Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Judging Others

Matthew 7:1-2

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

Jesus is here giving us a warning to be careful how we tend to evaluate others. He is not saying to never discriminate between what is good and bad, or beneficial and damaging. He is saying to consider others in a gracious frame of mind, to not be harsh with them. However we treat others, whether kindly or sternly, that is how others will treat us. 

I want to always give the benefit of the doubt to someone who is apparently doing something I don't approve of, because I know that each of us is capable of committing the worst of atrocities, given the circumstances, not seeing any other choice. Understanding the person's environment and situation goes a long way in accepting the person, and may contribute to being able to help that person out of the trouble they consequently find themselves in as the result of the poor choices they have made.

Let us all consider how we may respond to the people in our lives who rub us the wrong way, not reacting to the provocation, but considering how we can bless them, and help them. We can pray for them, not against them, and bless them in our responses to them, as our Lord has had mercy on us, and granted us His grace.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!