If you back up a bit and read from verse 13, you’ll see that Paul was reminding the saints in Rome not to judge one another. He was encouraging them to concern themselves with their own walk. Probably one of the most difficult areas for me that sometimes hinders my walking in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit is when those I’m closest to are not walking with the Lord the way I believe they should be. It’s so easy to get sucked into the vortex of worry and the temptation to try to help God out in drawing them to Him. This scripture reminds me to focus on my own walk – to walk in righteousness, peace, and joy is actually my way of serving God, and it is pleasing to Him and to those around me. As I purpose not to judge and to surrender the things that concern me the most to Him, I’m able to focus on what He has for me each day; it’s a win for me and for the kingdom of God.
Father, nothing disrupts unity in the body more than our impatient judgment of each other. Forgive us, Lord, and thank you for your patience with us. Help us to continually lay down our own ideas about others and lead us into what you desire us to focus on for today.