Judging Others

I have just been thinking this morning of how easy it is to judge others.  It is so easy to be like a Pharisee, thinking they were so much better than other people.  

Read what it says in Luke 18:9-14, “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

It is easy to see other people’s faults and sins but ignore your own.  I admit I have done that myself on many occasions and I have had to repent and ask the Lord to forgive me.  We have to be careful that we don’t exalt ourselves above others; falling into the trap of thinking we are better than someone else.  This doesn’t mean we are to walk around totally blind either.  What we need to do is pray for discernment because none of us can know without a shadow of doubt what is going on in every person’s heart and mind.  There is only one that can rightly judge because He knows all things, He even knows the thoughts and intents of the heart and we don’t.  We have to be very careful that we not become self-righteous which leads to pride and causes people to despise others and hinders the learning process and causes the Lord to resist us instead of drawing closer to us!!

Read what it says in James 4:5-12, “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?”

God’s Word says this in Philippians 2:1-4, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 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. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Humility is what we should be exhibiting towards other people.  Showing humility and love towards one another will build a church, not judging and condemning, we need to leave that up to God!!  Bowels and mercies means tenderness and compassion, these are what we need to exhibit much more and a lot less pride and arrogance leading to judgmental attitudes!!

Read one of the ways Jesus showed humility in the same chapter in verses 6-11, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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.”

Let Jesus be our example!  Something to think about!  May you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!  PS don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!