Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Friday October 23, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Luke, please read chapters 6-7 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-october-23

Today's Message: Judge Others Vs Good Judgment
Jesus Said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged”, but many people, including Christian's distort this verse. The question comes down to this. Are we quick to judge others or are we using good judgment?

One of the biggest quotes of the world gotten from the Bible is “Judge not lest you be judged” yet this quote is often misused. The word judge here means to form an opinion or estimation of someone, often critical. Those who live in sin are the first to judge the faults of others, yet when they are confronted are the first to say, “Judge not lest you be judged.” Jesus Said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” - Luke 6:37. Many Christians exaggerate this advice of the Lord to such an extent that they think they cannot emit an opinion about anything or anyone. They have twisted this verse so much that they refrain themselves from giving a report about the characteristics, traits or behaviors of another person. The truth is this, those who are drowning in sin do not desire to have others advise them of what they see going on so they fend themselves off by grabbing hold of this verse.

Jesus, often spoke in parables (a short story with a specific meaning) and addresses this issue. He knows how the human heart tends to be hypocritical, warned them. “And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.”- Luke 6:39-42. What Jesus is saying here is that we must not judge unjustly, we have not right to tell someone that they are suffering because of their sin when we have not addressed our own sins. We all have sinned beyond our ability to count, and we should be deeply thankful that our Heavenly Father forgives us when we repent of our sins. If we are truly grateful, we will approach everyone who sins against us with the same mercy and compassion that we receive from the Lord.

Criticism is often an act of self-righteousness in an attempt to build up one's own self-esteem by putting others down. Also, it is easy to jump to conclusions without hearing or caring about all the facts. We have an amazing ability to misjudge the thoughts and actions of others. Judgmental people thrive on faultfinding and find something wrong with everything that is said or done by another whom they would love to belittle. The Apostle Paul warns those whom judge others unjustly, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” - Romans 12:1-5. Those whom judge others for their sins will not have to answer to the one they are judging, they will have to answer to God.

Now, this does not mean that we are not to have good judgment and common sense here. We are all sinners, but are we all living our lives for Christ? That is the key, those who live their lives for Christ, although admit we are sinners, go to Him daily, repent, and seek Him daily for forgiveness, resting on the assurance of His mercy and grace. We can honestly advise someone in a proper way of their error and not be critical of them. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” - I Corinthians 2:12-16. Those who abide in Christ will live the way God intended for us to live, day by day He sculpts us and forms us to have the mind of Christ, therefore we can not be judged wrongly by others.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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