JUDGING

Matthew 7:1,2—Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

I don’t enjoy being in the company of critical people. I find in every work place and home environment where criticism abounds, a heavy cloud of despair and vindictive spirits. When I personally judge others my disposition is unpleasant. The state of being “ticked-off” is never uplifting. Nor am I pleased inwardly with the negative thoughts that circulate.

Kindness is a good remedy to a judgmental attitude. Kind actions have an uncanny erasing effect over saber-waving thoughts. But the true remedy to a critical spirit is prayer. The Holy Spirit, our true Heart Physician, sees our deepest motives and reveals our own failings. Only when I am honest in Jesus can I truly pray with discernment over those I previously judged.

Inspiration

I never met a man I could despair of after having discerned all that lies in me apart from the grace of God. Stop having a measuring rod for others. Jesus says regarding judging, “Don’t; be uncritical in your temper, because in the spiritual domain you can accomplish nothing by criticism.” One of the severest lessons to learn is to leave the cases we do not understand to God.—Oswald Chambes in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount