Romans 14:5-13 God is the Judge not man

The 7 mortal sins in the Catholic Church, also known as capital vices, are Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth. These are considered cardinal or primary vices because they are believed to lead to other sins. 

Here is the list of the seven capital sins:

1. Pride (or Vainglory): An excessive belief in one's own abilities, importance, or superiority, often seen as the root of all other sins. 
2. Greed (or Avarice): An excessive desire for material wealth or gain. 
3. Lust: An excessive or uncontrollable desire for sexual pleasure. 
4. Envy: A desire for another person's traits, possessions, or status, combined with resentment. 
5. Gluttony: Excessive indulgence in eating and drinking, or other forms of self-indulgent excess. 
6. Wrath (or Anger): Uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage, and hatred. 
7. Sloth (or Acedia): Laziness and a reluctance to act or work, often associated with spiritual apathy. 

In Catholic bibles, Romans 13:14 states: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires". 

This verse follows a call to live honorable lives, away from drunkenness, revelry, and jealousy, and is a command to live a Christ-centered life, turning away from sinful desires and the works of darkness. 

In the New American Bible Catholic Edition, Romans 14:5-13 states that believers should be fully convinced in their own minds about observances and dietary practices, but not to judge or despise others for their differences, because everyone will stand before God's judgment seat and give an account of themselves. The passage emphasizes that these non-essential matters are not to divide believers, but rather to be done with thanksgiving to God and to avoid causing a brother or sister to stumble. 

The minor and unimportant choices that we make daily are ours to decide. We are guided through Holy Spirt into the major issues that deal with our walk with God. The way of Love is the way of God. It is only through and in Christ Jesus that we can love all people. 

Without love behind our actions we are just making noise. Carla

Romans 14:5-13  One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 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 shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The law required Jews to observe special days, such as the Sabbath, Jewish festivals, and the new moon. Here, Paul refers to Christians who honor these observances (Galatians  4:10; Colossians 2:16). Paul emphasizes that each person must operate with a clear conscience, regardless of his or her practice. Elsewhere, Paul advises believers not to let others judge them with regard to special days.  

Paul encourages the believers to be thankful to God regardless of their food customs. Paul emphasizes dependence on God and unity among believers. 

We die for the Lord indicates that in all things, the believer’s purpose is to serve and please God. 

Paul affirms that neither life nor death can adversely affect the believer’s union with Christ (Romans 8:35; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). 

For this reason Paul reminds his audience that Christ’s death and resurrection should encourage believers to live for the Lord, not themselves. Christians should use their freedom in Christ to show love and respect to fellow believers since He died for all people—both the living and the dead, the strong and the weak. 

Believers must not assume God’s role as judge because they in turn will stand before His judgment seat.

Place a cause for stumbling describes causing someone to do something against his or her conscience or moral principles. Faithlife Study Bible

One day above another probably relates to the many holy days of the Old Testament ceremonial law. 

Fully convinced does not mean it is wrong to have strong convictions, but that all people have a right to their own convictions. This principle is basic in dealing with disputes.  Days and diets are not the issue, but whether what is being done is committed to the Lord. 

None of us refers to believers, not people in general. Believers belong to the Lord. They live and die in relation to Him. Therefore Christians should aim to please Him. 

Paul addresses the weak and the strong. The weak are not to judge, and the strong are not to show contempt, the same word that is rendered “despise” in verse 3. All believers are accountable to their Master, Jesus Christ, for they will appear before Him. At the judgment seat of Christ, every believer’s life will be evaluated to determine his or her reward (1 Corinthians 3:11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10).

One day everyone will submit to God’s authority. The NKJV Study Bible

Isaiah 45:23 

I have sworn by Myself;

The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,

And shall not return,

That to Me every knee shall bow,

Every tongue shall take an oath.

Philippians 2:10–11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Acts 2:42 Great is God’s love for His creation.

Luke 6:32-33 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

In times like these we need to hold fast to our faith in God not in mankind. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross will be saved. That is all we need to know for now. Evil will cease to exist when Christ returns. Until then we have Holy Spirit to guide us into the way of peace. His peace, not the false peace that the world offers. Blessed are God’s peacemakers!

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Galatians 5:22-2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control

Our prayers result in actions, good works, and are powerful for change! We will know other believers by the fruit that Holy Spirit cultivates in their lives. Carla

The gathered community listened to and followed the preaching and teaching of the twelve apostles from—and based on—the Scriptures (Acts 2:14–41; Luke 24:27). This could refer to participation in the Lord’s Supper, or to sharing in other meals together, as in Acts 2:46—the same language is used for each practice (Luke 22:19; Acts 20:7; 27:35; 1 Corinthians 10:16). It is highly likely that both are in view. 

In Acts, prayer indicates dependence on God, hope in the future, and desire for the advancement of God’s work (Acts 1:24; 12:5; 14:23). Faithlife Study Bible

The response to Peter’s sermon was tremendous. Such impressive growth in the number of believers created additional needs and responsibilities. The apostles had the duty of training this large group and bringing them into fellowship with the other believers. This was a four-step process: (1) The new believers were to be trained in the apostles’ doctrine. Uniformity of belief concerning the person of Jesus Christ—based on the eyewitness testimony of His followers—was essential. (2) The new believers were to be trained in the fellowship of the church. The Greek word translated fellowship means sharing in the lives of other believers. (3) The new believers were to be trained in the breaking of bread, probably a reference to the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23, 24). Some believe this is a broader reference to the “love feast,” a meal of fellowship in the early church. (4) The new believers were to be trained in the discipline of prayer. Corporate prayers were viewed as an essential part of the spiritual growth of the church. The NKJV Study Bible

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 

Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 

Luke 24:30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

William Sloane Coffin’s affirmation, “It is hope that helps us keep the faith, despite the evidence, knowing that only in doing so has the evidence any chance of changing.”

