Romans 14:1-12

Be Still: Father, thank you for your kindness towards me. Please speak to me today through your Word and fill me with your Spirit. Amen

Read: Romans 14:1-12 

'You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister?' (v10a)

Encounter: This is a really fun passage which lays out Paul’s response to a squabble that was breaking out between those in the Roman church who believed that they could eat anything, and those that only felt comfortable eating vegetables. What’s fascinating is that Paul chooses to rebuke the group that had their theology correct but their attitude all wrong! These guys knew that God was fine with them eating meat but instead of lovingly coming alongside their mistaken brothers and sisters and walking them into greater freedom, they were treating them with contempt and looking down on them. Paul was not pleased! It’s never our place to judge!

What’s interesting here is that Paul goes on to make the case that the heart and the intention to honour God in our actions is more important that the action itself. If this group are abstaining from meat because they love Jesus and want to honour him, then this should be respected rather than ridiculed. God loves their heart, and they (and we) should too. 

We don’t tend to have disagreements about food in the church, but there are lots of differences in the ways that we practise honouring God within our own church and as we look at the practices of other churches. Paul’s teaching challenges us to guard against pride and judgement, to act with love and humility and not to get caught up with the little things and, in truth, unimportant differences.

Apply: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you examine your heart and bring to mind any areas of pride and judgment that you might be carrying. Do you look down on those whose worship looks different to yours? Do you enjoy being right a little too much? Are you getting so caught up in your understanding of theology or doctrine that you’re forgetting the heart? 

Devote: Sorry God for when I’ve sat in judgement over my brothers and sisters. Please forgive me and help me to act with love and humility.