WATCHWORD:
7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others.[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.[b]
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye[c] when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend,[d] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.[e] Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Matthew 7:1-6
11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.[a] If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So, what right do you have to judge your neighbor? James 4:11-12
Meditation:
Judging and Being Judgmental
Have you ever been trampled by a pig? What thoughts went through your mind when I asked that? Maybe the “pig” that attacked you was not an animal? Give that some thought, in light of judging and not being judgmental.
Or maybe you had some really good ideas that you shared with people you thought you trusted and they took those really good ideas, those pearls of wisdom, and did what with them? Demeaned them? Oh, are we judging again?
We all judge to some degree or another. Lord knows that I am judgmental when it comes to our government and those in highest positions, especially when I look at the destruction which this pandemic continues to bring on us. And my Lord tells me judge not? And I say, Lord, but… And my Lord says, no buts! Thou shalt not! And I breath, deeply, and go back to trusting Him…for a time.
When St. Paul says that he is the chief of sinners, I can relate to that, or as one comedian has said, “I resemble that.” When I look with unbiased eyes and mind, at the reality of how I live my life, moment by moment, I see those dirty little scraps of judgment popping up with greater frequency then I would care to admit.
Most recently I left a worship service with a dirty little scrap of judgment overshadowing the holy words of God. I don’t think that’s unusual, to a degree, but for that little bit of judgment to follow me through the day, that’s just plain nuts. And, yet…
Sometimes we violate this commandment almost without thinking, without even considering what we are saying, certainly without thinking of the other. We break this command when we only speak to others of their faults, or when we judge an entire life only by the worst moments. We wonder about the hidden motives of others, without considering our own. Most assuredly, we judge others without being aware that we ourselves will be judged.
According to the teaching of some rabbis in Jesus’ time, God had two measures that He used to judge people. One was a measure of justice and the other was a measure of mercy. Whichever measure you want God to use with you, you should use that same measure with others.
How do you want to be judged? I want a full measure mercy, and maybe just a tiny pinch of justice, (because I know I am right). Oops. Sorry. Can I revise that, Lord?
Too Good Not To Share from Art:
When Grandma Goes to Court – (Lawyers should never ask a Mississippi grandma a question if they aren’t prepared for the answer.)
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, Mrs. Jones, do you know me? She responded, why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a bigshot when you haven’t the brains to realize you’ll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.
Lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, Mrs. Jones do you know the defense attorney?
She again replied, why, yes, I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since she was a youngster. He’s lazy, bigoted, and has a drinking problem. He can’t build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he has cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.
The defense attorney nearly died
The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and in a very quiet voice said, if either of you idiots asked her if she knows me, I’ll send you both to the electric chair.
Bulletin Board:
From Robin — Pastor Morris is on TBN daily at 12:30 and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.on. It’s interesting you mentioned in Tuesday’s Meditation that we have cracks. My friend told me we need a refill of the Holy Spirit every day because we leak. (Yes, we do leak and we sink back into the world, and we need that spiritual recharging.)
Closing Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help us all to step back and look at our own faults and not be too quick to place Judgement on others, because we are not called to judge but you Lord. We love You and Your graces in all that we do. Help us Holy Spirit. Amen.
