JUDGE NOT

Romans 14: 10-12

Why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, "As I live, saith the LORD, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to GOD." So, then, every one of us shall give account of himself to GOD.

Paul is not talking here about the Great White Throne judgment, which is for the unbeliever; he is talking about the Bema seat judgment of the believers. We all have responsibilities and must take responsibility for the decisions that we make. Our first place of accountability is to GOD. Have we been faithful to the call of GOD in our life? Have we listened to the still small voice of GOD calling us to take up a course in our life? Who is doing the work; our self or GOD, through us. To whom do we yield our members?

When we give account to GOD for our work on earth, those things done by GOD through us and those tasks which were assigned to us will survive the test of the fire of GOD. They are the gold, silver and precious stones that will endure; the rest will be burned up.

None of us can stand in the presence of GOD as though we had something of which to be proud. Every knee shall bow in the presence of GOD and every tongue will confess that JESUS Christ is LORD. When JESUS is revealed through our work, then He is glorified and we are given that reward of hearing Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the LORD." We will not marvel at the work that we have done, but we will be astounded at the work the JESUS has accomplished through us.