Because We Will Be Judged

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.


We judge.


We form opinions, we form estimations, we decide, we condemn, we pass sentence on (even if it isn't legal, and only a mental sentence), we deliberate, we assume. We do all this to each other all the time on a daily basis. We might not think this is something we do but we pass people on the street and we are making mental judgments on them. We take in their demeanor and label them and I'd be remissed if I said this was always a bad thing- it saves lives sometimes right? We see a seedy character and we instantly judge them to be a threat and we act accordingly- cautiously. However sometimes we judge wrong based on what we see, don't we? We don't see the heart, only God sees the heart. I had a relative tell me not too long ago that they were going to get a tattoo that read- 'Only God Judges Me' or something to that effect. I was touched by that revelation, that my realtive felt judged by others and this led them to want to proclaim permanently that only God can judge them. They're right. Only God can judge. We can make observations and rather err on the side of judging harshly perhaps we need to judge on side of being less harsh. Instead of the worse maybe we need to think of the best, or if not the best then at least better. Maybe we need to judge on the side of compassion, exchanging condemnation for sympathy deserved or undeserved.


We will be judged as we judge that's something we need to constantly hold before us as we go through our day to day lives. Do we want others to judge us with compassion? Do we want others to form good estimations of us? Do we want the sentences passed on us to be good ones? We do. However we know with the majority of people not God's but rather under the control of the enemy (knowingly or not), that we will be judged harshly and even so we can't return judgment the same.


Judge not.


Judge not.


Why?


Because we will be judged.


Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.


By the grace of our Lord may we hold God ever before us. Leaving judging to God. If any vengeance is needed, let God claim it. Is it easy? No. Only by the power of our Lord will we live as we should. Only through the righteousness of our King will we prevail.


In Christ's love, through His cleansing blood, by His mercy, through His forgiveness now and forever.


Amen.