are in sin. Paul is not making room for that here. God is the judge, and he will rightly assess all behaviors and thoughts.

Respond

• Father, I do sometimes take your place and judge others. When I do, I am certainly worthy of your judgment, whether or not the other person is. I confess to you acts of judging.
• Make me a positive agent in others’ lives to encourage them to do everything for you - to live for you and to die for you, and everything in between.