The Judgment Seat

Read Romans 14: 9-19

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Romans 14:19)

I feel like being very honest in this devotion. I have been that person in the judge’s seat. I have put myself in that elevated position. 

Why? Because I was so very convinced that the person/persons in the judgment seat were in great peril? Yes! YES, but perhaps there was something else in there too, maybe the fact that I just wanted to appear better than…

Better than others, more holy, more Christlike.

But what is Christ like? He is LOVE.  

I’ll endeavor to tell the story. Our oldest daughter went away to college and started to question everything! She started to experiment with different ideas and faiths. This terrified us! While she was in the midst of searching for who she was she met a man and fell in love. He was not what we had envisioned for our precious daughter. I got up on my seat and became Judge Terri. I won’t go into the ugly details, but we lost her and her (now) husband for almost ten years! Just now the Lord has done enough work in all of us that we are starting to see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Thank you Lord!

I’ve been a recipient of judgment too. Living in the Middle East being scrutinized not only for what I am perceived to eat or drink, but what I wear, how I do my hair, what earrings I like….it’s a list!

But I have taken great care to learn every possible offense, so that for the most part I can avoid being a negative representation of what a godly woman is. (I’m pretty sure I still make shocking mistakes!)  

I guess, this passage says to me that I should give much grace to others and take much care myself. Do not be easily offended, and don’t be an offence to others. Be humble, Terri…what’s that huge thing in your eye?

Verse 19 says,“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.” 

I need God’s help in this.

by Terri Plant