Romans 14:12-13 NLT
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
On occasion, there are verses that, for some reason, I can’t shake.
These verses pop off the page at me; these scriptures create my mind to explode with thoughts.
This week it was this one:
Romans 14:12-13 NLT
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
So the picture I have is this, I am standing alone in a room, and I am asked to give an account of my life.
First of all, my mind immediately goes to all of the bad things that I have done over my life, both big and small. I am ashamed of the things I have done, the people I have hurt, and the love I have withheld.
And for some reason, in my mind, these things far outweigh what I would say are good things that I have done.
And I start to think about the old beliefs that I had, the hope that I would be able to get to heaven if the good stuff I did was more than the bad things I did.
I think of the times when I was into self-improvement and personal development, and if only I could discipline myself to get it done without anyone getting in my way, I would get there.
And I think about how much torture that was for those around me. Clearing out the cabinets of food that I wasn’t going to eat, without consideration for those in my house who were not on the same plan I was. It was all or nothing for me, and I wasn’t going to be stopped.
I think about the mental manipulation that I used to get things the way I thought they should go. With everyone walking around me on eggshells to not upset me or make sure I stayed happy.
Living this way ended up pushing everyone that I loved so far away from me that no one could approach me except in fear.
It was no wonder; I couldn’t get anything done; no one wanted to be around me.
Here is the scary thing for me: I considered myself a Christian while I was doing all of that. How sad.
Even scarier is that I was so far from being a Christian that I believe that if I were to die during that time in my life, I would be in hell today.
But God is gracious, and He is patient. And He brings people to where they need to be to understand what it means to be a Christian.
Ephesians 6:12 NLT
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
For 48 years of my life, I thought that I had to get others to do what I thought they needed to do to get what I needed.
And it didn’t matter whether they were in or not.
God surrounded me with good people in my life, and I looked at them as enemies. I looked at them as in my way, where I should have been looking at ways to serve them with the gifts that God had given me.
And because my talk was always about successful living and success, I thought what I was doing was the right thing to do, and I had the kids in our house looking at me as a picture of “successful living and success,” but I was failing.
So the picture that I was painting for them created a false image of “successful living and success.” And due to my error, the cycle continues in them.
I pray daily for God’s grace and forgiveness for that and that the damage is fixed.
The good news in all of this is that we don’t get to heaven because of what we do. We get to heaven by accepting what Jesus did on the cross.
He died for those sins, so I don’t have to.
1 John 1:9 NLT
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Isaiah 43:25 NLT
“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
Ephesians 1:7 NLT
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
I’m thankful for God’s forgiveness and grace.
If you are struggling with this in your life, give this to God. Ask Jesus into your life, admit that you are a sinner, and need the grace of Jesus Christ in your life.
Revelation 3:20 NLT
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace, forgiveness, and patience.
I pray that You continue to shape my heart and that everything that I think say and do glorify You.
I pray for the hearts of those that I have offended in my life, and I ask for Your forgiveness and mercy. And I pray that You fix any damage I may have done, and I ask that You point me to anyone that I need to make amends with and give me the courage and strength to ask for their forgiveness.
I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!! 🙏❤️
