ROMANS 14:10

“But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God.”

I have only had to appear before a judge in court once. That was for a traffic accident way back in 1984 or 85. I sat in that courtroom for a few hours until my case was called. Then I had to approach the bench, which was at least four feet above me. There the judge sat while the officer gave the details of the accident and said that it was a “no-fault” accident and recommended dismissal. The judge never lifted his eyes from what he was reading. He just banged his gavel and ordered me to pay the fine. The officer shook his head at me, and we walked away.

The judgment seat Paul refers to in today’s verse is the Bema seat. The bema seat was a raised platform which someone had to approach to receive a reward or a punishment. The Topical Lexicon describes it this way. “Paul applies the familiar civic image to Christ’s final evaluation of believers. The context is not condemnation (Romans 8:1) but accountability. Works are tested, motives revealed, and rewards dispensed (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). The judicial metaphor lends weight to everyday choices, urging holiness and sincere service.”

APPLICATION

I want all my works to pass the test. I desire they all be done for His glory and not my own. However, I am sure there will be a little smoke when I approach it. Some of the “good” things I have done have not been exactly what He would have had me do. A lot of my worldly achievements will vanish like a vapor. I truly want to lay everything down at His feet and know they are acceptable.

Paul gives this description of believers’ future accountability as he has been discussing how we treat each other. So, this must be a big deal. This must really matter to the Lord. He must really want us to love and respect one another. What do you think? Why else would this be brought up in today’s verse? After all, didn’t Jesus tell us to love another?

So many of our actions are done out of selfishness or jealousy. These can play no part in the life a follower of Christ. Those emotions will lead us to judge each other wrongly and to mistreat others. See your treatment of others as something that must pass the fire test. Will this behavior survive the bema seat? That’s a great question.

Father, help me love in such a way that I know my actions will be meet with approval on that fateful day I appear before You.

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