To Judge or Not to Judge . . .

I saw this and really loved the picture and what it depicts.  Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-5?  

Check it our or read below ~ 

¹ "Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Have you ever wondered why we often experience such great joy in judging others?

If we were to be honest, we don't like to admit that.  And we try not to judge others.  Yet how many times are we making those small, even subtle judgments about others – what they’re doing or not doing, what they’ve said or what they’re wearing, how they’re driving or acting – and each time we do, for some perverse reason it makes us feel better about ourselves.

I this we do this because we are not comfortable in our own skin.  We are insecure and we think we will feel better if we find fault in others -- if we can look into their heart and cast our 'divine' judgement.  

Of course, this gets us to the center of what Jesus is talking about.  He's interpreting the law for us.  Remember, when Jesus talks about judging, He's talking about looking into one's heart and knowing the condition and motivation of the heart.  Friends, we don't have that ability.  That's for God and God alone to do.  When we do this, we find ourselves subject to God's judgment.

We also struggle with this because when someone does something obviously wrong, we exclaim, "I'm not to judge!!"  But, we have misuderstood what judging is versus holding another accountable.  Accountability is about looking at another's actions, not their heart.

We are to hold one another accountable.  We view the outward actions and help our brother or sister to find redemption through Christ, knowing that we are no better, for we have our own sin issues which we struggle with as well.

Just a thought on a Friday afternoon.

Blessings!