I am SO glad that we have THIS from Matthew 7:1-2 near the very beginning of the year! It is VITAL!
7 Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. 2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.
I have had people ridicule and mock me for sharing this! Those who do so always share the sentiment that we are to 'expose' false teaching' and correct those who have 'erred in the faith'. The problem with THAT thought is THIS portion of Scripture! "DO NOT" is very clear! You have to really TRY in order to get this wrong! "Judge" here is the Greek word "krino", which means: to distinguish, to decide, to try, to condemn, punish, to separate, to pronounce and opinion concerning right and wrong, to pronounce judgement, subject to censure. And the first two words say it ALL! DO NOT! There is no qualifier here that makes YOUR case a 'special one'! DO NOT JUDGE! Why? Because it is NOT our place to judge someone else! We are to judge ourselves, lest we BE judged ( 1 Corinthians 11:31)! It is SO tempting to look at someone else and notice all of their shortcomings and mistakes, while white-washing our own! GOD Himself will judge and HIS judgement is correct and on point, ALWAYS!!! Let's leave God's job to God and refocus on learning and growing every day! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "God Is Able":
Shalom in Him!
