Romans 14:10-12 Amplified Bible

¹⁰ But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge]. ¹¹ For it is written [in Scripture],

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Attending to the affairs of self, versus our attending to the affairs of others.

Understanding that we are only responsible for ourselves takes the burden off trying to make everyone else into a model Christian.

When we understand that we can share, encourage, teach and equip others for this life but ultimately the responsibility for what they do with it falls squarely on their shoulders, this gives us the liberty to simply love and care for them.

We do not need to take the burden of their behavior and decision or indecision upon our shoulders, our hearts or our souls.

Standing before God, we have the first burden of accountability.

We are the only ones who have to give an account of ourselves.

We have an ultimate responsibility to account for our whole selves first.

When I am standing before God – I am standing in my own shoes which I myself crafted for myself through my own actions through my own very own lifetime.

We will all give an account of ourselves to God in the end.

So, perhaps instead of wasting time worrying about all of the affairs of our brothers and sisters, we should see to ourselves first to make sure our motives are right, our hearts pure, we are walking in the plan the Lord has set for us.

We have to be true to ourselves, how God shaped our connection, our right relationship with God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:13-18Amplified Bible

¹³ Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way. ¹⁴ I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else]; ¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.

We are not to judge our fellow brothers over trivial matters such as eating and drinking.

Nor should we look down upon or be impatient with them when they do not understand these truths.

The Lord will reveal in due time this freedom to which they were called.

Instead, we need to be concerned with our own hearts and actions because we will be the only ones standing who will be giving an account to God for them.

Understanding this puts judging others in perspective. Instead, we can make up our minds not to put stumbling blocks in their way. We should allow their paths to remain clear so they will not falter in their walk with the Lord on our account.

Knowing that we will stand before the Lord and confess his Lordship should excite you as a believer.

Everything in heaven, earth and under the earth will eventually confess that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 4:8-12, Philippians 2:9-11).

If we fully acknowledge this, recognize it, confess this now while we live on this earth, then there is no fear in that day, because perfect love casts out fear.

1 John says, 

“In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:17-18). 

Association with Jesus is what gives us eternal life and a hope for heaven.

Believing in Him is the deciding factor of whether we live or die.

The good news is we can live to the maximum for him now, confess and rejoice in what he did for us while, we are all looking forward to that one day when we will all be standing before our Savior, and confessing this Lordship to his face.

Understanding this provides perspective on our personal responsibility.

We are not to judge or confuse our brothers and sisters by the freedom we enjoy rather we should understand that everyone will give an account to the Lord.

So, it is in our best interest to walk in our convictions with pureness of heart because the Lord has accepted them.

In the same way, he has accepted fellow believers and their convictions.

Utterly overwhelmed by this acceptance as we should all be, we are to make every effort to live our lives as unto the Lord no matter how trivial our tasks.

Because this shows a max heart change, and this is magnifying His name alone, above all others glorifying to our Savior Jesus, because of it, He has accepted us.

Today, I pray that you make up your mind to encourage your brothers and sisters instead of maxing out efforts, ripping, shredding, tearing them down.

Make every effort to live in peace, guarding and protecting your heart and walking in the truth. May you pull yourselves back, evaluate your own motives today and instead walk in pureness before the Lord as this is pleasing to him.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

O Lord my God, you are my shield, my strength and my wisdom. Help me so to trust you with my decisions and my future. Let me lean on you with all my heart instead of relying on my own understanding. Give me clear guidance in my life Lord. As I learn to submit myself fully unto you, I know that you will direct my paths and I can have confidence that your direction is always the best way to go. Lord, bless me and keep me, make your face to shine upon me. Turn your face fully towards me and give me thy peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

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