And yes, sometimes, hope is not easy. Because the real world can be a harsh and uncaring place. So, where do we go... when our world feels fractured or frightened or empty?

Maybe, just maybe, we

“Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in” Sabbath Moments”

Dear God,

may we find strength in each other,

courage in community,

and peace in the presence of love.

May those grieving be held gently,

and may we all be prepared

not just for disaster,

but for compassion, connection, and healing.

Amen.

Clint Hurdle

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are those who have empathy.

Proverbs 11:17 

The merciful man does good for his own soul,

But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

The violence that has permeated our nation has got to stop. It is a sad legacy that we are leaving for our children,  their children and generations to come. Violence is against everything that Jesus taught. Carla

Matthew 5:7-10 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

God rewards those who imitate His goodness and mercy. This beatitude has the same emphasis as the others: God’s kingdom is breaking in upon the world. When it does, God will show mercy to those who have been merciful to others. Faithlife Study Bible

The Beatitudes are comprised of three elements: a pronouncement of blessing, a quality of life, and a reason why the recipient should be considered blessed. The first element is found in the word Blessed (Psalm 1:1), which introduces each beatitude. The second element does not describe different groups of people, but a composite picture of the kind of person who will inherit Christ’s kingdom. The third element looks ahead to some aspect of the coming kingdom. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 18:33–35 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him…

Matthew 6:14–15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Psalm 41:1 

Blessed is he who considers the poor;

The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble

Love your neighbor. Serve others. Welcome the stranger. Care for the sick. Feed the hungry. Be a peacemaker.

You Matter.

“I can think of nothing more prophetic than to preach the gospel of Jesus. Nothing more radical, more countercultural, than to nurture and promote the values of the Spirit—love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness as well as self-control—in little ways and great.” (Cyprian Consiglio, Epiphanies)

Yes, the task to promote love and kindness can feel ominous. Which is why I love Clarissa Pinkola Estes' wisdom, "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely." “SabbathMoments”

In Exodus 13:21-22, pillars of cloud and fire were powerful symbols of God's tangible presence as He guided the Israelites out of Egypt, protecting them from their enemies. Once the tabernacle, the Israelites' place of worship, was completed, a thick cloud also descended on the tent of meeting and signified the glory of the Lord residing with His people (Exodus 40:34-35).

Yet in time, God did even more than descend in a cloud: He wrapped Himself in human flesh and came to earth through Jesus to dwell among us (John 1:14). Today, through our faith in His finished work on the cross, we can also celebrate His Spirit dwelling in us (1 Corinthians 3:16)!

Even in the shadows of our wilderness, His nearness is discernible. And we can have complete confidence that one day we will dwell with Him forever (John 14:1-3). First5

Mark 11:22-26 Just believe!

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

In the measure that we believe we can receive from the very hand of God. He can move mountains. 

Mark 11:22-26 Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

Forgiveness frees us!  Without God’s love for His creation as our foundation…we are just making noise.

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” NKJV

By our forgiving others and ourselves we no longer allow them or our ego to take up space in our minds. It leaves our minds open to the renewal that God wants us to have and allows Holy Spirit to work in us and through us for our good and the good of the Body of Christ. There is no one righteous, no not one. We are all a fallen people seeking God, in Jesus, and the power of Holy Spirit to accomplish in us what we cannot. Carla

The fig tree that Jesus cursed (verses 12–14) has now withered. The disciples ask Him about it, and He responds by teaching about faith, prayer, and forgiveness. Faithlife Study Bible

The illustration of casting an enormous mountain into the sea is an extreme example of the absolutely impossible. That is the point. Having faith in God can accomplish the impossible. Mark had previously emphasized Jesus’ insistence on simply believing (9:23, 24). It is doubtful that a person who cannot forgive another has ever experienced the forgiveness of his own sins by God. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 

Matthew 6:14–15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 7:7–8  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward

Real friends honor one another as a place of restoration in a stormy world.

And yes, real friends are those who, when you’ve made a fool of yourself, don’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.

They provide us with a shelter where we don’t have to do battle. The irony, of course, is that in our woundedness we project our insecurity and pain on to those we love the most. “Sabbath Moments”

Dear God,

may we find strength in each other,

courage in community,

and peace in the presence of love.

May those grieving be held gently,

and may we all be prepared

not just for disaster,

but for compassion, connection, and healing.

Amen.

Clint Hurdle

Of all the wonderful gifts we have given and received, our earthly gift-giving bears no comparison to the gifts we receive from our heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ (Luke 11:13).

One of these gifts, as we read in today's verse, is peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

Jesus Himself shared these words with His disciples on the night before His death. Although He promised not to leave them "as orphans" and told them the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be with them (John 14:15-18), they didn't yet understand what Jesus was telling them. They were anxious and distressed, and they couldn't imagine how to carry on without the physical presence of Jesus.

Jesus knew their hearts. He knew they were anxious and afraid. And while we can't necessarily choose how we feel, John 14:27 reminds us that we can choose how we respond to our feelings: Our hearts may "be troubled," but we don't have to simply "let" them stay that way. We can acknowledge our fear and still choose to receive the peace Jesus gives.

Since we are always in Christ, His peace will sustain us through every situation life throws at us. First5