Romans 14:6-13

6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats
to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord
and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies
to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.
So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
 9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the
Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, 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. 11It is written:
“ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
 every tongue will confess to God.’ “ 12So then, each of us will give an account of
himself to God.
 13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your
mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

Meditation
1. In the church community, everyone lives entirely on the forgiveness and grace
of God.  Therefore, to constantly making comments on what we disapprove of
or dislike in one another is outrageous. Criticisms and gossips are detrimental
to the church community.  Every judgmental word out of our mouths violates
an eternal soul for whom Christ died.
2. Have I seen a fellowship being destroyed by judgmental criticisms and
gossip?  Try this month to speak words of encouragement and hope that
build community at every possible opportunity.

Personal Note:
It is easy to pass judgement and look down on others.  It seems that the society in general looks down and pass judgement on young people.  I am reminded here that even though some of them may be irresponsible at times, they will stand before God's judgement seat and will give an account of themselves to God.  This goes the same for me and I wouldn't like to be judged either.

Starting in the new year, let's speak words of encouragement and hope to one another in Crossroad.