JUDGING... Sunday

Devotional for 1/11/15

Do you think you are judgmental?  Most of us think we are fair at the very least, or even enlightened compared to others.

Picture this:  there are two men on the street at night.  One is a suspect being chased by the police, and the other is the cop.  One is white, the other black.  One is highly educated and has had everything handed to him all his privileged life.  The other has struggled, growing up in poverty, was homeless for a while, and had to fight for everything he ever got.  The suspect has just robbed a convenience store to support his addiction and is now being chased by the cop.  Got the picture?  Read on for the revealing details.

The cop is the black man and the one who grew up in poverty.  He was proud of his achievements in school and fought to put himself through school.  The suspect is the white man who grew up with everything handed to him on a silver platter.  He became addicted to drugs and was hitting his bottom as he robbed the local corner store and was now running from the black cop.  Is that what you had pictured in your mind?  

We all make prejudicial judgements at times.  It's hard not to do it.  That comes from our own experiences as well as what we hear, from family and friends or from the media etc.  How would you feel if someone falsely judged you?  I know that I get very upset when that happens to me.  It conjures up past memories of myself or of my husband being falsely accused of things we never did, and of being judged horribly.  I get especially upset when my honor or integrity are inappropriately put in question.  It brings up all kinds of emotional vulnerabilities for me.  But then I try to remember that the people making those judgements are only human, and also that I am only human and can't be perfect and have even passed wrong judgements on others too.

The only one who can accurately judge a person's heart and soul is God. While we are called to judge people's actions only, in order to lovingly help bring them back to God, we are not to judge the person themselves.  We are only called to love other people, in spite of their sinful actions.  Thankfully, we have a forgiving God who understands our shortcomings and judgmental attitudes and loves us anyway.  He helps us to turn from our human ways and to be forgiving to others.  

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.  But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.  Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

[Jesus said:] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Luke 6:37-38 (NIV)

Dear God in heaven, righteous judge of all and merciful forgiver of souls, I praise your name for all your gifts, especially for your free gift of forgiveness of my sins.  Help me to leave the judging of others to you. May I give to them a good measure of your love, pressed down, shaken together and running over, just as you have done for me.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

written by Jan Andersen