TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2016.
JUDGING
To infer, think or hold as an opinion; to make a mental assessment using discernment.
Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge you will be judged and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2.
God has created us with the ability to think so that we can make wise choices. This requires the ability to judge. When Jesus said, do not judge in Matthew 7:1, He was not saying we should not be discerning. This is righteous judgement which as believers we must exercise to separate good from evil. What Jesus was saying was that we must not judge in a self-righteous way, which is finding fault in others to make ourselves look good.
Jesus in Matthew 7:1-5 pulls no punches concerning one who judges in this way. In verse one He clearly tells us not to judge. In verse two He tells us that the one who judges (criticizes) will be judged. In verse three He mentions that the one who judges should examine his own heart first before he says a thing. So often the things we fault some else with are no worse than the faults in our lives.
In verses four and five Jesus tells us that the one who judges is deceived about himself when he judges others. The one who criticizes magnifies the faults of others while excusing his or her faults. These verses make it very clear how our Lord feels about us as believer’s when we judge others.
The word judge means to most people to criticize, condemn or censor. It is really fault-finding and most often picky. From a Biblical perspective, as Jesus said in these verses from Matthew, when a person slips and has a problem, we as believers should show compassion not condemnation. It is a time to reach out with guidance and not the time to hand out criticism. It is a time to speak kindly and encourage, not negatively or harmfully.
Most people judge others because it boosts one’s self-image. It is part of our sinful nature to want to tear others down to build ourselves up. For some it is a time to justify their wrong decisions at the expense of someone else. It sometimes is an outlet for one to hurt or show revenge to someone who possibly failed them. Jesus would have us judge ourselves first and then show forgiveness to others. If we did this we would be very discerning before judging.
God is our final judge and we as believers will be judged by the quality of fruit we produce. The fruit cannot be judged by earthly values but by heavenly values. Galatians 5:22 lists the fruits of the Spirit which are love, peace, joy, longsuffering, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Isaiah 1:18.
Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Help me this day to be slow to judge others and quick to judge myself. Help me to produce the fruits of the Spirit that will draw people to You and not away from You. Help my family to show others Your love and compassion for them.
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