Throne of Grace
“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘“As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.”‘ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
Today’s Text: Romans 14:1-12 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
Most of the time, when we think about our salvation in Christ Jesus, we may think about the incredible joy of coming face to face with our Lord and the peace and blessings that come with life in the new heavens and the new earth clothed with our eternal, heavenly bodies. It’s a victorious and glorious vision.
But we hardly ever give consideration to these verses and others like it (Matthew 12:26; 25:31-46).
Paul makes this statement in the context of an exhortation to all believers to love one another:
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. … 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
— Romans 13:8, 10
And that exhortation leads to Paul exhorting Jewish and Gentile Christians (that is, all Christians) to stop disputing over differences in traditions (verses 1-9). And then Paul makes the statement in verses 10-12 above.
Do I ever judge others in my heart or with my words?* Do I ever treat other believers with contempt in my heart or with my words?*
When the judgmentalism and contempt we carry in our hearts turns into words and actions, that may harm our churches more than anything else, simply because it happens so frequently.
Paul is saying that the vision of my life today—now—should be that of standing before God’s judgment seat, giving an account for every judgmental and contemptuous deed and word.
God knows that I cannot help my sinful thoughts and attitudes. But He has given me the Holy Spirit to filter my sinful thoughts and attitudes before they become sinful actions and words.
Woe to me if I cannot discern my sinful thoughts and attitudes to even surrender them to the Holy Spirit. Woe to me if I cannot discern my sinful words and actions to lay them down at the foot of the cross to seek forgiveness. Not because we won’t be saved, but because of the harm it does to others and to the church.
Today, may I practice surrendering all my sinful thoughts and attitudes to the Holy Spirit and keep Peter’s words in my heart:
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
— 1 Peter 4:8
* Yes.
Father, Your goodness knows no bounds, and I acknowledge that Your goodness is not reserved exclusively for me. Forgive me for my judgmental and contemptuous thoughts and attitudes. I lay them at Your feet, asking for forgiveness and change. Change my heart, O, God, so that I may love others deeply. I know that that is the key to my happiness and shalom and Your glory. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
