Let Him Judge

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Romans 14; Psalm 85

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.  (Romans 14:1-4 NLT)

When I read Romans 14, the part of me that is my new self, my “Alive In Christ” self, almost jumps up and down in passionate agreement with Paul’s words. I know this is true and right! I desire from my heart to think, speak, and live in harmony with what Paul is saying. I don’t want to criticize, judge, and condemn other people!

I know we each have our own history, our own baggage, our own prejudices to live with and, by the Grace of God, to overcome. I know that we have different preferences, and differing convictions, about all sorts of non-essential issues. I know that it was tragic in Paul’s day, and is tragic today, that we focus so much attention on our minor differences. We allow our differences to drive us apart into little hard and narrow clumps of Christ-followers instead of letting our common faith blend us into a rich tapestry of creative expressions of God’s Grace!

Eat meat or only vegetables. Worship on the first day or the seventh day. Drink a little wine or don’t drink a little wine. Sing choruses or sing hymns. Fill in the blanks with all the “do’s” or “don’ts” over which we commonly disagree.

My point is this: Read Romans 14 in the KJV, the NIV, the NLT, and The Message.  Fill your mind and heart with the liberating sense of Paul’s message of Good News. Let your new self, your true self in Christ, rejoice and say “Amen!” Tell your old self, your opinionated, critical self to sit down and be quiet! And Let Christ Judge!

Prayer:

Father, I love you and I love your family. Please grant me the grace to live the words I’ve written today. Please, may my new self, my true self, drive my attitudes, thoughts, words, and behavior with regards to this Romans 14 stuff. For Jesus’ sake, Amen!