Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Romans 14:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 14Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Verse 2Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Verse 3Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Verse 4Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Verse 5Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Verse 6Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. Verse 7We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. Verse 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. Verse 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Verse 10Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Verse 11For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." Verse 12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Devotion
When did we become a judgmental society? We judge how people dress, how people walk, talk, sing. We judge a person’s politics. We judge who people love. Why? We have become so concerned with what everyone else is doing that we can’t see the harm we are causing to our relationships with others. If we are called to love God and love neighbors, how can “quarreling over opinions” and judging others be good for the body of Christ? Paul reminds us that whatever we personally do, do it for the Lord…whatever it is. The time has come for us to stop worrying about what others do, what opinions they hold, and be accountable to and for ourselves. Let’s build relationships rather than tearing them apart.
Prayer
God of all, we need you to help us see our brothers and sisters as we see ourselves, your beloved children. Help us to live peaceably with one another as you intended us to live. Give us ears to hear our siblings in Christ as well as hearts of compassion and love for all. Amen.
Interested in digging deeper into today’s text?
Read more here.