Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:10-12.
“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,
“AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”
So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:10-12.
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At first reading of today’s Scripture, we may tempted to shrink back in fear. But, when we read the context of the source of these verses, we are surprised at the hope that there is in the context.
“21 “Declare and set forth your case;
Indeed, let them consult together.
Who has announced this from of old?
Who has long since declared it?
Is it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A righteous God and a Savior;
There is none except Me.
22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 “I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.’
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
25 “In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
Will be justified and will glory.” Isaiah 45:21-25.
In other words, it is God Who successfully saves all of His elect such that in the language of this Scripture in verses 24-25: “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.’ Men will come to Him, … “In the Lord all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory.” Now, we see how this fits well with Paul’s paraphrase in verse 11: “EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37.
In other words, God makes all of His elect good trees producing good fruit. God makes all of His elect to possess good treasure out of which His elect will say words that “give praise to God” in the language of Paul in verse 11 and in the language of Matthew: “For by your words you will be justified”.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24.
In other words, yes, “we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”, but through God’s grace and work, we will do so “without blame” and “with great joy”.
In conclusion, understanding Scripture and living by faith and enduring through the grace of God, we do not shrink back to destruction, but we receive what was promised: eternal life.
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:36-39.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 