“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” Paul. (Romans 14:13)
Love and Lordship in Focus…Judgment, in today’s culture, is simply disagreeing with or not condoning another’s opinions or lifestyle which is often not judgment but simply disagreement and can often be as a result of someone living in sin against God’s Word and will. However, we are not to judge the heart of others but leave that to God.
This “One Another” is one that we all need to hear and, if we’re honest with ourselves, one that is not so easily adhered to in our lives and relationships. Yet, we must remember that every “One Another” is rooted in and part of the deeper commandment to “love one another.” Whenever we are failing to be obedient to any of these “one another” commands we are falling short in our love for God and others…thank God for His grace and mercy.
As Paul closes his letter to the church at Rome, he gives us some of the most difficult and yet powerful “one anothers” beginning in Romans 14:13 where he instructs us, by the leading of The Holy Spirit, to …Stop passing judgment on one another.” OUCH! But they deserve it! That’s exactly the point…apart from Christ we all deserve nothing but judgment. Thanks be to God that because of Christ, His “mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)
This does not mean that there is, nor will be, no judgment, but simply that those who truly believe in Christ have already received, by His great mercy, our judgment that Christ took for us. Only those who don’t know Christ after all they’ve been shown and given and rejected His mercy will receive judgment.
For us as believers though, the first thing we must acknowledge in this command is that The Holy Spirit is telling us to stop doing something that we are already doing to others…OUCH, again! He goes on in that same command in v. 13 and expands by telling us to stop putting obstacles or stumbling blocks in the path of others. That’s a strong indictment as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8:9 that we must be very careful not to use the freedom that we’ve been given in Christ to lay burdens on others…essentially don’t put stumbling blocks in their path to freedom and growth in Christ.
This is what standing in judgment of others does to us, making us appear “holier than thou” in our attitude and turning them away from Christ rather than toward Him.
In order to truly love one another we must stop judging each other. There is a time to point out sin but it is in grace, truth and love, and only after I have confessed, dealt with and laid my own sin before God, leaving the ultimate judgment to Christ (Matthew 7:1-5).
Forgiveness, not judgment, if what we need to love one another.
Food for Thought…What has it led to in your life when others have judged you, rightly or wrongly? What do you think happens in others’ lives when you judge them? How has that worked in your relationships?
Love in Action –
- Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start
- Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you
- What has been your experience with being judged or judging others?
- How can you learn to discern and practice proper judgment, first of yourself and then with mercy toward others for good and Godly accountability?
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Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, give me the wisdom, humility and discernment to first hold myself accountable by Your Word and Spirit and by other believers helping me. May I then help encourage and challenge others in their walk with Christ by His mercy and grace. In Jesus Name. Amen.