One of our challenges for 2014 is to learn and live
all 50
commands of Jesus. Jesus told us that following his commandments
is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John
15:9-12). In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make
disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us
(Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and living one
command of Jesus. Here is our command for this week...
Week 7:
"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. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone
else's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in
your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to remove the speck from the other person's eye,” (Matthew
7:1-5).
Application:
This command of Jesus is not a blanket statement that we
should overlook wrongdoing. His command
is to look first at ourselves. We can be
so quick to point out the faults in others, yet we overlook the faults in our
own lives.
Jesus was a master at word pictures. He described a person with a big log in their
eye trying to help someone else remove a splinter out of their eye. Can you imagine the absurdity of this
picture? Before we “judge” this character,
I think we need to realize we are all guilty of this. We are quick to point out the faults in
others when we have faults of our own that are not being addressed. We want to deal with the sin in other people’s
live while there is sin in our own life we are not dealing with. We want to help others change when we
ourselves need help changing. We can do
this with friends and family. We can do
this at school or at work. We can do
this with people we know well and people we don’t know at all.
Our role is not to judge others. That’s God’s role. Our role is to judge ourselves. Do I have any faults that need to be
addressed? Do I have any sin that needs
to be dealt with? Where do I need God to
change me? After all, the only person
you have any control over is yourself.
The only person you can change is you.
Imagine how different the world would be if we stopped trying to change
others and focused on changing ourselves through the truth, grace, and power of
God.
So what can you do the next time you feel tempted to judge
another person? First, remind yourself
that you do not know everything about that person. Just as they don’t know everything about you,
you don’t know everything about them.
Consider that they might have things going on in their life that are
impacting how they behave and relate to others.
Second, use the impulse to judge as an opportunity for
self-reflection. Here is a difficult
truth to swallow. The traits that bother
us in others are often the habits we have ourselves. Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the
very ones we most want to change in others.
Even if that is not the case, you are not perfect. Rather than focusing on the imperfections of
others, take a moment to ask God to point out the sin in your life and the
areas that need his transforming touch.
Third, remember that you are not the ultimate judge. God is.
And God has shown you great patience and mercy. Why not extend that same patience and mercy
to others?
Share your comments and application ideas...
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