Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Romans 14:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 14Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Verse 2Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Verse 3Those 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. Verse 4Who 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. Verse 5Some 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. Verse 6Those 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. Verse 7We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. Verse 8If 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. Verse 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Verse 10Why 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. Verse 11For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." Verse 12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Devotion
The Christians in Rome came from diverse cultural backgrounds – some Jewish, some Gentile. Here Paul urges them to respect one another's opinions on various religious matters, even though he himself believes that some of the ideas are held by people weak in faith.
So often we see verses 7-9 taken out of context. To be sure, they are beautiful verses proclaiming that no matter what, we belong to God; that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
But these spiritual words arise from a mortal context, reminding us that being children of God influences our lives this side of eternity. It means setting aside our own agendas, opinions and perceptions because we all equally belong to God. Day in and day out, we therefore welcome and accept others as if we are welcoming and accepting Christ himself.
Prayer
Gracious God, your love moves beyond us into the grandeur of the world and all of its diversity. Give us strength and confidence to love without judgment. Amen.