For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Rom. 14
Whom are you passing judgment on? What would it look like for you to act in love towards them? What is central to the Kingdom of God? The thing about judgment, as Paul describes it here, is that it declares one way as right and another as wrong. So essentially, anyone who judges in this manner is setting themselves up as the standard. We deceive ourselves into thinking we are measuring them by God’s standards, based on what we believe the Bible teaches. But, as Paul points out, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” (Rom. 14:4a).
All who claim Christ are servants of God. Thus, it is for God alone to determine if their service is acceptable to Him or not. And we know that God does not accept or reject us based on our actions, but on faith. Even if someone’s faith is weak, Paul says, “they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Rom. 14:4b). So rather than judging each other, we need to get out of the way. If God is working to help them stand and we make ourselves a stumbling block to them, we are then in direct opposition to God. “Do no harm”, as we saw yesterday. Instead, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Rom. 14:19). Then we will be pleasing to God and our brothers and sisters who likewise serve Him.
Ezek. 25-26
What common theme do you see in God’s judgments on these nations? What does it suggest about God’s values? God’s judgments on the nations are further evidence to me that God poured out His wrath on His people out of love. I know that sounds contradictory, but it isn’t. He did not delight in judging them; He did not desire for them to be destroyed. We saw that in Ezekiel 18, when God said, “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ez. 18:31-32). God’s ultimate goal was to restore the people He loves back to Him. These other nations, however, delighted in Israel’s downfall. Thus, they, too, incurred God’s judgment.