Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:1-4.

 

“¹  Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

 

²  One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

 

³  The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

 

⁴  Who are you to judge the servant of another?  To his own master he stands or falls;  and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”  Romans 14:1-4.  

 

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We are eager to pass judgment on the nonessential opinions and actions of others.  We often like to do that with others (gossip).  If our audience is like us, we can isolate and contrast the other to make us look better in comparison.  “Did you see him?  He only eats vegetables!  He is a weak Christian!”  Although Paul uses the example of one who eats vegetables only, there are so many other opinions and actions about nonessential matters that we use to blow up way beyond their importance in order to isolate and criticize others.

 

God has made His elect children different from each other.  We have different skin color.  We have different accents.  We have different gifts.  We have different ministeries.  It is a blessing, not a mistake.  “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?”  1 Corinthians 12:17.  “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:7.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10. 

 

“Who are you to judge the servant of another?  To his own master he stands or falls;  and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”  Romans 14:4.  

 

 

Today’s Scripture deals with a nonessential area, vegetables.  It does not deal with a matter of sin.  It is not a sin to either eat vegetables or to not eat vegetables.  But, even in essentials areas, matters of sin, we should still be careful how we respond.     

 

We each struggle with sin.  One of us may be strong in one area and not fall into that particular sin (or at least not as much or not as visibly), but that person will not be as strong in another area but will be more inclined to sin in another area and may sin more visibly in that other area.  We all need compassion and patience and nonjudgmental help from each other.

 

 

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;  each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:1-2.