WHO IS TO JUDGE?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

Matthew 7:1-6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Let’s not beat around the bush and get right down to the point.

We are a people who like to be judgmental.

We do it all the time, measuring and rating others around us. Maybe it’s their figure or lack there of. Maybe it’s what they’re wearing. Maybe it’s the way they work, act, talk, walk…you get the picture. We like to make a point out of pointing out what is good and bad in others.

The problem is that we do it before we’re willing to take a good hard look at ourselves first.

And that leads to another point.

We’re all flawed.

There is no one who is utterly perfect so we shouldn’t waste our time trying to tear someone else down as we try and somehow elevate ourselves above them. Behavior like that is not of the Lord and only of Satan.

Don’t believe that?

Just remember this word from the Lord…

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

The Lord doesn’t give us that word so that we might choose not do it…just like He doesn’t give us the words in today’s passage to ignore.

For Jesus’ words are clear...crystal clear.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Sometimes I think Jesus might want to ask us, “What part of ‘Do not’ do you NOT understand?”

For we quickly forget His command and then wonder why we might fall under His disfavor. It’s pretty simple. We fall under His disfavor because He told us we would if we chose to be disobedient.

So when we decide to judge others, Jesus tells us, just as He told His listeners during His Sermon on the Mount, that we can expect to be judged with the measure of judgment that we use. So be careful how much you want to pick someone apart lest the Lord decide to pick you apart equally…and no one wants to be under His judgment.

So before you start to size someone else up and pick out all the places where they fall short of the mark, you had better start looking within yourself (i.e. deal with the plank in your eye), seeking the Lord’s conviction on where you need to change to be the righteous, holy child that He intends for you to be. And when you do that, rest assured that you’ll see the people around you in a whole different light…for you’ll see them just like you…flawed…imperfect…but under the same loving care and lead of the Father who wants only the best for all His children who he made just the way He wanted.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com