City Life Starter

The Word: Romans 14:9-13 

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

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. 

 

Reflection Questions:

 1) What can passing judgement do to another’s growth?

2) What are we to do instead of passing judgement?

3) What are some ways you can serve or mentor someone?

 
 

Where Paul ends in verse 13 is actually where I want to begin. The command is simple… we’re not to pass judgement on our brothers or sisters in Christ that we consider weak. Rather, our actions should make certain to never be a stumbling block or hindrance to their growth.  

 

I didn’t grow up in a practicing Christian home. Visits to church were rare but the times we were there all I can recall from it is an overwhelming amount of guilt and condemnation. It wasn’t until I was an 18 year old college freshman that older men began to mentor and coach me with the utmost love and patience I’ve ever experienced.  

 

My early struggles with sin were met with outstretched arms of forgiveness from people who would encourage me to get back up and run again. I remember shedding many tears of frustration as to why I couldn’t have victory in certain areas that seemed to plague me so deep. But with every defeat there was someone to call me, to encourage me, to pray for me and sometimes just hang out with me without ever saying a word. That’s true discipleship if you think about it.  

 

I’ve been a Christian now for 19 years and I know I’m a product of grace. Not only the grace extended to me by God to believe and follow Him daily, but also the grace allotted me by many spiritual fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters.  

 

My prayer for you would be that God would put a passion inside you to mentor (disciple) someone. Don’t be boxed in by the term but think about it this way…what service can you provide your fellow brother or sister to see them become the man or woman Gods called them to be? How can you lay down your life to be an encouragement to them? There is no such thing as “self made” person.