80 NOT QUALIFIED TO JUDGE Matthew 7;1-2

Judging is like breathing - it comes naturally and sometimes the worst critics are Christians who use Scripture as their weapon of choice. So if you are the one being judged, try to remember these four things; (1) Show humility. If you’re guilty, admit it to God, yourself and the appropriate other person or people you have judged. Confession brings honesty and spiritual growth see (1John 1-9) (2) Know your Bible. Satan took Scripture out of context to try to trap Jesus. But Jesus knew the context and didn’t fall for it (Luke 4:1-13) When the Bible is taken out of context, remember God isn’t aiming at you. And when you are rightly judged by God’s word, don’t despair: It doesn’t mean He’s mad at you. He loves you – just as you love your children even when they disobey you, then use their actions as “teaching moments” to develop them. “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son” (Hebrews 12:6) (3) Don’t be goaded into trying to defend yourself. Judgemental people aren't interested in facts - They just want to feel good, while making you feel bad. Pick your battles wisely and don’t waste time on the unimportant. Here is how Paul responded to His critics; ‘I care very little if I am judged by you or.. any human court’ (1 Corinthians 4;3) (4) Don’t volunteer for the jury. If God doesn’t find you guilty, don’t judge yourself. Follow Paul’s example; “Indeed, I don’t even judge myself” (1Corinthians 4;3) If you are wrong, confess it and, by God’s Grace correct it. Then make up your mind to live your life free from condemnation. If you are the one doing the judging, remember this timeless principal: What goes round comes around. Jesus said in (Matthew 7:1-2) “Do not judge…For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the same measure you use it will be measured to you. It’s called the law of reciprocity and it guarantees you will get back what you give. It’s not a threat; it’s an immutable law, just like the law of gravity. But, you say, “I am honest; I just tell it like it is, and besides, that person’s sin needs to be exposed.” This is not about your honesty or their sin, it’s about God’s Word. That forbids judging. You may be right and they may be wrong, but judging puts you in violation of Scripture. And that is what sets you up to be judged.. Question; What if the other person has already repented and received God’s forgiveness? Think about it; The worst kind of sin is judging sin God has already forgiven and forgotten, see (Isaiah 43:25) When we judge others, we are looking in the wrong direction, and avoiding what we don’t want to see – our own shortcomings. In (Matthew 7:3 Jesus also said “Why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Whatever their speck is, it’s God’s business - not yours, or mine, Your plank is your business! And in ( Matthew 5:7) Jesus also said “They are blessed who show mercy to others, for God will show mercy to them. So start investing in your own :Mercy account” You will need it soon enough. We are all sinners, and the sooner we realise that the better off this world will be. Some of us have sins that are out there for everyone to see, others of us have our sins hidden, but only from other people, however, you need to know, God sees them all and deals with each of us accordingly; sometimes publicly and sometimes privately, but one thing is certain, they are all dealt with. So, as with all sin, the best thing we can do after understanding our guilt is to… Turn immediately to God and the one we’ve judged and express our sincere sorrow for judging them, that’s the only way we can stop judgement on ourselves before it hits us. It’s also the easiest and quickest way of getting rid of the guilt of judging others. Thank you for reading about how to deal with “Judgement” you are not the first, and you wont be the last Christian to have to deal with this problem. It’s just another stumbling-block along the rough road which we have to recognise, climb over, get around and deal with; along the narrow road to our final destiny where the open arms of a loving Savour is waiting for us. God Bless. Phaline. --------------------------------