Every Knee…Every Tongue
Scripture:
Romans 14:9-12 (ESV)
9 For to this end Christ died and
lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your
brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before
the judgment seat of God; 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 will give an
account of himself to God.
Devotion:
In
the quiet moments of reflection, we grapple with our own judgments and biases.
We weigh our opinions against the backdrop of eternity. And there, in the vast
expanse of God’s sovereignty, we encounter a truth that humbles us: Every knee,
including ours, shall bow, and every tongue, including ours, shall acknowledge
God.
Paul
reminds us of the profound reason behind Christ’s death and resurrection: He is
the Lord of both the living and the dead. His sacrifice, a beacon of hope,
bridges the gap between heaven and earth, between our brokenness and God’s
holiness. When we grasp the weight of this truth, it reshapes our perspective. We
no longer judge others based on trivial matters; instead, we recognize that
Christ’s lordship extends over all.
Why,
then, do we judge our brothers and sisters? Why do we treat them with contempt?
Paul’s words pierce our hearts. Our judgments—whether over matters of
conscience, lifestyle, or preference—reveal our limited understanding.
Authentic
faith leads us away from contempt and toward humility. We recognize that we,
too, stand before God’s judgment seat. Our opinions fade in the light of His
wisdom. Paul quotes Isaiah: “As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “every knee
will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” This isn’t a
conditional statement; it’s an absolute truth.
Picture
it: kings and beggars, skeptics and saints—all bowing before the King of kings.
In that moment, our titles, achievements, and opinions dissolve. Only one thing
matters: acknowledging God.
As
we journey through life, let us remember that we, too, will give an account.
Our judgments, our attitudes, our hidden thoughts—all laid bare. But grace
awaits. The same Lord who judges also offers mercy. May our hearts bow
willingly, our tongues confess wholeheartedly, and our lives reflect the love
of the One who holds eternity in His hands. Let us not forget the inevitability
of this judgment, and let it guide our actions and thoughts.
Prayer:
Lord, we would always bow and worship you, but we are
fallen creatures and often forget that you saved us by your grace. Help us keep
these words of scripture in mind as we go through our lives. Let us bow our knees
and confess you are God right now! Let us always be aware that you are God and
we are not. May we worship you every day. Keep us humble and willing to serve
one another at all times. Amen
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