TREMBLE / TRY / TRUST

TODAY'S READING: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Scripture

[TNIV]
Romans 14:12 So then, we will all give an account of ourselves to God...
Romans 14: 19 Let us therefore therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
[MESSAGE]
Romans 14:12 So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God...
Romans 14:19 So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words;

Observation

The thought of giving an account of ourselves to God makes me tremble. There is a dark side to each of us that we don't want exposed. And when I reflect on this verse in light of Jeremiah 21:34 No longer will they teach their neighbors, or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." or Is. 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool."

I am left with this thought, perhaps when we all give an account of ourselves to God, it would be about what we "did" [our sins] but about what we became [our character].

Romans 14:19 speaks about "trying" - making every effort; to get along, to encourage one another.

I think that any judging God does won't be about what we did, but about what we didn't do.
When we didn't show kindness, or self-control, or when we didn't put others before ourselves, or didn't meet a need we could have taken care of. Where there was strife, why didn't we step forward first to bring peace, where there was misunderstanding why didn't we bend farther. Where there was heartache, when didn't we help.

Application/Prayer

'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Father God,
I refuse to tremble, my sins are washed away. But because they are I am going to try - "make every effort" to trust the Holy Spirit to help me each day to love you and to love the people you put in my path and on my plate.


NOTE: THIS SUNDAY WE ARE STARTING BOOK: "HE LOVES ME" in Adult Sunday School, get a copy of the book from the church office and read the first 5 chapters before this coming Sunday.
Join us, let's Discover God's affection together