Judge Not

Tara Mihalko encourages us with this masterpiece today. Well done Tara, Ty.

As I started reading the Journey reading plan, I got stopped in Romans chapter 2 of God‘s righteous judgment.

Christians are some of the most judgmental people ever. Christian comes from the Greek word, christianos meaning little Christ. That “title” we are given holds us accountable to act as a little Christ. There’s a whole lot of weight to that. But isn’t the goal to be more like Jesus here on earth?

I have learned something that I do when I have a thought and want to judge somebody else. Whether you’re in Walmart and somebody is dressed differently. Or maybe somebody looks a different way than you think that they should look. Even the driver in front of you going too slow.

I take that thought captive. And then I say, get their heart, Lord. This releases me from judgment and hands them over to the Lord. This has helped me so much. And I often think, if somebody is in the store cussing, carrying on, angry; whatever the case may be. Do you think that they would behave that way if they knew and had a relationship with the Father in heaven? I know what I was like before I knew the Lord. And I know what I am like now as a Christian.

I can view people from a different lens after I say, get their heart, Lord. They’re broken. They’re hurting. They’re lost. They’re misguided. I’m pretty sure the majority of us could say that we were one, if not all of those things at one point as well.

Romans 2:1-5 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another, you condemn yourself, because you the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man— you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself— that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard impenitent heart, you are storing up a wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God‘s righteousness judgment will be revealed.

We all judge. Every human being. But when I started to say this and take the thought captive, it became second nature. Instead of the judgment being second nature. I still fail. But much less than I used to. There’s a freedom in this. I feel as though there’s always a freedom when you learn a new way the Lord would be pleased with.

I would encourage you to try it. And try to consider what the person you may be judging is going through. Because none of us know. Only God knows. It’s not our job to judge. So let’s let God be the judge.

Make it a Winsome Wednesday! God is good…