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Judging others should never be a part of our mindset and by judgment I
mean condemning others by what we perceive they are doing wrong. The Lord
Jesus says in John 8:7 “He that is without sin among you, let him first
cast a stone...” We must remember that we are all sinners. There is not
one person more righteous than the other. We all have our shortcomings,
we all have our failures, we all have our weaknesses and when we gossip
about others, when we judge others and when we condemn others, we are
casting stones at them that could justifiably be thrown right back at us.
We can't point one finger at someone else while we have three fingers
pointing back at us. We must keep mercy at the center of our lives
because our sins are great before God. He is the righteous judge who is
keeping the record. Our job is to offer love and forgiveness and not
condemnation. (2 Timothy 4:8) (Proverbs 17:9)
A great story about mercy and forgiveness is found in Matthew 18:23-35.
The Lord Jesus tells the story of the servant who owed his master the
equivalent of a few million dollars and when he couldn't pay, he fell down
on his knees and begged for mercy and when his master saw that, he had
pity on him and released him and forgave his whole debt, but when that
same servant found a fellow servant who owed him the equivalent of a few
thousand dollars, he grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant
payment. When this fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a
little more time and asked for patience and that he would repay it, the
evil servant would not wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison
until the debt could be paid in full. The man who received great mercy
just moments before by the King refused to give that same mercy to a
fellow servant whose debt was incomparable to his own. When the King was
told what that evil servant did, his anger was kindled against him and the
King sent that man to prison to be tortured until he paid his entire
debt. Jesus finishes the story by saying that this is what God will do to
us if we refuse to forgive our brothers and sisters from our hearts.
We should learn the lessons that God teaches throughout His Word and do
our absolute best to show kindness, to show mercy and to offer forgiveness.
Let us put away all gossiping and back biting and remember that we are all
sinners just the same. The Bible declares in Romans 3:10 “There is none
righteous, no, not one.” We read in Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...” You are
no better than your neighbor and your neighbor is no better than you. We
are all sinners in need of the same Savior. As forgiven sinners ourselves,
we are to offer mercy, we are to offer love and we are to show those who
feel condemned that a new beginning is possible even to the worst sinner.
We who have been forgiven much should never point our finger in judgment,
but rather we should draw others towards us in love just as God drew us by
His spirit. (Luke 6:36) (1 Peter 4:8-11) (Hebrews 10:22-25)
Think of God's judgment on you the next time you are tempted to bring
somebody down because of what you think you know about them. Our job is
to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Lord Jesus is the righteous judge.
He will give to every person exactly what they deserve. We as believers
in Christ and followers of His command are to emulate the example that He
has set forth for us. He forgave, He healed, He set free, He redeemed and
if we call ourselves Christians then we must do the same with all of our
ability and with all of our heart. Let us wash our brothers feet, let us
turn the other cheek, let us walk two miles instead of one and let us show
the true love of Christ with every word, with every act and with every
deed. I encourage you again to follow God's command and love your neighbor
as you love yourself. (Matthew 5:39-42) (Galatians 5:14-15)
That is my prayer for us.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Matthew 7:1-3 Jesus declares “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with
what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete,
it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that
is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own
work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 “...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified
the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one
another, envying one another.”
Philippians 2:2-3 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.”
Luke 6:37-38 Jesus declares “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn
not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with
the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Ephesians 4:23-27 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye
put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not:
let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: MESSAGES TO REMEMBER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem110.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: JESUS MY DELIVERER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony136.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
