Romans 14 Are We Guilty
of Judging Another?
Wow! This is very convicting lesson from God,
written by Paul. Personally, I needed
this today. I try very carefully not to
gossip, yet I realize I am sometimes a bit guilty of what Paul is talking about
in this passage. I have no right at all
to judge another for any reason at all.
Vs. 4, 10, 12-13, 19- Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Why do
you judge your brother? Or why do you
show contempt for your brother? For we
shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each of us shall give account of
himself to God. Therefore let us not
judge one another, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a
cause to fall in our brother’s way. Let
us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify
another.
We may be causing our
own husband, children and others to stumble due to a judgmental attitude or the
liberties that we take that may cause sometime to stumble. Perhaps our actions may be causing that new or
weak Christian to stumble. God wants us
to bend over backwards to handle these dear ones with kid gloves. How unselfish
and caring does God find the condition of our hearts this day. Do we really have a true and willing heart
for the things of God and a love for those around us? We can so be perturbed and easily say, “Well,
that’s their problem!” We may find that
we have a harder time with disagreeable Christians than we do with the lost
around us. Our faith is often tested.
How will we live out our faith during these times? These testing times
truly reveal the condition of our hearts.
How do we deal with that rude driver on the road; do our children hear
us gripe and complain and call them a jerk? Do we find ourselves jumping to
conclusions with others before we hear them out; are we really thinking before
we speak; are we pausing long enough to
get an answer from God? A while back I
was talking to my sweet, godly friend, Sharon. She was pausing when I asked her
a question and then said, “I am trying to get an answer from God.” That really spoke to me and I realized how
important that need is in my life. I need to make those very needed pauses to
find the mind of Christ.
Oh, dear Father, thank
you for the power of your Word and for the godly saints You put in our
paths. Oh how we need you!!!!
