Read: Romans 2:1-11
For God shows no partiality. (v. 11)
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” This advice is usually attributed to Mother Teresa. It’s so easy to judge others without wise consideration. In fact, sometimes when we are tempted to judge, it’s because we want to seem better than the person being judged.
Today’s passage reminds us that we need to leave the eternal judgement to God. It says clearly that when we judge a person’s heart, we condemn ourselves, because every one of us sins (v. 1). We can only escape judgement because of God’s kindness, and God shows us kindness and love so that we have the chance to repent and turn away from sin (v. 4). God alone is just in judging everyone’s actions (v. 2), because God shows no favoritism (vv. 9-10). Every person must give an account of what he or she has done before God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. If anyone chooses to do evil, he is going against God’s will and will receive a severe chastisement from God in time.
That doesn’t mean we can’t identify and evaluate sinful behavior. As believers, we should encourage one another to turn away from sin. But it is not our place to judge like God judges. Change must come from within. Gentleness will eliminate the desire to do evil to others. Cruelty and selfishness will never bring peace in life, but good deeds in the will of God’s love will heal suffering and misery.
As you pray, confess your sins to God.
Essy Eisenis a pastor of Halimun Indonesian Christian Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. This devotional was previously published in Wasiat, a bi-monthly daily devotional for families, produced by Words of Hope ministry partners in Indonesia. Learn more about Words of Hope's work in Indonesia.
