Romans 14:10-12

Passage

And why do you judge your brother?  Or, why do you despise your brother?  For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God, as it has been written, “I live, says the Lord, that every knee will bend to me and every tongue will confess to God.”  Consequently, then, each of us will give to God an accounting regarding himself.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul now moves on to a very pertinent question.  Who are we to pass judgment on each other?  It is one of our favorite pastimes.  In fact, it is this question that ultimately drives social media.  We like to compare ourselves to each other.  That leads to us enjoying the process of putting down one another or thinking we’re better.  We love to look at one another with a critical eye.  But what point does our judgment serve?  Is our judgment worth anything?  Do I have any power whatsoever over the salvation of another person?  No.  The only thing my judgment can do is to cause me to sin in pride as I think myself better than the people who are around me.  This is why Paul asks the question first with the verb “judge” and then with the verb “despise.”  In Paul’s mind, these two questions are synonymous.  You don’t do one without necessarily doing the other.

How judgmental are you?  Do you really think that you are better than the people around you?

Second Thought:

Paul reminds us that every single one of us will have an opportunity to come before the Lord in judgment.  Every single one of us will step before the person who is capable of having an influence on our realization of salvation.  Every single one of us will appear before God and give an accounting of our life.  This is why my judgment is irrelevant.  God knows each of us truthfully and honestly.  He knows our hearts.  He knows our lies and our truths.  He is the one who genuinely knows if I am following Him or instead following my own desires.  He alone can judge fairly.

When you stand before God and give your accounting, how do you think it will go?  Why is it important to realize a lack of a need to judge others because of the certainly that God will stand as judge over all of us?

Third Thought:

Paul also reminds us of the quote from Isaiah 45:23.  All will bend the knee before God.  All will confess before Him.  That doesn’t mean that all will be saved.  Rather, it simply means that in the end all will recognize God’s power and be humbled before Him.  In the end, nothing will be more powerful than God.

Do you believe that in the end all will bow before God and confess His greatness?  Does that belief play out in your daily life?  How so?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 14:13-16