You Are Not Your Own

You must be fully persuaded in your own mind before God.

On some things, sincere believers will not land in the same place, and the Word lets them differ.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Colossians 2:16-17

Don’t borrow your convictions from others. Settle them yourself, in the Word, before God.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.1 Thessalonians 5:21

Everything you do, you must do unto the Lord with thanksgiving.

It’s not the practice that God weighs first. It is the direction of your heart.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether you partake or you abstain, do it with thanks. Liberty gives thanks. So does restraint.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;Ephesians 5:20

You are not your own, for living or dying you belong to Jesus.

You don’t live to yourself. You don’t die to yourself. Living or dying, you are His.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20

Jesus’ death and resurrection secured His Lordship over all His people forever.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11

You must stop judging your brother and give your own account to God.

It is wrong to judge or despise a brother over non-essential matters that Jesus will judge.

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?James 4:11-12

Two Judgments

Great White Throne for Unbelievers

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.Revelation 20:11-14

Judgment Seat of Christ

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Every believer will personally give account to God at Jesus’ judgment seat.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.2 Corinthians 5:10

Settle your convictions in the Word before God, not in reaction to people.

Aim for every ordinary decision to be “unto the Lord” with a thankful heart.

Remember daily that your life is not your own but belongs entirely to Jesus.

Allow the lordship of Jesus to shape your schedule, priorities, and sacrifices.

Encourage, challenge, advise, and pray for others, but at the end of the day, focus on yourself.