Judge Not

 

This morning during my quiet time with the Lord (praying and reading) a passage I had read pricked me to the heart. The passage I had read was Romans 2:1-3 “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?” 

In this life / world we are always judging other people in their life and actions. We judge others based on a preconceived right or wrong we set within ourselves. As Christians, I believe, we are just as guilty if not more guilty than those who do not profess Christ! 

We look at those in the world by the pages of Scripture and judge them based on our understanding of what is found there. 

Let me issue a word of warning. According to Romans 2:3 we are going to be judged by those same passages we judge others. While the judgement we’ll face as a Christian won’t lead us to the wrath of God it will lead to the removal of rewards we’ll receive. 

Judging according to scripture isn’t wrong but there are stipulations and requirements for doing so. Look at Matthew 7:1-5, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. “

Before you judge someone else you need to make sure that you are living according to God’s word and that your life is spotless. 

I know I have been personally guilty of this act of judging others while having unrepentant sin in my own life. I also know that others have done this very same thing. 

The good news is that if you have fell into this sin God has provided a way to receive forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”