Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those 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. Who 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.
Some 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. Those 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.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If 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. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why 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. For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Reflect
Standing in judgement of others never brings us joy. We may experience a certain satisfaction that is derived from holding ourselves above others; by holding others accountable for their actions or attitudes; and/or knowing that we ourselves would never be guilty of harboring such sinful motives.
Such judgmental stances never put us in a more favorable position with God. Our energy is used much more beneficially when we seek only to bow down and give praise to God.
Making ourselves accountable before God is much more difficult than it is to help God determine those on whom God should keep a divine eye. Making ourselves accountable invites the grace of God to be shed on us.
Pray
Loving God, your compassion is boundless. Your mercy is great. It is magnified when we bow before you with a contrite heart and allow grace to restore us and make us whole. Amen.
Go with God.
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