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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Romans 14:1-13

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

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Daily Devotional: The Anatomy of Accountability

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

John 8:7-9

In Elementary school, my friend and I were talking poorly about a classmate that was really annoying us. Our teacher overheard and interrupted our whispering. “Do you know what happens when you point your finger at someone?” she asked.  She held out her right hand and pointed toward the wall, the back of her hand facing us. My friend and I look sheepishly at our teacher’s hand and back at her. She put down her right hand and held out her left hand now, palm facing us, pointing at the wall again. “How many fingers are pointing back to you?” She raised her eyebrows and counted out loud lifting each of her three fingers—the middle, ring, and pinky—and curled each one back toward her palm. The light bulb went on. 

In that small moment, something shifted in me. I realized that judgement and criticism often reveals more about the critic than the criticized. I was annoyed with my classmate for something they did, but how often did I do something that a classmate of mine was annoyed with me for? Every accusation could reverberate right back to me, even more so. I wasn’t as innocent as I wanted to believe. 

This simple visual stayed with me for years. 

In our scripture today, the crowd was eager to point fingers and accuse. They dragged a woman into the open, her sin and shame exposed, their stones ready. They were technically abiding by the law. Moses’ law commanded this woman to be stoned for her sin. But they wanted to know what Jesus would do? He stooped down. He paused. He began drawing on the ground with his finger. They kept questioning him. This is when Jesus flipped the script. He stood again and faced them. He flipped the focus back to the fingers pointing back at them. One by one they realized their own sins and left, understanding the weight of mercy. 

Throughout my life, I have found myself picking up stones when I am wrapped up in the latest gossip, harsh opinions, or judgement toward others. It may feel powerful and righteous for a fleeting moment, but when I remember to look inward first, I realize mercy begins when I recognize I am not without sin. I can let my stone fall and make room for grace instead.

Next Steps

Pause and reflect. What stones are you carrying? Is there an opportunity to show grace toward yourself and others? 

Pray: Father God, forgive us for the times we are quick to judge and slow to show mercy. When we are tempted to point fingers, remind us of our own need for grace. Help us remember to pause like Jesus, drop our stones, and choose compassion instead. Thank You for the mercy You freely give us each day. Teach us to extend that same mercy to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.