Romans 2:1-16 (rena)

Romans 2:1-16 Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. 2:3 And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment? 2:4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! 2:6 He will reward each one according to his works: 2:7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 2:8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. 2:9 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 2:10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 2:12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. 2:14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 2:16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.

Therefore. I love this word in Paul's writing. It means we have to take what he wrote before and apply it to what will follow. Mainly because we fail at seeking God first in all things, we must not pass judgement on others who do the same as us. 

This reminds me of Matthew 7:3 When Jesus tells us to take the plank out of our own eye before we worry about the speck in our brother's eye.  However, Paul puts it in even stronger language. 2:5b "you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath." Basically you are securing your punishment and possible rejection from God. 

I must admit I too often put my own thoughts, hopes, dreams, wishes, and fears ahead of God. And since I put all of that stuff, which isn't necessarily 'bad', above God, I treat myself more important. Basically I make myself the most important thing in the universe. When that happens it is far too easy to selfishly obey my own truth and wishes. To treat others as lesser then myself. When I'm the center of the universe, I will always come first. But just as at one time scientists believed that the earth was in the center of the solar system and later had to change it to being the sun. So I must remove myself from being the center. I must put God in his proper place. When God is at the center, what I do is not for my good. Rather I do all things to mirror God's love and forgiveness. I am put on equal ground with the other sinful beings on the terrestrial globe. 

I pray that I would be constantly reminded to put God in the center of my life. That out of having Him in the right place, I might be loving and forgiving to those around me. That I might share God's mercy and grace.