Exhortation or judgment.

Reading: Exodus 32-33, Psalm 1, and Romans 14

 

Scripture: Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

 

Thoughts: It is easy to see how this passage can be used out of context to say stop judging one another, just before this Paul is saying it is God’s place to judge and we each will stand before Him to be judged. No, it is not our place to judge other's salvation. We are called to be a light, not just a light to the broken world around us but to our fellow believers. Exhortation may look a lot like judgment, but we are to call out sin in our brother’s life. First and foremost what is a key component that makes someone a brother? Its relationship. Whether or not my relationship with my brother is good or bad we still have a relationship and within that relationship comes a level of knowing that person and opens the doors to exhortation. I know that there are sins that can creep into our lives and take root without us really knowing. Find people in your life who are walking with the Lord alongside you so that they can help you by calling out your sins and you have the authority in their life to call out theirs. Develop that group that you can dig in together in the spiritual warfare that is raging around us. We all need those people who will be in that Foxhole with us and are willing to lay their lives on the line as much as you are.  

 

Prayer: Lord God, Jehovah Nissi, my banner, my rally point, the one who brings us together. I honor and praise you. I thank you for being the judge and that you sent your Son to be our advocate so that we may stand before you blameless and clean. I thank you for the men that you have brought around me. Help us to be the iron that is used to sharpen and be sharpened. Open our eyes to the exhortation of others and the strength to exhort others. Mold us and refine us into your warriors.