02
I will Give Account for Me
Rod ShimabukuroWhy do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12
With the Jewish & Gentile conflicts in mind, Paul had already established that salvation and justification comes through faith in Christ, not the works of the law. There was a recognition that sin lives in all of us, Gentiles, Jews and everyone in between. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
In verses 10-12, Paul instructs and reminds his readers that we will all give account of ourselves to God. Therefore we are called to love, not judge one another. There were matters of the heart involving different convictions and perspectives on what should or shouldn’t be eaten. On one hand God calls us to make sure each of our own hearts are right before God.
I feel the Lord reminding me to take care of my heart and life first and always, and don’t allow other peoples lives hinder my accounting to God. There are things in other Christian’s lives that I must not judge.
My problem at times is that I get in other peoples lives and try to help them change - to live by “my Christian standards.” Not a wrong thing until judgmental attitudes set into my heart. I must remember that I will give an account for me, not the way others choose to live out their faith.
So the bottom line answer for me is found in v1 & 19
- Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. V13
- So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. V19
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for not passing judgement so quickly on me - but giving me grace to learn, make mistakes, live in error to the point that You reveal Your faithful, long-suffering and unconditional LOVE! Thank you for Your call in my life to bow my heart, bend my knee in holy, reverent submission to You! I love You and thanks for forgiving me of my sin of judgmental attitudes.
