Romans 2:1 – “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, I was challenged by the value of the body.   The human body and, more importantly, the Body of Christ.

I was challenged by the valuation we place on both.   Actions speak louder than words.  In a measure, we are all guilty of not properly or rightly discerning the Lord’s body and valuing it.

In Paul’s recounting of his Damascus road experience, the words of Jesus grip my heart.   Paul asked who it was that was speaking to him.  He saw nothing, but he heard the voice.  Jesus identified Himself and added, “I’m the one you are persecuting.”    Wait!   Paul probably never met Jesus in the flesh.   Jesus had already been crucified.    So, how was Paul persecuting Jesus?   How?

If you touch others, you touch Jesus.   If you judge others, you judge Jesus. If you talk about or gossip about others, you do it to Jesus.   He is “in” them, and they are “in” Him.   We would never speak evil of Jesus, but have no hesitation in doing so about others.

Romans 2:1 should send chill bumps down our spines.  We proclaim love for Jesus but express hate, distrust, animosity, and disrespect toward people He died for.   That very fact places us in the same boat we are accusing them of being in.   They do something we disagree with and believe violates scripture, and our actions make us guilty as well.  Remember, God is no respecter of persons (no partiality).

Lord, help us to value your body, even when we disagree!  Help us to embrace you in others who don’t look, think, speak, or act like us.  Help us resist the temptation to be God and pray earnestly for others with Your heart and love. Help us to give grace as we have been given grace.

Father, help us to embrace your valuation of each of us!