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
A recent article in the New York Review of Books pondered the role of growing individualism and greed as detrimental to the renewal of our economic state. I suppose it may go something like, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." Paul's statement in Romans today seems to be an antidote to runaway self-absorption. "We do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves...we live and die to the Lord, for he is Lord of the living and of the dead." Paul turns us back to the center of life, which is Christ, and at the center is the passion Christ has for all people. There is no room to be a lone ranger or the celebrate greed. We are called to live to the Lord, which is to live for others.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, free us from self-centeredness to selflessness in you. Teach us to live in your vision for how we will live in the world you so love. Amen.