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Continuing Romans Road Chapter14
Paul speaks of how to treat other believers in this chapter.
It is important to realize that we view believers differently than unbelievers.
Believers have a higher standard to live up to, and those who have not yet
realized that Jesus is Lord are literally lost at the moment, perhaps for ever
if we do not get the point across to them that believing in the Lord Jesus
Christ is what saves them from hell and damnation.
Still, as believers we are sometimes weak in faith, and we
have to also realize we are each on a path the Lord has put before us, and
though it blends together we cannot all be standing in the same spot at any
given moment. We are each at a different level or way point as we walk towards
Him. So when we speak to the brothers and sisters in the Lord who are newbies or
‘babes’ we need to give them more grace than we would someone who is stronger
in the Lord, but at the same time we need to understand that we have to live
our walk as well. Do not weaken your own walk to meet the level of a younger
believer but teach them and instruct them even if its just by walking the Word
out. Sometimes the best way to teach someone is by living your life the way
that they should go. Don’t lord over them as if you have it all because guess
what? There is always someone before you on the path too! Someone who is
probably mentoring you to follow the path before you!
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t
argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all
right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will
eat only vegetables. 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. Who are you to condemn someone else’s
servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the
Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
In the same way, some
think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is
alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is
acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him.
Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks
to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to
please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die
for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor
the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Christ died and rose
again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down
on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of
God.
For the Scriptures
say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and
every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Romans 14:1-11 nlt,
In nkjv below, these
last few verses are a bit different but the meaning is the same.
For to this end
Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead
and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt
for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
For it is written: “As
I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall
confess to God.” Romans 14:9-11
Study and discuss these things. Perhaps with another
believer who is more knowledgeable than you is best but take the time to
consider the reason Paul was writing and who he was reaching out to.
Compare different versions of the Word when you have the chance
and always try to check the meaning of any word you do not know with the
dictionary or others study helps.
Why do you think Paul wanted to remind or instruct his
readers about the fact that every knee shall bow or bend, and everyone will confess that Jesus is Lord?
So, then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore,
but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our
brother’s way. Romans 14:12-13
Paul is good to remind us that we are not to judge ourselves
better than anyone else because if we do that then we cold be causing someone
else to falter in their walk with Christ. How is that?
I believe if we try to put too much pressure on an
unbeliever they will run the other way and may have to suffer a rougher life
before then come to believe than if we had just given them the truth and allowed
them to mull it over as it were. I know that when I was not yet believing the
Jesus that people would give me seeds of truth, hope, and love, that eventually
brought me opened eyes thanks to the Holy Spirit. And yes they could have
pushed harder and encouraged me to know God, but who is to say that it would not
have made me run?
At 11 years old I visited a church with a family member and
friend to give the friend points in a contest of bringing friends to church. I
had the worlds view idea of what a Christian was, honest, clean, and a bit
snobby in how they saw us. At this kids’ church there was a competition and the
leader knew my family member and I knew nothing so he whispered the answer in
her ear so she would be able to answer. I was shocked! It knocked me off my
rocker to think an adult Christian would lie, but on top of that it was a
church leader Christian!
It jaded me for several years, and though I still kind of
listened to hear truths everywhere we moved, God brought me Christians to sprinkle
more seeds to fill the weedy spots.
Now that I am a Christian myself I have a responsibility to
study to show myself approved by God, and rightly divide the Word in
truth! So do you! We need to be sure we are being honest and
truthful without hindering someone elses walk. I have to admit I caught myself
giving away an answer as a Children’s Leader and had to catch myself and
realize I had judged the person unfairly. I confessed the fact I did this already,
but it came up to remind me to walk worthy of my calling. This is what Paul
said in Ephesians 4:1. (see below)
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech (urgently or
fervently ask) you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with
longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring (encouraging) to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 nkjv
In Romans 14 Paul begins with teaching us how to reat one
another while walking according to the Word, or doing the Word, as they say
today because it is crucial to know these things. For the people he was initially
writing to, as well as to us, it is important to read the Word, pray the Word
and do the Word, or live as much as humanly possible like Jesus each day. That
means we need to think before we speak, act or decide what to do next as we see
fit in the Word, with the Holy Spirit’s help, in Jesus name.
Check back next week as we continue in chapter 14 or Romans!
In the mean time, walk, pray, live… in Jesus’ name!
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the Word to read,
thank you for Paul’s words today resonating in our lives as we live in this
crazy time of life. Help us to remember to remind other believers kindly how we
should behave when politics, or other things rise up in the world causing
friction and pain. Help us to speak the truth, be slow to anger and quick to be
quiet and pray, In Jesus name…