Condemning the Weak of Faith

Hello, gentle readers...

First, your prayers are appreciated and requested as God continues to work in my earthly body. I am believing that healing (progressive and true) is already on the way from the throne of God to work wholeness on my behalf. Your prayers for my bout with chest pain are appreciated!

That being said, let's look at our text for today's consideration: Romans 14:1-13. Let's look at a couple of things that the apostle says.

"(1) Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment..." How much more clear can this instruction be? Don't pass judgment on others because you feel their faith is weaker than your own! Do you not understand that by doing so you heap coals of condemnation on your brother and cause him to stumble in his already immature faith? Also, have you considered that by looking down your nose at your brother for not attaining your level of faith that you may be negating a very serious lesson that the Lord is trying to teach, thereby becoming an obstacle to God's work?

"(10) You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat." We will all stand before God's judgment seat. Yes, Jesus will advocate on our behalf because of God's great mercy shown in the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. But...I believe the apostle is trying to remind us that we are responsible for our own lives in the Lord and it is on that which we should focus. It is challenge enough, while bound in these earthly bodies, to maintain a spiritually-focused life. Why must we condemn, look down upon and otherwise sneer at our brother? It is our earthly body's fleshly need to be superior. Yet, Jesus came teaching that the servant will be the leader.

So, I would encourage you this day to take your eyes off your brother and put them back on Jesus, where they belong. Focus on being the best for God that you can be this day. Put the positive back into your life. Live a life of purpose, focus and excellence. It is this life that will draw you closer to God. It is this life that will cause men to wonder about what makes you confident in a world of insecurity. It is this life that will bring you into the throne room of Almighty God.

Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." When your mind is set on things above, earthly things have no hold on you. So, gentle readers, set your minds on the things of God and worry not about how God works in the lives of others. Belong to Him...and Him, alone.

I proclaim blessing over your spiritual, emotional and physical health; your families, friends and associates; your pets; and over all that with which you will come in contact today. May God richly bless you and may you know the fullness of the calling which you have received.

CLG-B