Judgment

It is not a topic that I would gladly choose to write about becasue it hits way too close to home...but yesterday as I attended a funeral of a man, who I wish I had known more than a greeting here and there, there were three bible verses read. Each had been chosen by his wife and had a significant meaning that reflected his life.

The first was Isaiah 25:6-9 that spoke about hope and celebration of life. The second was I Corinthians 13 about the true meaning of love and the third, which every time I read it convicts me, was Matthew 7:1-5....that verse about taking the log out of your own eye before trying to remove a speck from someone else's.

After listening to the three men who spoke on Jack's behalf...I realize that he was one of those people who didn't judge....or maybe he did here and there but "judgemental" was far from being a word that identified him. What a great way to be. They said he would be open minded and listen to other views but he was a man of conviction who held onto what he has established as a faithful, right way of living his life.

There are some of you reading this who are on the same page as Jack...gentle spirits.... who speak truth in love and kindness without the need or impulse or manipulation to "change" a situation or an attitude or even a person into being what you see that they should be. They are listeners....Then there are others... who have a defined sense of right and wrong (as they see things) and push every button, and recite every cord to aggressively influence that "speck" in someone else so that it can be washed away...they are judges.

I have been on both sides. It has taken God many years to make His adjustments and he had used some pretty humbling experiences to get me there. Being on that judgment side is a product of pride and stubbornness and so many times a control issue. And all of those characteristics are blatant contradictions of a Godly life.I.still try as I may to sidestep the huge log bound up in my own eye becasue it is much easier to see faults in others...that to examine the ones in our own lives. Because it is easier to try to change others than to make changes in ourselves....for to make changes in ourselves would mean that we would have to personally take responsibility for our own actions...and realize the weaknesses that we have tried to cover up through
pride, stubbornness, self centeredness, and need to control..

Judgement is one of those topics that has huge gray areas. But what really counts is how we are judged by God. We all have lessons to teach, and we all have knowledge that others don't. But in the many years I have studied the word of the Lord, God is gradually helping me to not only realize that I am not called to make changes in someone else's life....even I I wanted too..but that I have no power to do so.We can offer help but the choice is up to each of us. The only person I am able to change is ME...and I can't even do that by myself. I need God's continued and present help in everything and with every relationship..

Matthew 7:1-5

¹"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

We compare ourselves to others constantly...especially when we hear of such wonderful stories of someone else...but the truth is that we are who God has made "us" to be. And it is through God's love for us that he opens up our minds and our hearts to see our faults and our weaknesses so that he can transform us to be the best that he has envisioned us to be..We are the ones who need change...we can rationalize how good we are and how right we are and how smart we are and how in the know we are....but until we step back and stop and look to God as our measuring stick...we will never be able to face the reality of who we are and the help that we need....to be who God has created us to be.

It is a great temptation to call someone out on behavior or lifestyle or or even causes that they support...based on our own opinions...but we are called to love others...in spite of differences. We can fight for human values and moral integrity and Godly truths...and that is what God would want us to do.. We can offer opinions or possible solutions that we believe could help another in a tough situation.. ...becasue that is what God holds dear...but we are not to have a critical spirit regarding one another and expect God to be pleased with our thoughts and actions. That "judge not lest ye be judged" is a real truth.

It is not too late to ask God to make adjustments in our personalities...for as long as we are living...we are growing and if we allow God the opportunity he will continue his efforts to transforms us. I don't want that log in my eye to linger...and neither, I suspect ,do you. For some the log is greater and more defined, for others...God has either floated it away though a laid back personality or moved it through his grace so that it no longer is an obstruction to see things in His Godly view. I want Him to move it from my eye...so that i can see Him clearly. and see others clearly as he sees them.

Most of us have heard it said that when you point your finger at someone...remember that there are three fingers pointing back at you. We are the ones God is working on...and it is only through prayer and a sincere desire to seek God's direction that God will help us to float that log out of sight...and to see Him clearly.

Dear Lord, we do have to have open minds and realize that there is a lot in each of us that needs transforming. We can so often and so easily spot someone else's faults but it is a genuine need in each of us that we realize our own.For when we do, we can then give those weaknesses back to you so that you can
give us your strenght and power to make the changes that you deem fit to be for your glory. Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...for His glory will shine through.

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