14 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. ² For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. ³ 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. ⁴ 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.

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. ⁸ 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. ⁹ Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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.’”

¹² Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. ¹³ So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

Romans 14:1-13

Dear God, sometimes it seems like Paul is all over the map. I like this passage, but how does it square with 1 Corinthians 5:12?

¹² It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 

It’s a lot of fun to judge other people. I was talking with a friend about another person I know recently about gossiping, and I told her that if you want to get in good with this person all you have to do is sit and “dish” with them about other people. Then they will be your fast friend. But that friendship will be thin because that person will be “dishing” about you sometime soon.

What I like about Romans here is that it reminds me that all sin is equal and capable of separating me from you without Jesus’s mercy, so when I get wrapped around the axle about someone else’s sin I’ve probably forgotten just how much I’ve been forgiven for. How much you still forgive me for each day. I add to my sin list every day, but the good news for me is that you cannot see it through Jesus’s blood.

Father, I want to look at verse 13 here and ask that you please help me to live in a way that builds others up and does not cause them to fall. Help me to be exactly who you need me to be for your kingdom and your glory. I’m about to start a couple of days of vacation. I need this break. Please restore me. Lead me beside still waters. Help me to lie down in green pastures. Prepare me to return to the world on Monday in a way that will bring you glory, honor, and help your kingdom and will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Be with my wife and me over the next four days. Help us to be completely united and bless each of us through the other.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen