Matthew 7:1-2 1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Jesus had just begun his ministry when spoke to a large crowd. He speaks of what he called the Beatitudes, and he has given the people the Lord’s Prayer where it says “Forgive us our debts as we forgive others.
Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus takes this a step farther…He is telling us not to judge and if we do, we will be judged accordingly.
Most Christians hear that they are saved and forget that we have to change our ways. We say look at us- we are not like that person. I admit that I have been that kind of Christian until God one night opened to my eyes of how I was being judgmental. I wept as I asked God to forgive me. When peace entered my soul, I knew he had.
When we judge others, we are taking away a task that belongs only to God. Our task is simply to Love God, and to Love our neighbor, but also to love ourselves- not in a self-centered way but in a way that God has called us to love others.
In I Corinthians 13: 4 it says that love is kind and patience. We are not to look on others whose lifestyles or choices we do not agree with a judgmental attitude, but with kindness and patience.
There is too much judging of others these day without knowing the person or why they say or believe certain things…It is one of the chief reasons that we are losing people from the Christian faith. We have forgot that Jesus when he walked on this earth. He walked with those that society had tossed out. He was condemned for walking with these people, healing these people, and most of all he didn’t call those that followed him one of these people… They were simply His sheep, and they knew His voice when He called them.
As a Christian, we need to step back from being judgmental and exclusive. We need to instead try to be kind, patient, and to understand. Our hearts, minds and doors should be open to hearing others speak and welcoming them, but that does not mean we accept what they do. It means me love them despite what they do just like Jesus accepted and loved us for we are all sinners.
May your day be blessed.
Today’s question:
Have you ever asked God to reveal to you places where you have been judgmental?
Ever in Christ’s love,
Mary Elizabeth Todd
January 29, 2024, and April 23, 2024
Ruhamah United Methodist Church Bible Verses 