Scripture to Read: Romans 14:10
There was a problem in the early church between the Jews who had surrendered to Christ and the Gentiles who had surrendered to Christ. The believing Jews had been taught, through God’s Word in the Old Testament, about things that were clean and unclean. For example, God had taught them the importance of circumcision and that circumcision was a sign of His covenant to Israel and their covenant to follow Him. All of God’s Law was to make sure the nation of Israel was walking in obedience to God and living differently than all of the godless nations around them. The Law was also given, so the Nation of Israel knew how to rightly fellowship with God. The problem was that no one could perfectly keep God’s Law (see James 2:10). That is why Christ came, for He fulfilled God’s Law perfectly, on behalf of everyone who places their faith in Him as Lord and Savior (see Romans 8:3–4). But, many believing Jews held onto some of their rituals, and they felt contempt toward their brothers in Christ who were Gentiles because the Gentile Christians did not adhere to the Jewish traditions. So God had Paul ask, in Romans 14:10, “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.” Followers of Christ were not judging their brothers and sisters in Christ over sins they had committed, but it was over following traditions within the Jewish religion and that’s not worth judging.
Challenge & Application
· How have you fallen into having contempt for another Christian because they did not do something you thought was important?
· How has Christ’s love, grace, and mercy for you led you to give that same love, grace, and mercy to all other Christians?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!