Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

June 04, 2019

by Pastor Hawtree

BIBLE READING: Romans 14

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

We are all different. We all have different opinions and we all have different preferences. We all were raised different, and all of us had certain things that were drilled into us as more important when it comes to the Bible and church.

Paul tells us that we should be able to get along as brethren in Christ and give room to those who are weaker or stronger than others. Getting along with each other should not have to include disputing and arguing on a constant basis. I believe it is helpful to discuss, but it can often be hurtful to dispute. What is important in this passage is that we are told not to set ourselves up as judges of one another. It is fine to differ in opinions or even certain preferences, but we cannot set ourselves up as if our brothers or sisters in Christ fall under our jurisdiction. We are not their judge. Paul makes it very clear in this passage that servants are to answer to their master, and to no one else. We cannot treat each other as if we are the master and they are the servant.

Those who are saved and are the children of God, belong to God. They are to serve God. That means that God is their master and their Lord, and they must answer to him. If you are saved, then you answer to God and no one else. You and I need to worry more about pleasing our savior, then trying to make people please us.

The last phrase of this passage says that God is able to make that person stand. You see, we need to let people answer to God, because God is their master, and God is the one who can help them the most, not us. If they’re wrong, God will tell them. If they need to change, God will show them. Either way, they belong to the Lord, and we belong to the Lord, so let’s not be judging. As verse one says, let’s do the receiving.