Romans Chapter 14: Verses 1-4 (NIV)
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
How easily do we judge people by our own standards? Unfortunately, in some cases it seems too easily. Sadly, that includes the church too. If the early church had paid attention to what Paul taught the Romans, perhaps we would not have so many divisions. If the core truth of the work of redemption is at the heart of our belief, then other things like diet, style of worship and how we dress, are not important. If an individual has been accepted by God, then I have no place to judge their daily life.
Paul says we have no reason to judge someone else’s servant. Christians are servants of God. Therefore, the only person that we should be seeking to please is God Himself. God is the one who gives us the strength to stand. His is the voice we should be listening to. Earlier on in the week, the Bible reading reminded me that God is kind. We need to remember above all else as we conduct our lives to be kind. The worst thing I can think of would be if I by my behaviour put people off from seeking or following God.
Dear Lord,
Help me to ensure that my focus is on serving and pleasing You and not concern myself with what someone else is doing. Help me always to be kind. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.