Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2
Inhale Grace, Exhale Grace
Grace. For a Christian, grace is more important than the air we breathe. Grace and mercy are beautiful gifts that we receive from our Heavenly Father in addition to forgiveness. I believe that God expects us to have grace and mercy on others as well.
The verse above is not one that Christians should take lightly. The verse is about how we treat others. One of the most common faults in life is that so many of us demand standards from others that we have never reached ourselves. We even condemn faults in others which are glaringly obvious in our own lives and act as if they are weak for their failure. The qualification for judging is not knowledge. It is righteousness; and none of us are righteous except God. He is the only one qualified to throw stones and He never did. The grace that is extended to us should be what we give out to others.
Do you think about the way you judge others? Sometimes it happens before we even realize it. I know that I need every ounce of grace I get from God, and I would not want to be judged the way I truly deserve to be judged by God. This crosses my mind when I begin to criticize or judge others. I am so thankful for the grace He shows me, and I know I can’t stand to lose any of it. I need every ounce of grace that He promises. None of us are without sin - we are all sinners. We tend to think we are above whatever actions we are judging in others, but often we judge others for the same sins we struggle with in our own lives. We look and see the other person with their flaws, but if we look carefully, the reflection we will see is our own face. None of us are perfect. No matter how much we think you know the heart of somebody else, we don't. We don't even know our own heart.
Sometimes we don’t have to go very far to reach the outcasts and unlovable people. Most of us have one or two in our family. What if someone recorded you speaking? What would that replay sound like? Would your words be life giving or would they be hateful and cutting? How do you talk about people when they are not with you? How do you talk to them when they are with you? Do you criticize and condemn? Jesus loved the unlovable and He calls us to do the same. He calls us to be Him to them.
Jesus did not judge or condemn others while He was here on earth. He sought the outcasts and sinners and showed them amazing grace, mercy, and life changing forgiveness. This is the very same grace, mercy, and forgiveness He shows us. It is to be doled out generously, the same as we have received and wish to keep receiving.
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?
Matthew 7: 3
and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Matthew 7: 3
