It has been a while since I have posted. Ok, it has been 5 months. I want to start by apologizing for not posting in a while. I would also like to thank those of you that have asked me to start writing again. 

There are many passages in scripture that I fear are often used out of their proper context. This is nothing new. Many people will quote from Jeremiah 29:11 for a graduation speech, write Phil 4:13 on the wall of their weight room, and of course, quote “judge not” from Matthew 7 while they are trying to justify their behavior. All of these passages have a great depth of value, they are simply applied incorrectly.

Why is it that we struggle with context so much when discussing Bible passages? I cannot speak for all, I can however speak for myself. I believe that the lack of context study is as a result of two things.

#1. Laziness. Just simply lacking the time, desire, and effort to read more than a few verses.

#2. Personal Bias. We see what we want to see.

Romans 14:10- 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; (ESV)

There may be some who would read this passage from Romans and focus on the initial question about judging your brother. They might say to themselves “AHA! See! You aren’t supposed to judge me!” Allow me to pose a question from my heart to yours. How different would your life look if we stopped focusing on “judging each other” or “being judged ”by someone else. And we started focusing MORE on the aspect that each one of us will stand before the judgment seat of God?

I will stand before God and give an account for issues such as:

• Have I obeyed the gospel? (2 Thess 1:8)
• Am I faithful in church attendance? (Hebrews 10:25)
• Am I active in sharing the gospel? (Matthew 28:18-20)
• Am I forgiving? (Colossians 3:13)
• Am I merciful? (Luke 6:36)
• Am I benevolent? (Matthew 25:31-46)
• Am I a hard worker? (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
• Am I living a life of purity? (1 John 3:3)
• Am I a good father? (Deut 6, Ephesians 6:4)
• Am I a good husband? (Colossians 3:19)
• Am I growing in my faith? (Hebrews 5:12)
• Am I placing God above all else? (Matthew 6:33)

These and many others, I will have to give an account to my God on that day. How different would our lives look today if we all took time to pause and ask ourselves (not think about that one person in the auditorium that really needs to hear this lesson, no, ask yourself) am I ready to face the judgment seat of God?