"Why do
ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?" (Job 19:22)
In strong judgment, we tend to forget that the other person
is but flesh - facing the struggles and temptations of the flesh. Instead of
harsh judgment, "We then that are strong ought to
bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." (Romans 15:1) If the individual is not showing rebellion to God
and His Word, who are we to judge and condemn?
4 comments:
Great reminder, Amdanda. Thanks!
These have been a couple verses on my heart and in my prayers recently.
Psalm 139:23,24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Because of Christ,
Janell
Thanks for sharing, Amanda! Another passage that goes right along with this is James 4:11-12
"Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?"
What a sobering reminder to, not only to guard against judging, but to not even speak evil of "one of another". (Ouch!!)
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
~ Colossians 3:12-16
The words here are so plain, yet powerful that I'm going to spare my own words today. :) Sometimes I'm too busy thinking I already know what a passage means that I miss the newness that is ever present in God living word...Jesus make me a doer and not a hearer only!!
~ Kenzi
@Janell,
Amen; I would do well to have those verses in my heart and prayers more often!
Another passage that I think goes in context is Isaiah 1:16-18, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
~Amanda
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
@Kenzi,
For "some reason," there are a lot of verses about judgment that God has brought out to me and helped me to memorize (James 4:11 is one of those). Romans 2:1-4 and Romans 14:4 are some other good ones (I'll let you look them up :)). How we need that sobering (and painful!) reminder!
Thanks for sharing Colossians 3:12-16! It was a blessing to read and reflect upon! Oh to be more like Christ!
~Amanda
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers." Ephesians 4:29
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