Grace

But for the grace of God, there go I.  I have heard that Christianity is like one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.  There is no one that doesn’t need God’s grace.  I have been shown God’s grace, but many times I haven’t shown that grace to others in my walk with the Lord and in those times I acted like a hypocrite and I am ashamed of myself and repentant in heart and mind.  It is easy to look down on others and sit in judgment, but, by the way you judge others you will be judged.  

I think the question isn’t whether we should judge others but the question is; what is our motive when we judge?  Do we have a righteous judgment or are we being self-righteous?  If we judge with a proper perspective then we will judge others with love and not just to criticize them and ruin their character.  God can rightfully judge us because we are His servants and He knows all about us so He always judges with a righteous judgment and He is always for us and not against us.  We, on the other hand, think we know about people and why they say or do what they do, but far too often, we are wrong and are being misled by what we may have heard or even what we thought we heard.

Jesus taught about criticizing others, or judging others.  Read Matthew 7:1-6, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” 

This is not saying we should never judge, but when we do, we need discernment.  If all we do is judge so that we can make the other person look bad and make ourselves look good, then we are wrong and should not judge or criticize.  

In Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus said to discern false teachers.  

In 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, Paul taught about church discipline.  

In 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 it says we need to trust God to be the final judge.  

It is better to judge ourselves, our conduct and our motives instead of judging others.  I have found that some of the faults I find in others, that I don’t like, are the same faults I don’t like about myself; you may find the same thing.  It would be better if we used the same criticism on ourselves that we would use towards someone else.  We should judge others then with love and forgiveness.   

Something to think about!  Have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!  If you haven’t yet today, praise and thank the Lord for He is worthy!!