Too many great stopping
places. After reading I wasn’t sure which thoughts to run with and meditate on.
Today was a feast in God’s Words.
Eventually I stuck with my
first nudge, judging others.
Do not
judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will
be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to
you (1-2). Are we not to make determination about right and
wrong? I think not. Are we not supposed to pick and choose who we pal around
with based on character and actions? I think not. So what is Jesus referring to
when he talks about judging?
This is what I
pondered…
Jesus tells the plank and
splinter story. His point is that we should not attempt to operate (change) a
sister or brother in a particular area before we make sure we have that area
under control. A thief should not attempt to scold a kid who
shoplifts.
First point I hear is get
my life in order, worry about how I am living. Is my life in line with how God
would have me live? So in everything, do to
others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the
Prophets (12).
Second, don’t act as if I
am better than others, judging them, looking down upon them. Acting as if I know
how to live and they don’t. Acting as if I am God when I am not. There is the
whole hypocrite thing (see verse 5). Hypocrites were play-actors, people
projecting they live one way when in reality they live
another.
I am sure I have only mined
the surface of Jesus’ ‘don’t judge’ comment, but at least it is a beginning and
there is plenty for me to work on even only pondering to this level. And after
all, I have the rest of this day and the rest of my life to go deep with
Jesus…
Lord, I am
afraid I do judge others. Please forgive me and please help me not only to not
judge, but to not want to judge others. In Your name Jesus, I pray.
Amen.
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